DISPATCHES
August 2022
Dear Partners,
Welcome to this month’s ‘DISPATCHES’. Again I apologise for the relatively ‘modest’ amount of new items being released this month however as you no doubt know of the continuing difficulties with all production in China and the fact that K&C is still unable to journey into the P.R.C. to meet directly with factories and our sculpting team then you will, I hope, appreciate what items we can introduce today.
So, without further ado, let’s get down to business and this month’s releases...
1. What’s New In August..?
A. ‘The Battle of
Goose Green... The Aftermath’
The first crucial land battle of the Falklands War took place over 14 hours on
May 28-29, 1982.
Located on East Falkland’s central isthmus, the settlement of Goose
Green was also the site of a small airfield. Almost 1200 Argentinean
forces, mostly army but some airforce, were in a series of well-defended
positions, within striking distance of San Carlos Water, where the
British task force had just made its successful amphibious landing and therefor
posed a potential threat.
The main British assault force consisted of the 2nd Battalion
of the Parachute Regiment (2 Para) together with a troop of three
105mm guns from 29 Commando Regt., Royal Artillery and one
Milan anti-tank missile platoon plus several Scout helicopters. In
addition, close air support was provided by three Royal Air Force Harriers and
naval gunfire from a Royal Navy frigate, HMS Arrow.
THE ATTACK
Initial intelligence suggested that Goose Green was lightly defended however as
the British paras began moving forward across the bare, windswept landscape
they came under increasing enemy fire while still managing to force some of
their Argentinean opponents to fall back.
As the enemy retired they combined with other units and actually strengthened
their defence line bringing down heavy machine gunfire on the advancing British
forcing them to take cover.
With the advance held up 2 Para’s commanding officer, Lt. Col.
‘H’. Jones moved forward to see for himself the situation on the
ground.
To regain the initiative and inspire his men Colonel H. led a charge
towards one of the main enemy trenches and was fatally shot down by an
Argentine army sniper.
In the hours following the death of their colonel the various elements of 2
Para began moving forward once more fighting a continuing series of fierce
skirmishes and fire fights that again forced the enemy back.
BATTLEFIELD SITUATION
By last light on 28 May the British Paratroopers had, after many hours of
fighting, surrounded, but not captured, the enemy position at Goose Green. The
paras were exhausted, cold and low on water, food and ammunition and their
temporary commander, Major Chris Keeble came up with a cunning plan...
He sent a message to the Argentine garrison commander offering him the
opportunity to surrender his force and save lives or face an
ongoing battle the next morning where he and his men would suffer the
horrendous consequences... and many more casualties.
Early the following day, 29 May, the enemy commander agreed to an unconditional
surrender and the Argentineans laid down their arms.
An amazing and vitally important victory was won by guts, perseverance and more
than a little guile too!
THE AFTERMATH
No battle, no matter how successful, comes without a cost...
The British lost 18 killed (16 Paras, one Royal Marine pilot
and one commando engineer) and 64 wounded.
The Argentine forces had almost 60 killed, another 86
wounded and more than 950 captured.
This latest ‘Falklands’ release shows six soldiers of both nations (3 paras and 3 Argentineans) in the immediate aftermath of the surrender as the British ‘Toms’ disarm and escort their prisoners towards a secure holding area.
TF003 “C’mon Pablo Keep moving!”
A young British para urges an enemy captive to move a little bit faster along
the way.
TF004 “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina”
During the Falklands War this famous song from the popular musical ‘Evita’
was often played by British regimental bands with a strong flavor of sarcasm!
The British troops themselves changed the original lyrics to...
“You don’t frighten me Argentina
The truth is we will defeat you
We’ll sink your carrier with our Sea Harrier
And sink you and your submarines too!”
This second paratrooper hums the famous tune as he escorts another P.O.W.
TF005 “Just Making Sure...”
Number three Para conducts a thorough search of this prisoner before allowing
him to rejoin his other captured comrades.
AVAILABLE: Mid August
Special Falklands Note: K&C is already hard at work on
additional British Forces in action, including a special figure of Lieut.
Col ‘H’ Jones, Victoria Cross and one of Britain’s finest little
fighting vehicles... a Blues & Royals ‘Scorpion’ Light
Tank
Plus some more of the opposition defending their
positions.
B. “... And Now For Something Completely
Different!”
