BEF Northern France 1914

 

News Photos from the front: Northern Franch August 1914, British Expeditionary Forces (BEF) advance through a ruined French village to stop the advance of Imperial German troops.

When it comes to stopping power, nothing works better than a battery of the excellent Vickers .303 machine gun. The Huns will soon turn tail and run back to Germany in the face of these brave Tommie's.

                          These are metal pieces from Renegade Figures back in 2010.

August 1914-BEF Victoriously Advances in Northern France

                                                                News from the Front

The British Government has released the photos of valiant British Tommie's advancing through a smashed village somewhere in Northern France. The government reports that our troops are meeting, defeating and pushing back the Imperial Greman forces.

Covering our victorious forces movements are units of Vickers heavy machine guns such as these.  What enemy could stand up to such troops?

In reality the British were forced to retreat from the initial German attack until the Battle of the Marne on September 5-12, 1914.  At first the British reporters were allowed to give the names of the villages/towns where the BEF was located. Astute readers with maps noted that while the British Government was reporting strings of victories, the location of the British Army was in fact speedily retreating from the frontier and moving ever closer to Paris. The British Government, realizing the danger of such defeatist information, quickly instituted censorship of the press that was to remain in effect until the end of the war.

Flash: Christmas Truce Breaks Out On Western Front Lines

This grainy photo from our intrepid front line reporter Flash N. Pan shows the peace of Christmas breaking out among the ruins of war.  Reports of the unofficial truce up and down the battle lines have filtered through the ranks...one day of peace on Christmas. 

Latest News-German Advance on Paris Stopped in Miracle on the Marne

A photo from the battle showing brave French and British troops in desperate fighting near the Marne River.  The German soon admitted defeat and retreated before our victorious warriors.

 

All are 28mm metal pieces.

23-8-1914: Battle of Mons, Britian First Battle of the Great War

In their first full engagement with the Germans in the Great War, the BEF's superior firepower shocked the Germans.  So effective was the British marksmanship the Germans thought they were facing massed Machineguns rather than just riflemen.  These are metal 28mm pieces from Renegade Figures.

Fuel for the Machines of War

POL (Petrol-Oil-Lubricants) the life blood of modern armies is delivered in many ways. This civilian delivery vehicle has been requisitioned by the army for its needs.

A simple fast drab green paint job has been added to camouflage the truck for service near the front. That and heavy use on dirt tracks that pass for roads have covered its once bright finish into the worn and dirty vehicle you see here.

The British soldier is a 28mm figure for size comparison. The base vehicle is a die cast metal piece from Lledo.

Sweeping Fire from the HMG Section

A full section of Vickers HMG's lays down a sweeping wall of bullets into the advancing Germans in August 1914.



Taking advantage of whatever cover is available, the machine gun teams give valuable assistance to the outnumbered BEF.






The water-cooled .303 caliber Vickers could fire 500 rounds a minute. Using traversing fire a section of HMG's could cut down advancing infantry with ease.

Vickers HMG-The Great Equalizer

From the earliest days of the 20th century through two world wars and countless colonial battles the Vickers HMG was the great equalizer.

This crew is fighting to hold back the German advance in Northern France during the "Guns of August" 1914.

These are some of the 28mm Renegade figures I picked up while in England in April.

Winter Command

In countless engagements it was the commander in the field that held the immediate responsibility for the action. Here the regimental colonel and his guard, in cold weather gear, await developments from the battle line. His next decisions could spell victory or defeat, life or death for hundreds of men under his command.


These are 28mm metal Renegade figures.

The Old Contemptibles

Northern France, August, 1914, and the BEF meets the German Jurgernaught head on. Men of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, 12th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division stand ready to take on the Hun.

During the early days of the war, the outnumbered professional soldiers of the King earned title the Old Contemptibles of which they were justifiably proud. At the cost of most of the original force, the Old Contemptibles of the BEF and their French Allies were able to stop the German advance outside of Paris.


Their blood and sacrifice had won the first round, unfortunately four more blood soaked years were ahead before the guns were silenced at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month of 1918.



These are 28mm metal early WWI figures from Renegade.

Guardians of Empire

Post number 100 is two of our British heros, Captain Reidhammer and Major Fisttriger, DSO ready to face any and all treats to the British Empire. The subjects of His Imperial Majesty can rest easy with these brave officers on duty.

Captain Samuel Vines Reidhammer -Colonial Enforcer

Captain Samuel Vines Reidhammer is on detached

service from the 25th-Kings Own Borders. Assisting the Colonial Service Branch, he is currently doing duty in several unsavory areas of the Empire enforcing the rule of law for King and Country. He is armed with the latest army pistol, the Webly No. 2, Mark I in .38 cal.
This metal miature is from Pulp Figures Rugged Sons of Empire range.

Major Rupert Fisttriger, DSO

Major Rupert Fisttriger DSO is a sample of the tough minded loyal British officer responsible for the safety of the Empire. From Far East Asia to the Northwest frontier; from the Middle East to North Africa and the Land Beyond, while on patrol, leading by example,or putting his men before his own saftey, Rupert is there for King and Country. His was the type of officer that expanded and defended the greatest empire in history. His prefered weapon is Mark VI Webley in a man-stopping .455 cal. This is another 28mm metal miniature from Pulp Figures.