DISPATCHES

March 2022

WELCOME to March and our latest little collection of offerings that cover a reasonably broad span of King & Country ranges... old and modern.

Without further ado let’s get down to business...

1. BEING RELEASED IN MARCH

A. “HOT DESERT SANDS & COOL, CLEAR WATER”

As one of the great cradles of civilization Egypt has welcomed visitors and explorers into and onto its land for centuries. During this time all kinds of tradesmen, artists and workers have combined to provide all the necessary needs and requirements that these foreign guests and visitors might require.

Following the enthusiastic and successful introduction of our first four ‘DISCOVERING TUTANKHAMUN’ figures we decided to add a few more to help populate the scene and add a little more ‘local colour’ into the bargain.

AE089 ‘The Water Seller’

Cool, clean drinking water was always in short supply in Egypt until relatively modern times. To meet the obvious demand itinerant ‘Water Sellers’ carrying a large ceramic urn would be a familiar sight in most large Egyptian towns and cities.

They could also be found in areas where visitors and foreign tourists were likely to visit such as the famous ‘Valley of the Kings’ on the outskirts of Cairo.

Here is one such ‘Water Seller’ plying his wares to anyone with a few piasters * to spare and a thirst to be quenched.

AE090 ‘The Water Seller & His Customer’

As the seated customer enjoys a refreshing drink the seller pours another cup.

AE092 ‘Enjoying a Hookah’

A familiar sight throughout the Middle East and North Africa is the ‘Hookah’. This is a single or multi stemmed instrument for heating or vaporizing and then smoking either tobacco, flavoured tobacco or sometimes cannabis, hashish and even... opium. The smoke is passed through a water basin – often glass-based before inhalation.

In the Arab world and throughout the Middle East people smoke ‘hookahs’ as part of their culture and traditions. Social smoking is done with a single or double hose ‘hookah’ and even triple or quadruple versions on occasion.

Smoking a ‘hookah’ can be done at home privately or with company in cafes which are widespread social gathering places throughout the Arab world.

AVAILABLE: Mid-Late March

B. ‘Rally Round The Flag Boys’

Here is the second installment of King & Country’s 83^rd Pennsylvania Volunteers going into battle in the first half of the Civil War.

These additional figures join up with our first release to dramatically move forward against the enemy.

CW120 ‘Infantry Lieutenant w/Sword’

Unlike his fellow soldiers this officer is wearing the standard Union Army’s dark blue, frock coat.

Sabre clutched tightly in his right hand, the scabbard in his left, this young officer bravely leads his men towards the enemy position.

CW122 ‘The Stars & Stripes Forever’

This Colour Sergeant carries the ‘National Flag’ proudly as he counters shot and shell to inspire the other 83^rd Volunteers advancing and following alongside him. At his waist he carries a holstered Navy Colt revolver, his only weapon.

CW123 ‘Infantry Drummer Boy’

‘Drummer Boys’ played an important role in the American Civil War... on both sides of the conflict, with some becoming soldiers.

In the Union Army it was forbidden to recruit any boys under the age of 16 but many still joined eager and willing to do their part and join, what many thought would be a ‘great adventure’.

By and large, the most popular reason young boys joined up was to escape what they viewed as a dull boring life working on a farm. (In 1860 the population of the United States was more than 80% rural).

As drummers these young boys helped to issue commands on the battlefield using their drum rolls and bugle calls to send orders to different units and formations.

Soldiers marched to battle to the sound of drums and used their beat to regulate loading... firing... and reloading their weapons during the battle.

Our young K&C Drummer plays a steady beat as his comrades move into the attack.

CW128 ‘Infantry Corporal Charging’

CW130 ‘Infantry Advancing Shooting’

Learning forward as he takes the shot.

CW134 ‘Infantry Biting The Cartridge’

During the American Civil War the most commonly used cartridge for muzzle loading weapons was the ‘paper cartridge’.

A paper cartridge contained a pre-measured amount of powder with the metal ball in a sealed unit often coated with beeswax, lard or tallow.

The standard procedure for loading a musket or rifled musket involved the follows:

1. Hold the musket level, place at half cock and open the flash pan.

2. Bite open the paper cartridge, pour a small quantity of powder into the pan and close it.

3. Hold the musket vertically and pour the remaining powder down the barrel.

4. Ram the ball and remaining paper down the barrel with the ramrod. The paper, typically a thick, sturdy type keeps the bullet centred in the bore and the weapon is now ready to fire.

CW135 ‘Infantry Reaching For A Cartridge’

Most infantryman on both the Union and Confederate sides carried a leather cartridge pouch suspended from a leather belt that crossed the chest and hung on the rear right side of the soldier.

Most of these pouches contained at least 40 x paper cartridge rounds.

Having fired his last round this soldier reaches back and into the open pouch to find another fresh cartridge.

AVAILABLE: Mid March

Special Note: A THIRD RELEASE of 83^rd Pennsylvania Volunteers will be available in April 2022.