From the cold, bare windswept islands of the South Atlantic to the grey
cobblestone streets and boulevards of Napoleonic Paris in the Age of
Bonaparte...
That’s a fairly long leap historically as well as geographically speaking but
in the wonderful world of toy soldiers and military miniatures nothing is
impossible...
NA501 “The Emperor’s Own Imperial Guards’ Fifes & Drums”
Here’s a neat and colourful little set of seven Napoleonic musicians from the
Emperor’s own Imperial Guard better known as ‘The Old Guard’,
possibly the most prestigious formation of Napoleon’s ‘Grande Armee’.
Famously devoted to their Emperor, he even referred to them as ‘my children’,
the members of the ‘Old Guard’ were specially selected based on their
physical traits, most notably, above average height and previous military
experience and battlefield bravery.
Similarly the musicians accepted into the regiment had to be of proven musical
ability and meet the same physical requirements. The sole exceptions were the
young boy musicians who were often orphans or teenage children of serving
Guardsmen who were trained by their elder fellow band members.
This seven-figure set includes the decoratively dressed Drum Major
wearing the be-plumed bicorne alongwith TWO adult side
drummers and ONE younger drummer. Alongside them are TWO
more ‘Old Guard’ fifers and a junior fifer.
The seven-figure set comes in its own special box with a decorative full colour
label.
NA502 “Old Guard Drummer”
Single, additional Side Drummers are available to enlarge your fife
& drum corps.
NA503 “Old Guard Fifer”
As above, individual Fifers to increase the fife & drum corps.
AVAILABLE: Mid August
Special Note:
The Boy Musicians and the Drum Major are only available as part
of the special seven-figure set.
C. “On The Streets of Old
Saigon”
Once more we journey from Paris, France to the streets of what was once one of
the principal cities of French Indo China... Saigon.
VN145 ‘The Pink Lady Vespa Girl’
Following the success of our first three Vietnamese ‘Vespa’ girls we
have had many requests from Vietnam collectors for additional variations.
Here is one more...
The traditional national dress of Vietnamese girls and women is the ‘Ao Dai’,
a long, form fitting, silk tunic worn with pants and most commonly seen on
special occasions such as TET, the New Year celebration or for weddings and funerals.
Before the ready availability of Western dress for Vietnamese women many
schools and colleges also required their female pupils and students to wear
some form of everyday ‘Ao Dais’ as part of their uniform.
This young women wears a colourful, pink-patterned version of the national
costume as she navigates her gleaming white Vespa through Saigon’s
bustling streets.
VN150 “The Red Vespa Girls”
As two more young Vietnamese women make their way about town, the passenger
here rides ‘side saddle’ as she clutches a small bunch of flowers...
Perfect for any Vietnam street scene!
AVAILABLE: Mid-Late August
D. ‘Bluejackets In Action’
World War II U.S. Navy uniforms have a unique lineage that dates all the way back
to the War of Independence.
All the uniform details such as bell-bottom trousers, neckerchiefs and sailors
collars all evolved from decorative or functional items of past naval uniforms
and modes of dress.
This means that when certain uniform features become several generations old,
they often become ‘traditions’.
It is these traditions that still inspire pride in every sailor who wears the uniform of the United States Navy.
One tradition that began in the mid 19th Century and lasted well into the 20th Century was the term of referring to sailors as ‘bluejackets’.
This came about from the introduction of the regulation navy-blue jumpers, bell-bottoms and caps for all enlisted seamen.
Eventually the navy blue uniform would become cold weather wear and part of the full dress parade uniform.
These latest U.S. Navy sailors / bluejackets are an alternative version of K&C’s long-retired but very popular ‘Sand Pebbles’ crew from a few year back.
Then all of our ship’s crew were dressed in ‘undress whites’ suitable for service in the tropics and the Far East.
The only exception were a pair of ‘swabbies’ on shore patrol duty. Personally speaking I’ve always liked the navy blue uniform and thought it would be fun to provide the alternative.
Although these first four sailors are in familiar poses lookout for future releases of all-new U.S. Navy sailors in their ‘bluejacket’ landing party role.
USN025 “Bluejacket Marching w/Rifle”
The M1903 Springfield Rifle was an American five-round, magazine-fed, bolt-action rifle used primarily in the first half of the 20th Century.
