The Last Earl Of Montrose

The easterly mist covered the small village of Upper Wuthering, the quite of the dawn was broken with the sound of three armoured vehicles tearing along the hedgerow lined road, the car lights lite up the main village square as the vehicles screeched to a halt, ghostly figures set up a perimeter around one of the armoured cars.   The people of these parts had seen very little of the troubles of the civil war being so far to the south west, quietly closed their blinds and quickly enter their cellars, hoping and praying that they would see the light of day once more...........

A tall dignified man exited the motor vehicle; it was none other than the James William Graham the Earl of Montrose, former peer and Navy Commander, his personal bodyguard stood by in full body armour and a large detachment of the CWAF (Coventor Women’s Auxiliary Force) had quickly taken up positions anxious and hoping their rescue would be on time as most of their vehicles were almost out of fuel.

Hot on their heels were the notorious Republic of Scotland (ROS) toughs lead by Captain Archibald Stuart Sinclair McPherson, tagging along was his best chum and adventurer Bertram Chudliegh Starkaddder leading the 6th coy of the Republic of Scotland Boy Scouts (ROSBC), like all ROS men they fancied  loud bikes, trucks and big guns.

Just south of the Border the “Kings Own Scottish Borderers” (KOSB) received a phone call that a number of armed men had arrived in Upper Wuthering, The officer on duty young 1st Lt Ralph Fiennes-de Bohun decided that he would nip the trouble makers in the bud before they crossed the border and decided to investigate.

Unbeknown to all parties a snatch and grab crew from the IRA lead by Liam Shamus O'Phartie  of the  Irish Republican Army, seeking Royalists or anyone of quality to snatch and use for propaganda.

Turn one and two seen the ROS and ROSBC advanced noisily up the road towards the village the scouts sweeping to the left and the ROS went up the centre, the KOSB advanced cautiously up the road and debussed within sight of the village, the IRA headed into cover sending the Lewis team and a rifle squad towards the local tavern. The KOSB advanced cautiously up the road and debussed within sight of the village, the IRA headed into cover sending the Lewis team and a rifle squad towards the local tavern.

Turn three LMG and small arms fire sprayed out from the village some ROS and KOSB men are pinned, the scouts do some house decorating and clearing with grenades and the IRA men continue towards the tavern.

Turn four
The sound of angry bees greeted the  Kings Own Scottish Borderers as rounds from a LMG whizzed into their midst  the KOSB needed to follow rules of engagement  :lol:  so they returned fire but could only engage targets they could see, several men were pinned the truck driver was fatally hit.

The IRA men reached the top floor of the tavern and prepared the LMG, the ROS and ROBC continue house clearing with grenades.

turn five
The IRA wins the all important initiative and enfilade the Coventor’s pinning most of the CWAF in the street, the KOSB head towards the cover of the buildings, the ROS  continue firing but a number go down the ROSBC are caught in the open and are pinned.

turn six
To add to the confusion Captain Peter Sinclair arrives in the Warrnambool Air Leagues aircraft to see what all the fuss is about, he decides to strafe the street causing a lot of casualties among the CWAF and the Coventor’s. The IRA Lewis gunner decides to fire upon the plane and manages a engine hit, they want Montrose alive! The ROS and ROSBC decide to take cover in the buildings

turn seven,
The ROS and ROSBC decide retreat is a better type of Valour. The KOSB decide to start house clearing, two privates surprise Montrose but are gunned down, The remaining KOSB stay hiding. The CWAF are all killed in the crossfire and the remaining Montrose men flee into the buildings. The Covenanter’s rescue unit arrives on the edge of the table. Sinclair decides he had better head home

turn eight and nine
The IRA men occupy a Covenanter armoured car and decide to intercept the rescue squad and manage to stop them in their tracks. The remaining IRA members take Montrose alive and are last seen heading for the coast!

