Saturday 26 January 2013

Battle of Newton 1779

This battle was played following an article from Wargammes Illustrated.
The Loyalist troops behind their breastworks on what eventually became called Sullivan's hill.

The Mohawks deploy into the woods and swamp.

The American's advance towards the Loyalist position.

The American militia take the left flank.

The New York brigade form up.

The American right made up of mostly Continental Units.

The American artillery.

Ian begins his advance, Morgans rifles lead the way.

The Mohawks attempt to flank the American right and destroy the artillery.

The Loyalist militia and Brant's White volunteers probe the American left.

The King's Royal Regiment of New York deploy off the hill to take on the advancing Americans.

The Americans just before deploying into line, and decimating the Mohawks with concentrated musketry.
It was a battle fought by Loyalist Troops and American Patriots. They had been neighbors, then became mortal enemies. This battle was the main action of the campaign. The losers were the Mohawk nation who were forced to flee first to Fort Niagra, then into Canada following the American Revolution. Their decendants now make up the Kanawake reserve in Quebec.

Monday 14 January 2013

It's snowing in Chiba!

Holy cow, the white stuff  whalloped us on Monday! The Tokyo area is to got 10cm which for here is nearly unheardof.
The trains will be delayed for some time.
I had to spend an hour shovelling snow as in Japan, there are no snowplows.
This is the entrance to Shin-Kamagaya station in Kamagaya, Chiba prefecture. I was able to catch the shot when there were no cars or walkers coming through.
Check out my video clip on youtube on the Japanesehighlander channel.

Saturday 12 January 2013

Happy New Year the year of the Snake, British Regiments and Talavera 1809

Happy New Year to readers of my blog.
Here in Japan, New Years is a big event, but my wife and I usually like a quiet one, as Christmas to us means a bit more.
I had planned to include a Battle of Quebec 1775 video but it failed.
I did however take some shots of my British regiments. I'm having some trouble uploading pictures but may have figured it out with the new google system.




British troops in Nova Scotia trying to stay warm in the winter

Composite Light Infantry at Louisbourg

The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, whowere the only British unit to break into Montcalm's defences at Ticonderoga.

The 78th Fraser's Highlanders whe were raised as cannon fodder but proved their worth as one of the toughest regiments in North America.

The 17th Regiment, one of the more experienced Regiments in Nova Scotia from the early 1750's

The 28th Regiment

The 40th Regiment, the most senior regiment in Nova Scotia having been in the colony since 1717.

The 1st Regiment The Royal Regiment

The 55th Regiment which was at Ticonderoga

The 60th Regiment

The British Army at Quebec

Our battle of Talevera was an interesting little adventure. My buddy Trevor came over again and took the place as the French commander.
Ian was the Spanish commander while I took the British troops.
Unfortunately for Ian and I, Trevor had had some experiences playing D&D back in the day, thus was able to advance his troops as collums. As the British player, I attempted to form line and blast the French with musketry. The Royal Artillery fared well in taking out the French artillery, but the French cavalry charged into the Rifles and Light Infantry.
Eventually, the French right charged into the Spanish who broke and ran. As the British were unable to hold their line against the French, they then fell back.
Trevor won the day.
Next time, we'll meet on an American battlefield.


 
 

Friday 11 January 2013

Fortifications of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

Fort Edward, Windsor, Nova Scotia. Built as part of the enlargment of English Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, it's first use was as a holding camp for hundreds of Acadians who were then taken on ships to New England. It further served as the headquarters of the 2nd Battalion 84th Regiment, Royal Highland Emigrants during the American Revolution

Fort Howe, Saint John, New Brunswick. The site consists of a blockhouse. A small encampment was stagged by the recreated 2nd Battn 84th RHE
These are a few shots I've taken over the years with my family back in Canada.
Further shots to follow once I can post more pictures again.

When I can figure out how to post more pictures, I will put up shots of the Halifax Citadel, Fort Beausjour/Cumberland
This is me back in 1995 as a Gunner of 3rd Brigade, Royal Artillery at the Halifax Citadel, National Historic Site.

This is a 32pdr Gun crew of the 3rd Bde. RA. I(m the gunner crouched over on the right of the picture coiling the tackle.
This is a shot of my older kids playing amoungst the ruins of Fort Beausejour/Cumberland on the Nova Scotia/New Brunswick border back in 2003.

This is a diagram of Fort William Augustus which is part of the interprative display at Grassy Island National Historic site in Canso, Nova Scotia. (Photo courtsey of North American forts website)


 
 

Monday 7 January 2013

Stupid things I did as a child

Ok, I'm sure that we all have stories from our childhood which make us laugh like crazy when we are older.

Like the time I was 8 and accidently hung myself upside-down from a tree branch in my front yard. I thought this would be fun. I had successfully unhooked my legs from the branch and was fully enjoying hanging upside-down.
Until my jeans ripped on my leg, just enough for a small snag on the branch hooked me and I couldn't get my leg down.
Right, so I decided to start yelling for my Mum. Good idea, so I start to yell. Unfortunately, she was yacking on the telephone to one of her friends, like most women did back in the 1980's.
Right, plan B. I'll toss my shoe at the door which will go bang, Mum will come to see what the heck made the noise, then come save me.
So I toss my first shoe annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddd missed!!!!!!!!!
I was able to wiggle my other shoe off, which I then threw at the door, hitting it, but only resulting in my Mum glancing out the window and telling me off for throwing stuff, but she kept on talking.
My Dad came back from his trip to the liquor shop. After he stopped laughing, he then took me down.

Or the time I lost my first tooth while eating French Fries. So, there I am chewing away when my fry turns crunchy. I then exclaim to my parents, "There's a bone in my French Fry!", My parents then tell me that French Fries don't have bones, as they are made of potatoes. They then tell me to spit it out.
Out I spit, instead of seeing white gook, it's now pink and the blood is now pouring forth from my mouth.
After I stop screaming, my parents wash out my mouth, and take a shot. I still have the picture somewhere back in Canada, which whenever I get home, will scan and put it on this blog.

Or how about the time I had a dead set plan to get all new Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars.
I took all my cars outside, gathered up the biggest rocks I could find, and began to toss them onto the cars on the ground.
In my childhood naievity, I didn't hear my Dad walking up behind me. He watched me toss rocks onto my cars, then calmly asked me what I was doing. "Well, Mum always backs her car up here right?"
"Yes" my Dad replies.
"So, if I throw my rocks on my cars, then place them where Mum will drive over them, she will look at them, feel guilty that she ran over them and buy me new ones, right?"
As my father busted his gut laughing, he then informed me that my plan was flawed as Dad saw what I did.
I still have those smashed cars somewhere, though I had some cool looking accident ones.