The Big Push 5.

The 1er Regiment Mixte de Marche de Cavalerie du Levant. A very impressive title for the composite French cavalry regiment that served in Palestine. Formed from two squadrons of Spahis and two squadrons of the 4er Chasseurs d'Afrique, the pre-war colourful French Colonial uniforms have given way to mustard khaki and Adrian helmets. Again, painted, based and varnished speedily over four days for the Syria 1918 demo game at Colours 2018.

These are Crusader Miniatures early WW2 French cavalry with a GWM French Dragoon Officer to lead them. Only three Crusader figures have their original horses. The other horses are of unknown origin as this unit was scratched together from some figures that Adrian and I had in our respective lead piles. Some of the Crusader horses had been used elsewhere. Some purists may complain that the equipment is not correct but I don't care. What was important was that we have some mounted troops, clearly identified as French, wearing adrian helmets. I don't have time to carve off and resculpt the canvas ANP 31 bag. Paint it khaki and it is just a bag! These chaps appear briefly in this piece of footage from the Imperial War Museum entitled "Armageddon" (4 mins 44 seconds in). Here they are in a screenshot from the film.

Next.... a command base featuring Captain R H M MacIntyre MC, Officer Commanding 7th Light Car Patrol, his driver and a bloke frantically trying to signal the leading elements of the Desert Mounted Corps.... and a car, of course.

The Big Push 3.

More for the Syria 1918 game at Colours, Newbury, this September.

Firstly, the last two vehicles for 12th Light Armoured Motor Battery. The Rolls Royce Armoured Car is from HLBS and the Rolls Royce Tender is from Company B.

The excellent Crossley Tender from Trenchworx. This will supply 7th Light Car Patrol.

Some Crusader Miniatures early WW2 French infantry painted up as French Legion d'Orient.

Dismounted French Spahis. Woodbine Designs figures with added greenstuff on the headgear and a number of Empress Miniatures SCW figures in adrian helmets to make up the numbers.

Next? 20th Mounted Machine Gun Squadron and a unit of French Mounted troops.

Asia Corps Cavalry

I didn't have a lot to go on when I was tasked to create figures to represent the single squadron of German cavalry that served with the Asia Corps in Palestine in 1917-18. All there was was a single grainy photograph showing a few lance armed troopers.

So, taking the Crusader Miniatures WW2 German Cavalry as a base the snips, scalple, drill, greenstuff  and Woodbine heads in soft caps were pressed into use.

Once painted we get this.

Add a few more and I have to say I am very pleased with the end result.