Figures
Cannon Fodder
Artizan
Musketeer
Bob Murch
Old Glory
Foundry
Hassel Free
Hinterland Miniatures
Vehicles
Sloppy Galopy
Company B
Various Matchbox diecast
plastic kits

bought to you by the Goulburn Valiant Stormers, Australia

cheers
Matt

Scola Scutariorum Clibanariorum

Scola Scutariorum Clibanariorum

This is the first of my units for my Western/Eastern Late Roman Army from 330 to around 400, This army is being built to fight my Sassanids. The First unit I had to paint was the Scola Scutariorum Clibanariorum, I decided upon A and A miniatures’ as they are beefy looking figures, befitting a guard unit and depict the Clibanariorum armor and the Nesaean horse nicely (and my Sassanid cavalry are also from this range).

A Short History

The Scola Scutariorum Clibanariorum were part of the “Schola” or the Imperial Guard cavalry retinue, Each Schola was between 500 and 600 men. Many of the recruits for the Palatine troops were from barbarian tribes, Franks, Goths, Alans, Alamanni, Armenians and Isaurians. The Palatine troops were under command directly by the Emperor, the Magister Officiorum had direct control over the disposition of the Schola. Each Schola was commanded by a tribune who ranked as a Comes.

By 400AD Scola Scutariorum Clibanariorum were part of the eastern Empire Army, according to the 'notitia dignitatum. The Scola Scutariorum Clibanariorum were present at the battle of Strasbourg/Argentoratum 357AD and they disgraced themselves by retreating when their commander was unhorsed (possibly Hormisdas who was a Persian) and several animals falling over in exhaustion. 

This event is noted by both Ammianus, 16.12.37-41 and in the “Historia Nova” of Zosimus, at the battle of Strasbourg/ Argentoratum in 357 (HN 3.3.4-5):

And I ought not omit what Caesar did after this victory. "He had a troop of 600 horse, well trained in war, on whose strength and experience he so relied that he hazarded many of his hopes with them. When the battle began, the whole army fell upon the enemy with maximum enthusiasm so that the Roman army was gaining considerable advantage, but these alone broke ranks and fled, and even though Caesar himself and a few others rode after them and called them back to share in the victory, they would not have any part in the battle. Caesar was therefore very properly angry with them because, as far as they were concerned, they had abandoned their countrymen to the barbarians, but he did not impose on them the penalty defined by law; rather he dressed them in women's clothing and led them through the camp to expel them, thinking this a punishment worse than death for manly soldiers."

Dressed as women could refer to the removal of their military belts and being discharged as women so no land rights.

Concerning Cataphractarii and Clibanarii

I am not a believer that cataphractarii and clibanarii were one and the same. The first Roman Cataphract unit known is ala I Gallorum et Pannoniorum catafractata. The evidence we have for this unit is in a diploma dated 1st June 125 (when it was stationed in Moesia Inferior; it remained in that province until at least the late 150s).

Both types appear in the Notitia Dignitatum and units of both types are included in a field army. The cataphracts are listed first, this I believe indicates that not only did they differ but the cataphractarii are the senior of the units. The difference, I suggest, lies in the way that they were equipped and mounted.
Western vs Eastern heavy cavalry

The Western type had their beginnings with Bosporan contarii , however the Roman type we are considering were introduced by the Sarmatian tribes. Both rider and horse were armoured; the man was armed with contus, bow and sword, and did not use a shield (Tacitus, Histories, 1.79). Tacitus calls the rider's armour catafractes and says that it was made from scales of horn or hard leather and was so heavy that the man had difficulty getting up when unhorsed. Trajan's Column shows Sarmatian cavalry with both horse and rider wholly covered with tight-fitting scale armor.

I have a theory to put forward that the Clibanariorum were mounted on the larger Nisean horses (which were larger than there western types and in bred on farms around Rome by this stage) with bronze scale armor (as horse sweat does not rust bronze and it polishes nicely) and that the men were armored head to foot, and armed with two handed Contus and the bow in the eastern style.

