W.Britain French Imperial Guard Standing Defending, No 2

French Imperial Guard Standing Defending, No 2 Includes: - Detailed diecast painted figure - Certificate of the figure - Matte Paint finish - 1:30 Scale Historical information: Members of the Old Guard were selected based on physical traits, most notably above average height – Grenadiers had to be at least 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m). Indeed, the imposing stature of the men made these battle-hardened veterans the shock troops of their day. Highly trained in hand-to-hand combat and advanced bayonet techniques earned them a fearsome reputation. And the bayonet came in quite handy when defending after your single-shot musket was discharged. Contrary to popular belief the bayonet was actually difficult to use – not that it was an overly complicated weapon but that when it came time to employ the device many soldiers recoiled at the thought of puncturing the flesh of another human. This is where the elite training of the Guard took over and the steel thrust home.

W.Britain 24th Foot OR Standing Holding Helmet, 1879 (1:30)

24th Foot OR Standing Holding Helmet, 1879 (1:30) Includes: - Detailed diecast painted figure - Certificate of the figure - Matte Paint finish - 1:30 Scale Historical information: To take one’s place in a military formation the soldier is ordered to fall in and the roll is called. The command is given: Squad Atten-shun! (Attention). The soldier brings his left leg up at 90 degrees and stamps down so both his feet are in a ‘V’ shape. Order Arms! The soldier’s weapon will be lowered so that the butt is resting on the ground, touching the outer toes of the right boot, and being supported by a slightly bent right arm, muzzle vertical. Lined up smartly, by section, the company will now be counted. They sound off as the individual’s name is called and their numbers reckoned.

W.Britain More Ammo Man! Lt John Chard

More Ammo Man! Lt John Chard Includes: - Detailed diecast painted figure - Anglo-Zulu War Collection - Certificate of the figure - Matte Paint finish - 1:30 Scale Historical information: On 22 January 1879, 32-year-old Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard set out for Rorke’s Drift with the news that Zulus had been spotted moving on the British camp at Isandlwana. Chard’s engineer’s eye was crucial. He decided to defend the Drift; it was a wise decision since any attempt to retreat would undoubtedly have exposed the men to a Zulu attack on the open veldt. He directed that a line of barricades be run in front of the post. His soldiers would be sheltered by a wall of mealie bags and biscuit boxes above their own head height. This put the Zulu warriors fighting with close-quarter weapons at a fatal disadvantage. The battle had cost the lives of approximately 600 Zulus, while just 17 British soldiers were killed – a testament to the effectiveness of Chard’s barricades.