Dan Morton
A Fixture
John McNenney and I have formed a partnership, "The Old Contemptibles".
The “Old Contemptibles” was the title proudly adopted by the regular soldiers or reservists of the First World War British Expeditionary Force who saw service before 22 November 1914. They derive their title from the famous “Order of the Day” for 19 August, 1914, from Kaiser Wilhelm II:
“It is my Royal and Imperial Command that you concentrate your energies, for the immediate present upon one single purpose, and that is that you address all your skill and all the valor of my soldiers to exterminate first the treacherous English; walk over General French’s contemptible little Army.”
The precise translation has been debated endlessly, but the irony of the British regular’s choice of title is clear.
We have chosen this name for our company to honor and celebrate soldiers such as these.
Our first figure is a young British soldier of 1915, Tommy (short for Tommy Atkins) of 1915. Tommy is kitted out in:
• M1902 khaki field service tunic
• M1902 khaki field service trousers
• M1902 khaki putties wound up from ankle to knee and tucked into trouser bottoms. Hobnailed blackened “ammunition” boots
• On left hip, M1908 khaki haversack, bayonet scabbard, entrenching tool helve attached by straps
• On right hip, M1908 entrenching tool head in khaki carrier and 2 pint water bottle covered with khaki cloth and hooked to belt
• M1908 cotton webbing equipment with two sets each left and right of five cartridge pouches, each carrying three five-round charger clips, total of 150 rounds. The back pack is strapped to the webbing. The broad waist belt would have a brass elongated buckle, but the buckle is covered by the PH satchel.
• Short Magazine Lee Enfield rifle No. 1, Mark III, 0.303 inch caliber with M1908 cotton webbing sling (Sling not included)
• Phenate hexamine (or PH) type anti-gas hood in small two button satchel on ragged-looking strap with two buttons (buttons buried under other equipment).
• Furry goat skin vest worn over service tunic and under single-breasted “British Warm” great coat
• Head 1 - M1915 trench cap worn with flaps up. This cap was known as the ‘Gor Blimey’. Cap badge of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI)
• Head 2 – M1915 trench cap worn with flaps down, cap badge of the Grenadier Guards
Two heads - so you have your choice. You may not be able to tell from the photos but one foot of the figure is standing on a German feldmutze.
My good friend Roger Newsome is doing the box art and we'll post photos when he's done. In the meantime here are some photos of the unpainted kit pieces assembled and unassembled. The kit will come with full instructions and the description of the uniform and field equipment shown above. The rifle is the only part that is not original. With permission of David J. Parkins, we've used his flawless SMLE rifle and a resin cast of it is supplied.
If you don't want to wait for Roger's painting of Tommy, John could probably be talked into allowing you to order the kit early
from The Old Contemptibles link on John McNenney's Military Miniatures Warehouse web site at http://www.milminwh.com/theoldcontemptibles.htm. Drop me a PM and I'd be glad to supply some color uniform photos for reference.
We hope you like Tommy of 1915!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Dan
The “Old Contemptibles” was the title proudly adopted by the regular soldiers or reservists of the First World War British Expeditionary Force who saw service before 22 November 1914. They derive their title from the famous “Order of the Day” for 19 August, 1914, from Kaiser Wilhelm II:
“It is my Royal and Imperial Command that you concentrate your energies, for the immediate present upon one single purpose, and that is that you address all your skill and all the valor of my soldiers to exterminate first the treacherous English; walk over General French’s contemptible little Army.”
The precise translation has been debated endlessly, but the irony of the British regular’s choice of title is clear.
We have chosen this name for our company to honor and celebrate soldiers such as these.
Our first figure is a young British soldier of 1915, Tommy (short for Tommy Atkins) of 1915. Tommy is kitted out in:
• M1902 khaki field service tunic
• M1902 khaki field service trousers
• M1902 khaki putties wound up from ankle to knee and tucked into trouser bottoms. Hobnailed blackened “ammunition” boots
• On left hip, M1908 khaki haversack, bayonet scabbard, entrenching tool helve attached by straps
• On right hip, M1908 entrenching tool head in khaki carrier and 2 pint water bottle covered with khaki cloth and hooked to belt
• M1908 cotton webbing equipment with two sets each left and right of five cartridge pouches, each carrying three five-round charger clips, total of 150 rounds. The back pack is strapped to the webbing. The broad waist belt would have a brass elongated buckle, but the buckle is covered by the PH satchel.
• Short Magazine Lee Enfield rifle No. 1, Mark III, 0.303 inch caliber with M1908 cotton webbing sling (Sling not included)
• Phenate hexamine (or PH) type anti-gas hood in small two button satchel on ragged-looking strap with two buttons (buttons buried under other equipment).
• Furry goat skin vest worn over service tunic and under single-breasted “British Warm” great coat
• Head 1 - M1915 trench cap worn with flaps up. This cap was known as the ‘Gor Blimey’. Cap badge of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI)
• Head 2 – M1915 trench cap worn with flaps down, cap badge of the Grenadier Guards
Two heads - so you have your choice. You may not be able to tell from the photos but one foot of the figure is standing on a German feldmutze.
My good friend Roger Newsome is doing the box art and we'll post photos when he's done. In the meantime here are some photos of the unpainted kit pieces assembled and unassembled. The kit will come with full instructions and the description of the uniform and field equipment shown above. The rifle is the only part that is not original. With permission of David J. Parkins, we've used his flawless SMLE rifle and a resin cast of it is supplied.
If you don't want to wait for Roger's painting of Tommy, John could probably be talked into allowing you to order the kit early
from The Old Contemptibles link on John McNenney's Military Miniatures Warehouse web site at http://www.milminwh.com/theoldcontemptibles.htm. Drop me a PM and I'd be glad to supply some color uniform photos for reference.We hope you like Tommy of 1915!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Dan