There was much discussion in the Roman Army Talk forum on whether clibanarii used shields or not. Certainly, the Parthian and Sasanian rock reliefs do not show their predecessors using them and Julian, in describing Constantius' clibanarii, states specifically that they did not need shields (Jul. Or. II, 57C) also I have a theory that the six Schola units of the Magister Officiorum only five shields are depicted on the Notitia Dignitatum, so perhaps the Scola Scutariorum Clibanariorum did not have them! (even though Scuta means shield!!!!)

A few Qoutes

Nazarius, Paneg., 24.5

What a spectacle that is said to have been, how dreadful to behold, how terrible, horses and men alike enclosed in a covering of iron.
Maxentius' clibanarii at the battle of Turin, AD 312.


Nazarius, Paneg., 24.5
When all had been killed to a man and your soldiers were untouched, people transferred the horror inspired by their armour to wonder at the victory . . .
Maxentius' clibanarii again.

Libanius, Oration XVIII, 18.37
. . . cavalry so invulnerably equipped as to lend them a terrible aspect . . .
Constantius' Scola Scutariorum Clibanariorum, AD 357.

Ammianus, 16.10.8
. . . all masked, furnished with protecting breastplates and girt with iron belts, so that you might have supposed them statues (simulacra) polished by the hand of Praxiteles, not men.
Scola Scutariorum Clibanariorum escorting Constantius on his entry into Rome, AD 357.

Claudian, In Rufinum II, 357-364
. . . the limbs within give life to the armour's pliant scales so artfully conjoined, and strike terror into the beholder. 'Tis as though iron statues (simulacra) moved and men lived cast from the same metal . . . each stands alone, a pleasure yet a dread to behold, beautiful yet terrible . . .
Rufinus' clibanarii, AD 395.


Cheers
Matt

Equites Sagittarii

Late Roman Equites Sagittarii 

This is the second and third of my completed units for my Western/Eastern Late Roman Army from 330 to around 400. This army is being built to fight Guys Sarmatians, Dave and Andrews Romans and my Goths and Sassanids! These guys also came off the painting table at the same time as around 12 other units, these guys also do not have shields so no wait of my daughters Graphic design work and transfers.....so they were easy to post as they are done.

Again they are A and A miniatures, The sagittarii are quite versatile and could be used in any of my Fall of the West armies. I have based them for Impetus so the Equites sagittarii seniores and the Equites sagittarii iuniores look as though they are part way through a exercise known as the circulus cantabricus or Cantabrian circle, I am quite happy with the result!

Cheers

matt

Carry On Up the Waa-Zooo

A valiant Stormers Pulp game set in the White Nile circa 1935

It was cool afternoon in the Highlands, the sun was setting fast, a chilly breeze swept across the courtyard and cut clean through your coat like a frozen blade, before taking the breath from your lungs. There were several figures were headed towards the lights of the “Gutted Dog”.
Huddled in a corner near the crackling open fire, several Archaeologists were speaking of the exciting find by Professor Buggarov and his team from the University of Glasgow, the hieroglyphic piece of stone spoke of a treasure beyond belief hidden in the upper reaches of the White Nile. The lost Treasure and Tomb of the Kushite Pharaoh Analmaye on a branch of the White Nile. The group of archaeologists cannot agree on a team leader so they all leave the “Gutted Dog” mumbling under their breathes, “I will be the first” is heard as they head into the cold night.................

Turn 1
Surprise, surprise all of the teams arrive at the villages at the foothills of the Waa-Zooo falls at the same time,  the Submarine cannot travel any further upstream and has unloaded her crews, a river Taxi operates on the river this time of year, and the teams are then split on either side of the river.

The submarine arrives unloading its cargo

Some teams land on the west bank

On the Sudanese village side of the river Professor Buggarov with his University of Glasgow team Prof.Rufus T Firefly of the Freedonia, Lilli Marlene...adventuress...The Browning Brothers, Kid and Boy...Teddy "The Owl" Rosefield...Harry "shotgun"Haroldsen... Tony Greystokell...Drogo Baggins... Toby Samwise and finally Albert Baden-Powell. Professor Buggarov manages to persuade the local Riverboat taxi captain to take him further up the river by boat hopefully saving him some time and the hassle.

