If you want to read up on the Great War in Africa especially the Northern Rhodesia Border, Nyasaland and PEA, units such as the BSAP (British South Africa Police), Rhodesia Regiment, Rhodesia Native Regiment, Northern Rhodesia Police.
The latest Great War in Africa Association newsletter was posted on 28 February.
The first CO of the RNR and a great read on RNR operations until he was invalided out.
The Rhodesia Native Regiment was formed in British Colonial Africa, in Southern Rhodesia in 1916, to fight German forces in German East Africa, Northern Rhodesia border, Nyasaland and Portuguese East Africa during The Great War. Staffed with black soldiers & white officers it played a key role in the campaign & was disbanded shortly after hostilities ceased.
Officers from the BSAP and Native department with BSAP native NCO’s and askari trained and formed the battalion in 1916. In 1917 the 2nd Battalion was formed but ended up reinforcing the 1st Battalion RNR.
Dressed very much like the BSAP Native Infantry initially but with slouch hats and armed with Martini Henry rifles. On arrival in Nyasaland they were issued with Lee Enfield rifles and issued 1908 pattern webbing. These are dressed thus. At another stage the slouch hats were gradually replaced with pill box hats.
Underfire Miniatures have added these great figures to their East Africa range and includes officers, NCOs and bugler, command group RNR 1. Rifle group RNR2. Both packs have 4 figures in various poses. Will post again when I get a full photograph of these stunning figures. My order is on the way.
Managed to find the full photographs on the Underfire Miniatures facebook site.
RNR1 – Officers and ES NCO and AS Askari bugler.
RNR2 – X4 RNR Askari in slouch hats, in various poses.
The Rhodesia Native Regiment was formed in British Colonial Africa, in Southern Rhodesia in 1916, to fight German forces in German East Africa, Northern Rhodesia border and Portuguese East Africa during The Great War. Staffed with black soldiers & white officers it played a key role in the campaign & was disbanded shortly after hostilities ceased.
Officers from the BSAP and Native department with BSAP native NCO’s and askari trained and formed the battalion in 1916. In 1917 the 2nd Battalion was formed but ended up reinforcing the 1st Battalion RNR.
Dressed very much like the BSAP Native Infantry initially but with slouch hats and armed with Martini Henry rifles. On arrival in Nyasaland they were issued with Lee Enfield rifles and issued 1908 pattern webbing. These are dressed thus. At another stage the slouch hats were gradually replaced with pill box hats.
Underfire Miniatures have added these great figures to their East Africa range and includes officers, NCOs and bugler, command group RNR 1. Rifle group RNR2. Both packs have 4 figures in various poses. Will post again when I get a full photograph of these stunning figures. My order is on the way.
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Grey’s Scouts 3. Trotting/cantering. Armed with FN-FAL’s.
A great selection of 20mm and 28mm Rhodesian Bush War figures with Underfire Miniatures.
I would like to thank Jim Olk of Modern African Bush Wars group for this information.
Grey’s Scouts 3. Trotting/cantering. Armed with FN-FAL’s.
Sample of Rhodesian 20mm Vehicles, huts and Lynx airplane from David Michael Freemantle at Rhodesian Bushwar Models. Available also in 15 and 28mm.
Over the years I have bought Davids 3D models and they are excellent and if you have a particular want he will design you the model and produce it. All I can say is excellent quality and service all round.
BSAP (British South Africa Police) Shesheke Column
Southern Rhodesia WWI 1914. Completed my BSAP (British South Africa Police) Shesheke Column mounted ready to advance from Victoria Falls towards Shuckmansberg on the Kaprivi Strip, to drive out the Germans. Perry Miniatures WW11 Yeomanry with new heads from Woodbine and bits added to the horses with greenstuff. What I have realized is that I can make the East African Mounted Rifles from these troops by adding some individuals in less regular military gear and slouch hats, and putting them into the mix. I can feel another Perry order coming on.
Extract from Andrew Young’s (former BSAP) Chapter on the history of BSAP Support Unit in Barry Woan’s book ‘Black Boots’
The Occupation of Schuckmannsburg
Of great concern to Major General Edwards was the Caprivi-Zipfel, that finger of territory which pointed straight into the heart of Bechuanaland and the Northern and Southern Rhodesia’s. In particular Edwards was concerned about the German post at Schuckmannsburg, which if reinforced by the Germans, would give them the ability to strike into any of the adjacent British territories.