All of these ‘bluejackets’ are wearing web belt order complete with 10 x ammunition pouches, a water canteen and a sheathed bayonet in addition to long web gaiters.
USN026 “Bluejacket Standing Firing Rifle”
USN027 “Bluejacket Kneeling Firing Rifle”
USN028 “Bluejacket Port Arms”
AVAILABLE: Mid August
E. “KOKODA: The
Long Bloody Trail”
By the middle of 1942 Japan’s empire extended in depth across vast tracts of China,
the Pacific and Southeast Asia. During the six months after the
attack on Pearl Harbor, Hong Kong had fallen, rapidly followed by Malaya
and Singapore, then the Philippines and finally, the Dutch
East Indies.
Now the Japanese stood poised to attack Australia’s territory in New Guinea,
just one hundred miles north of the great southern continent.
With New Guinea as a forward base Japan’s navy and airforce could attack
Australia, threaten its link to America and also act as a ‘shield’ to
protect its newly-acquired Dutch East Indies.
Beginning in March 1942 the Japanese had already landed at various points on
the north coast of New Guinea and started to advance towards the key objective,
Port Moresby, the territory’s capital and main port.
In May 1942 however, the Battle of the Coral Sea thwarted an additional
Japanese plan to launch an amphibious assault directly on the port.
The main effort now would be an overland thrust south westwards along the Kokoda
Trail (or track) running across the rugged Owen Stanley
Mountains via the native village of Kokoda.
At this time, the island’s Australian commander mistakenly believed the Trail
was impassable for large-scale troop movements and the Japanese only
encountered minimal resistance from a small force of New Guinea volunteers.
By the end of July 1942 the Japanese had captured Kokoda and brought almost
14,000 battle-hardened troops into action.
FIGHTING WITHDRAWAL
As the military situation deteriorated more experienced Australian units began
arriving at Port Moresby and were immediately rushed northwards to the
front-line towards the rapidly advancing Japanese.
Following the first clash of arms on August 26 the Australian reinforcements
were pushed back once more to a ridge overlooking Port Moresby.
Once there fresh Australian reinforcements arrived to bolster the Aussie line
and the fighting moved elsewhere.
Soon however the Japanese realized they had seriously over-extended their
supply lines resulting in severe shortages of food and ammunition.
Even in retreat however the Japanese could still prove a deadly foe and many
more battles were to take place before, in November 1942, the Aussies managed
to retake Kokoda itself and a nearby airfield.
AUSSIE GRIT & GUTS
The struggle for the Kokoda Trail was marked by great courage and
endurance in the most appalling conditions by the soldiers of both sides.
Those who took part would never forget the harsh physical and mental demands of
fighting in a steep mountainous terrain with the constant damp of the tropical
jungle and the ever-present dangers of disease and discomfort.
For Australians in particular the Kokoda Trail Campaign is a testament
to their amazing endurance and tenacity that equals even the Legend of
Gallipoli.
This new King & Country series of figures once more pays tribute to the honour, memory and sacrifice of all the Australian fighting men who fought and died on that long bloody trail in a place called ‘KOKODA’.
KT001 “The Kokoda Digger”
A standing figure of the typical Aussie ‘digger’, dressed in ‘Jungle
Green’, slouch hat at an angle, and holding onto his trusty Lee Enfield
rifle because his life depends on it!
Note the weary but still defiant look of this Australian fighting man.
KT002 “The Kokoda Patrol”
A four-man fighting patrol led by an NCO (non commissioned officer)
carrying the .45 calibre Thompson Submachine Gun.
Backing him up are a walking Bren Gunner with his weapon at waist level
and a pair of riflemen with their .303 rifles covering both left and right
sides of the trail.
KT003 “Mates”
A pair of walking wounded Australians slowly making their way to the nearest
Field Hospital somewhere in the rear.
AVAILABLE: Mid August
2. BEING RETIRED IN August...
AE064
The Stone Sled Team
IDF003
Israeli Machine Gunner
IDF015
Israeli Para... Pointing
KX002
Sergeant Quincannon
KX034
Colonel Thursday
TRW034(P) Buffalo Calf Road Woman
USMC015 Marine Grenadier
And there you have it my friends... Not a huge number of releases but some very fine figures depicting some very important wars, campaigns and battles.
I hope you find something for you. In the meantime... until we meet
again.
All the very best and happy collecting!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country Ltd.