Beside them the adventurous Professor Emily Fiterole was sponsored and protected by her long time lover and Chinese Warlord Whoo Flung Dung, and his gang of cutthroats, Capt Yaaatzee, Cpl Dimsum, Lcpl (Lewis gunner) Chopsuuee, and privates How-So, How-Lo, Chill-lee, Fa-lee, Fa-So, and Hung-low.

Prof Crispian Smythe-Murchley (pith helmet)along with Doctor Woodbine Starkadder sensibly employed a local Guide “Hwatt” upon arrival and he served them well till the last, his forever faithful friend Col. Felix Anstruther-Clarke, Jasbir Randhawa Singh his batman, his Mad Scotsman Mattie McWillow armed with a large stick and a bad temper, Mr Tommy Smith is in the plus-fours and holding a brolly, Billy Fish, The Kid (the kid), Bloke armed only with his fists and a simple ethical code and Captain Conrad (the feller with the 303 and the cap)

They move through the village

(I didn't realise that my EX mother in Law was around then!!!!)

Bananas 5p ready for monkey time

Which Witch Doctor

Witch Doctor

Witch Doctor

And on the Ethiopian side of the River,
Colonel Archibald Fenton DCM KFC with his Bengali Volunteer Rifles along with Captain   Walter Walcarpet, Cpl Bill Poster, Lcpl I Wanna Sigh(thompson), Lcpl I Will “monkey hunter” Sigh (boys ATR), Private I Gunna Sigh (lewis gunner), Private I Shudda Sigh ( bren gun), Private Ray Sleader, Private Howard I-No and Private Terry Cotta.


Major Robert “Bingo” Rodgering and his faithful White Russians, lead by Captain Alexander “Bullo” Stroganov, Sgt Ivor Tossoff, Cpl Ivor Igottagoski, Lcpl Imar Flogoff, Private Mickeal Mylifesuckski, Private Ivor Haddenough, Private Boris Kosco, Private Piot Nevergoski, Private Sasha Nevergoski, Private Vasily Igottagoski, and Private Vladamir Zuckski.

Professor Lawrence of Argh-Rabia and his Protectors of the Sands lead by Captain Mustapha Poo, Sgt M’Balz Es-Hairi , Cpl Haid D’Salaami, lcpl Hous Bin Pharteen, Private I-Bin Pharteen, Private I-Zheet M’Drawzz, Private Yuliqa Mididiq, Private Al-Suq Akweer, Private Yul Strokheet Al-Wauch, and  Private Mustaf Herod Apyur Poupur .

and finally Professor Witchheimerand his gang of adventurers, Colonel Sebastian Cutthroat-Smythe MC and Bar, the celebrated novelist Eric Blair, Naughty Lola (in the aircraft) Dennis “machine gun” Thompson, Hamish Mctavish, Sophia Lockhart Flawse, and...........

Turn two

Prof Fiterole and her crew set off at a fast pace and are the first to enter the long Elephant grass, a Rhino is surprised and charges the crew goring private How-So of the warlords gang.

Meanwhile in the middle of the River Professor Buggarov and his River boat intrudes on a Bull Hippo who doesn’t like boats invading his territory and surfaces only to get a gob full of lead for his trouble, several times

surprise Hungry Hungry Hippo

 On the other side of the river the four teams push on flushing some Hippos and their calves out, Major Rodgering loses the twin Brothers of his team, trampled to death Private Piot Nevergoski , Private Sasha Nevergoski. Private Mustaf Herod Apyur Poupur is pulverised and has ended up a looking like a brown pile, and Private Ray Sleader of the Bengali Volunteer Rifles is now minus an appendage.

