Richie
A Fixture
Hi All,
I thought it was about time I reviewed this 120mm figure of Lt. John Chard from Rob Hardwick's Imperial Gallery as I suspended my thread and incorporated him into my Pinned Like Rats build.
On the morning of Wednesday the 22nd of January 1879 Major Henry Spalding of the 104th regiment rode out for Helpmaker and passed command of the post at Rorke's Drift to Lieutenant John Chard of the Royal Engineers and so sealed his place in history forever more.
Commisioned by Rob and beautifully sculpted by Moz Corry this figure is far removed from the Stanley Baker image, but I still thank God, for him bringing Zulu to the modern masses and fuelling my passion for this period.
Background.
Aged 31, he was in command of Rorke's Drift with his second in command, showing great leadership throughout.
John Chard was born near Plymouth in December 1847. His elder brother became a Colonel in the Royal Fusiliers. His younger brother was a clergyman. There were four sisters. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in July 1868. He served in Bermuda and Malta. He joined No. 5 Company RE in South Africa in 5 January 1879.
He did not arrive at Rorke's Drift until 19 January and was the senior officer present on 22/23 January 1879, having been left in command by Major Spalding. He was given a brevet Majority after Rorke's Drift. He received the VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley at St Paul's, Zululand on 16 July 1879.
Chard visited Queen Victoria at Balmoral twice in October 1879 and February 1880. He served in Singapore as a Lieutenant Colonel between 1892-1896.
He returned to take up a post in Perth in Scotland. Whilst there, he was again invited to see Queen Victoria, but soon began to suffer from cancer.
Chard visited Queen Victoria at Balmoral twice in October 1879 and February 1880. He served in Singapore as a Lieutenant Colonel between 1892-1896. He returned to take up a post in Perth in Scotland. Whilst there, he was again invited to see Queen Victoria, but soon began to suffer from cancer. He died at his brother's home at Hatch Beachamp, Somerset in November 1897, aged 49. He never married.
THE FIGURE.
Rob sent me this figure after completing the build thread on the 24th Corporal and again it arrived sturdily packed. Upon opening the figure I could see there was some real nice touches and details on the figure and a choice of two heads.
The stance and pose particularly grabbed me, leaning back ready to raise his Irish Constabulary pistol and spend his last rounds whilst craddling a Martini Henry with his left arm.
Some people might think this a little strange holding a Martini, but it is reputed that he picked up Commissary Dalton's rifle after he was wounded and used it to good effect.
The figure and accoutrements are cast in 16 grey resin parts and all high quality. There is the usual casting blocks and flash to remove but nothing to shout about. All the parts fit lovely and it is as well engineered as the 24th Corporal. My personal preference and pick of the two heads was the one without the foreign service helmet.
One of details in the sculpting which I still shake my head at, is the wonderful textured pattern on the riding breeches.
So thanks Rob for another wonderful release it certainly gets the big chimp thumbs up and to Moz for his talented sculpting. I will let you judge for yourselves from the photo's.
Last but not least I would like to say well done to Carl Barton for his excellent work on the box art, good on you mate.
Hope you enjoy!
cheers
Richie
I thought it was about time I reviewed this 120mm figure of Lt. John Chard from Rob Hardwick's Imperial Gallery as I suspended my thread and incorporated him into my Pinned Like Rats build.
On the morning of Wednesday the 22nd of January 1879 Major Henry Spalding of the 104th regiment rode out for Helpmaker and passed command of the post at Rorke's Drift to Lieutenant John Chard of the Royal Engineers and so sealed his place in history forever more.
Commisioned by Rob and beautifully sculpted by Moz Corry this figure is far removed from the Stanley Baker image, but I still thank God, for him bringing Zulu to the modern masses and fuelling my passion for this period.
Background.
Aged 31, he was in command of Rorke's Drift with his second in command, showing great leadership throughout.
John Chard was born near Plymouth in December 1847. His elder brother became a Colonel in the Royal Fusiliers. His younger brother was a clergyman. There were four sisters. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in July 1868. He served in Bermuda and Malta. He joined No. 5 Company RE in South Africa in 5 January 1879.
He did not arrive at Rorke's Drift until 19 January and was the senior officer present on 22/23 January 1879, having been left in command by Major Spalding. He was given a brevet Majority after Rorke's Drift. He received the VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley at St Paul's, Zululand on 16 July 1879.
Chard visited Queen Victoria at Balmoral twice in October 1879 and February 1880. He served in Singapore as a Lieutenant Colonel between 1892-1896.
He returned to take up a post in Perth in Scotland. Whilst there, he was again invited to see Queen Victoria, but soon began to suffer from cancer.
Chard visited Queen Victoria at Balmoral twice in October 1879 and February 1880. He served in Singapore as a Lieutenant Colonel between 1892-1896. He returned to take up a post in Perth in Scotland. Whilst there, he was again invited to see Queen Victoria, but soon began to suffer from cancer. He died at his brother's home at Hatch Beachamp, Somerset in November 1897, aged 49. He never married.
THE FIGURE.
Rob sent me this figure after completing the build thread on the 24th Corporal and again it arrived sturdily packed. Upon opening the figure I could see there was some real nice touches and details on the figure and a choice of two heads.
The stance and pose particularly grabbed me, leaning back ready to raise his Irish Constabulary pistol and spend his last rounds whilst craddling a Martini Henry with his left arm.
Some people might think this a little strange holding a Martini, but it is reputed that he picked up Commissary Dalton's rifle after he was wounded and used it to good effect.
The figure and accoutrements are cast in 16 grey resin parts and all high quality. There is the usual casting blocks and flash to remove but nothing to shout about. All the parts fit lovely and it is as well engineered as the 24th Corporal. My personal preference and pick of the two heads was the one without the foreign service helmet.
One of details in the sculpting which I still shake my head at, is the wonderful textured pattern on the riding breeches.
So thanks Rob for another wonderful release it certainly gets the big chimp thumbs up and to Moz for his talented sculpting. I will let you judge for yourselves from the photo's.
Last but not least I would like to say well done to Carl Barton for his excellent work on the box art, good on you mate.
Hope you enjoy!
cheers
Richie
