After mustering up a huge amount of willpower I’ve finally completed a troop of cavalry that’ll work in an anti Martian and an anti Prussian framework.
Setting both campaigns in 1885 means that these lancers are a little betwixt and between - uniform wise. Gone are the odd mortar board helmets and the fancy uniforms, (which’ll still appear on my Uhlans) but they have not yet reached the point at which the service adopts khaki.
In my alternate timeline this troop belong to the 23rd Lancers, formed from the remnants of the 9th, 12th and 17th Lancers, (destroyed en masse during the gallant but futile charge against tripods near Brentford). They wear white “overseas” pattern helmets in honour of the 12th who were rushed into action only days after disembarking from service in South Africa.
Equipment shown includes the Martini Henry carbine, the ’83 pattern Baker Monroe breath preserver, cavalry sabre, lances and the lance affixed MKII “sticky bomb” (a highly adhesive shaped charge device intended to be thrust on to the legs of tripods). You’ll note that the mounts shown here have been fitted with the ’83a (equine) BM breath preserver that is only expected to be deployed should the troop encounter Martian black smoke.
Given the skirmish nature of the games I shall be playing with this lot it made sense (to me at least) to have some Victorian civilians, who I can use as refugees, captives, or dinner for Martians.
To my horror I’ve ended up naming some of them! I never thought that being a war gamer would see me painting a little girl holding a doll, but they’ve served as a nice distraction from the ongoing dark age rebasing.
Hope you like them.
TTFN.