C. S.P.Q.R.

A fresh second look at a very popular previously-released figure.

ROM059 ‘The Senior Mounted Legate’

A ‘Legate’ was a very senior official who acted as a deputy general to governors of provinces conquered by Ancient Rome in the 1^st and 2^nd Centuries BC, during the period of the republic.

In the latter half of the 1^st Century BC, Julius Caesar began appointing ‘Legates’ to command entire Legions in the Army.

This practice became customary under the Emperor Augustus who gave these commanders great power and influence not only over their personal areas of responsibility but also in Rome itself.

Our figure represents no particular personality but portrays a strong political soldier of wide experience and knowledge in leading a Legion in battle, protecting a Roman Province in peacetime and dealing with the trials and tribulations of Rome itself.

AVAILABLE: Early March

D. ‘DESTINATION STANLEY!'

As many regular readers of ‘DISPATCHES’ know one of the most recent conflicts of the 20^th Century I am most interested in is The Falklands War of 1982.

Although lasting just 10 weeks it was a unique chapter in Britain’s long history and had a lasting influence that can still be felt today almost exactly 40 years after the war ended with a resounding British victory.

One of the most important factors that resulted in that victory was the quality and sheer professionalism of the forces that went ‘down south’... Marines, Paras, Guardsmen and Gurkhas backed up and supported by other regular British army soldiers, sailors and airmen who had years and sometimes decades of experience and military knowledge that came into play when the going got tough and the odds were against us.

Nowhere was that kind of guts, grit and battlefield endurance shown better than when the British Marines and Paras ‘yomped’ and ‘tabbed’ their way on foot, in appalling weather, fighting a series of battles on their way to Port Stanley, the Falkland Islands capital.

Following the introductory ‘Flaklands’ release of ‘The Yomper’ last December we are pleased and proud to announce this follow-up set...

TF002 ‘Destination Stanley’

A great little set of THREE additional ‘Bootnecks’ (R.M. slang for Royal Marines) yomping their way across East Falklands on their way towards Stanley.

Each Marine carried over 80 pounds of equipment and supplies as well as their personal weapons and extra ammunition.

Originally the Marines and Paras had expected to be transported forward by helicopters, but after the ‘Atlantic Conveyor’ which carried these aircraft was sunk the troops had to march across the island carrying everything on their backs.

K&C’s 3 X ‘Booties’ are carrying an assortment of weapons... The ever-reliable L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle), the venerable L4 Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun) and the Belgian – designed, British-built L7A2 GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun).

All naturally are in their standard British military DPM uniform and proudly wearing their green commando berets.

AVAILABLE: Early March

Special Note: More ‘Falklands War’ figures are ‘in the works’ including red beret Paras and a few Argentinians!

E. ‘THE REAL WEST’

Three additional versions of well-armed Native American warriors...

TRW179 ‘Stands Tall’ firing Carbine

A dismounted Cheyenne ‘Dog soldier’ firing his Carbine.

TRW183 ‘Eagle’s Wing’

It’s not easy to shoot accurately from a galloping horse but this particular Sioux warrior is willing to try.

TRW184 ‘Crouching Apache’

Cautiously approaching an unsuspecting victim.

AVAILABLE: Early March

F. ‘Good Morning Vietnam!’

As I often say, “What’s a DISPATCHES Without A Little Trip To Vietnam...?”

VN130 ‘Kneeling NCO with Binos’

A ‘Grunt’ Non Commissioned Officer M16 in one hand takes a closer look at an enemy position through his binos.

VN137 ‘Cautiously Advancing’

Two ‘Grunts’ carefully move along a wall as one edges around a corner the other prepares to back him up.

VN131 ‘FMJ Rafterman’

A fully paid-up member of Full Metal Jacket’s ‘Lusthog Squad’. Lance Corporal ‘Rafterman’ Compton is ‘Joker’s’ buddy and companion when dispatched up to Hue during the TET Offensive.

As a ‘Combat Photographer’ he brings along his cameras to get some of the ‘action‘ on film. In this great movie he will see plenty of action!

VN132 ‘Smoke Break’

This Aussie infantryman enjoys a few minutes rest and a break from ‘humping’ his M60 Machine Gun.

AVAILABLE: Mid March

2. Being Retired This Month...

As usual some come in... others move out.

AE032	Wedding Couple
AF013*	Colonel Glenn Eagleston
AF015*	Captain Donald J. Strait
AF019*	Flight Commander
AF020*	Pilot w/ Map
AF021*	Synchronize Your Watches
AF022*	Kneeling Pilot
AF026*	Standing Mechanic
DD262	WarDaddy
FW218	Lieut. Col. Winston Churchill
SP069	BARBED WIRE
WS346	Dismounted Tank Crew #1

Great Sales!

Andy C. Neilson

Co-founder & Creative Director

King & Country Ltd.