Turn Three
Prof Fiterole continues up the mountain, but fails to notice a Idol in the brush, upon passing the sacred idol the hat hunters pounce, taking two hats  (with heads attached!) for the chiefs hat collection

The Hat Hunters pounce

Dr Starkadder and his team travel in safety with the faithful guide preventing them getting in any trouble.

 Prof Buggarov departs his river taxi and elects to travel by foot, meanwhile  Naughty Lola surveys the lay of the land from the safety of her aircraft

Prof Buggarov come as far as they can and unload

And the teams get to view the Waa-Zooo Falls and the great stepped Pyramid and Giant temple atop them

The Waa-Zooo falls

Turn Four
Prof Fiterole continues across the rope bridge without any further problems.

Dr Starkadder’s team follows close behind as they head up to the caves.

skull rock

However things on the other side of the river have become quite nasty for Maj Rodgering with a certain Skull rock was passed a rather peeved large ape appeared, and takes out three members of his team Sgt Ivor Tossoff, Private Vasily Igottagoski, and Private Ivor Haddenough.

A rather large ape appeared

All of the gangs got a shot off but the kill shot was performed by “monkey hunter” Lcpl I Will Sigh with his boys ATR.

The AT rifle brings down King Kong


King Kong

Turn 5 and 6
The teams enter the cave and are bothered by some locals upon exit

Professor Lawrence of Argh-Rabia team loses another two members Privates Al-Suq Akweer and Yul Strokheet Al-Wauch. The rest of the teams pass by without a loss.

Professor Lawrence of Argh-Rabia is the first to make it too the temple and mounts the steps, followed by Major Rodgering

And all the teams read the inscriptions and those who can translate the hieroglyphics decide to descend into the dark tavern below.
Professor Witchheimer takes head of the hieroglyphic warning and remains outside

Turn 7
The first team to descend is Professor Lawrence of Argh-Rabia team, who find a nasty surprise at the bottom of the rope and lose three members Hous Bin Pharteen,I-Bin Pharteen and I-Zheet M’Drawzz,  to the crocodiles leaving only four team members left in his party. Professor Buggeroff team make it down safely. Dr Starkadder’s team make it down safely

“Hwatt” Starkadder’s guide doesn’t make it and is taken by the crocodiles! It was heard “Jolly Good, no need to pay the chap now is there” in the semi darkness. And finally Prof Fiterole and Colonel Archibald Fenton DCM KFC with his Bengali Volunteer Rifles.

Hwatt the faithful guide is lost to the crocodiles.....no need to pay him now

Turn 8
The hieroglyphics on the walls warn of the impending doom and some teams are scared and leap into the water returning to the waterfall, leaving on Professor Buggeroff, Dr Starkadder and Colonel Archibald Fenton DCM KFC and there teams to seek out the sarcophagus of Pharaoh Analmaye.
Dr Starkadder sends Bloke and the Big Willow backed up by Jasbir Randhawa Singh to move the sarcophagus

They successfully move it only to find the mummy of Pharaoh Analmaye protecting his treasure, Bloke surprised lays a quick three punch combo and the Big Willow  finishes him off with a Glasgow Kiss, and a swift boot in the crown jewels for his troubles.

Willow finishes off the mummy with a Glasgow kiss

Professor Buggeroff, Dr Starkadder and Colonel Archibald Fenton DCM KFC depart the tomb laden with treasures beyond their belief, and catch the submarine home.......

A very fine adventure! A big thanks to the lads for a great day out

Brought to you by the Goulburn Valiant Stormers

Terrain by Me, Bluewillow
Figures in no necessary order from
Bob Murch (chinese acting as Russians , Chinese)
Foundry (tribesmen)
Artizan various
Hasslefree various
Daze miniatures (King Kong)
Essex Miniatures
Westwind
Copplestone
Ral Partha
Games Workshop (mummy)
Schleich animals
mixed plastic dinos and animals from Starkadder's and Bluewillow's collection
scratch built sub and steamer (built by Bluewillow, now in Starkadder's and Vinnie's (Lonely Gamers) possession respectively)

Cheers

Matt