On the 10th August 1914, six days after war was declared, No.1 Mobile Troop under the command of Lieutenant Francis Stephens entrained overnight from Salisbury to Bulawayo. There No.4 Mobile Troop joined the train which steamed onwards to Palm Grove Siding at Victoria Falls arriving on the 12th August. The train was met by Major Capell who took command. Two days later No.4 Mobile Troop was sent back to Bulawayo as it was deemed that No.1 Troop was in sufficient strength to deal with any developments in the area.
The first task performed by members of No.1 Mobile Troop was to construct a fort at Kazungula on the Rhodesian border with the Caprivi Zipfel. On completion the fort was garrisoned by two NCO’s, eight troopers and eight Askari from the Reserve Company. The remainder of the Troop returned to Victoria Falls. At this time the High Commissioner in Cape Town was very reluctant to authorise the entry of the BSAP into German territory, fearing that the forces available might not be sufficient if the Germans reacted strongly.
On the 13th September 1914 the High Commissioner finally acquiesced to Colonel Edwards’ repeated requests to be authorised to move on Schuckmannsburg. The Mobile Troop set off for Shesheke in Northern Rhodesia which was some three miles from Shuckmannsburg on the other side of the Zambezi River, arriving on 21st of September. What followed is best described by Lieutenant Stephens, commander of No.1 Mobile Troop, in an article published in the Rhodesia Defence Force Journal, Vol. 1, No. 3, January 1915:
…. Major Capell informed us that he intended to take Schucksmannsburg without delay. With this idea he sent a parlementaire to ask the Germans to surrender to avoid bloodshed, and it was decided that the officers should draw lots to see who should act as parlementaire. I drew the lucky ticket, and at 9am proceeded with Cpl. Vaughan as flag-bearer and Native Corporal-Bugler Kapambue, BSANP, by boat across the river to the German side.
Lieutenant Stephens was met on the German side of the river and escorted by two armed German Askari to a meeting with the German Resident, Lieutenant Von Frankenberg, who agreed to surrender the post! Stephens returned to Shesheke and at 3pm the same day the Mobile Troop crossed the river and marched on Schuckmannsburg. Stephens continues, in the Rhodesia Defence Force Journal:
The troops formed up in the square on arrival and Major Capell immediately called upon the German Resident to surrender. The European sergeant (Fisher) was arrested while the 28 native police met with similar treatment. After everyone had been disarmed Von Frankenberg and Sergeant Fisher were released on parole and the native police were placed under guards. As it was too late to hoist the Union Jack that evening it was decided to do so at 8am the following morning.
Following the flag raising the next day the captured German Askari were put to work constructing earthworks and trenches for the defence of Schuckmannsburg and Von Frankenberg and Sergeant Fisher were sent under escort to Bulawayo and were later interned in South Africa for the remainder of the war. The German Askari were released a few weeks later and allowed to return to their homes.
Apologies for not posting much stuff over the months but very busy with Regimental Association duties. I thought I would repost some of my previous WWI EAST AFRICA posts.
BSAP, NRP I KAR MAXIM GUN TEAMS.
I sent away for some North Star Maxim Guns as the guns of the 1890s were still being used in WWI in East Africa by the BSAP (British South Africa Police), NRP (Northern Rhodesia Police) and I believe 1 KAR (Kings African Rifles) in Nyasaland.
I changed the Maxim to the water-cooled version by the addition of sprue cut to length. Leaving a bit of the original barrel and drilling a hole in the sprue I attached with greenstuff. Then using greenstuff attached the gun to a base.
I cut the heads off the, drilled a neck hole, and using greenstuff, gave them Wolsey helmets or Senegalese fez heads from Woodbine Gripping Beast.
Painting:- Maxim Gun Teams.
Humbrol 72 Khaki Drill for uniforms and lighted with white for shirts,
Humbrol 26 Khaki for hats and jackets.
Humbrol 33 black and Humbrol 11 silver mixed dry brush over black sprayed weapons.
Humbrol metal 54 for the barrels and fittings. Also the detail on the black cartridge belts.
Humbrol 10 gloss brown for leather belts, boots and bandoliers.
Humbrol 61 European flesh and Humbrol 29 for the African Askari.
This gave me a nice set of Maxims for the fighting on the Northern Border of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland as well as PEA.
Captain Selous of the 25th Royal Fusiliers (Frontiers Men).
This was actual the North Star Major Wilson of Shangani Patrol fame but with a new head added with a Eureka slouch hat head (Australian WWII).
Same colours as above
German Pom-pom Gun Team.
I found this the other day and decided to make it as the Germans were using them in GEA during the fighting. This gun is from Dixons or Redoubt figures but not quite sure, but I have now ordered some others. These are boer war figures but I thought they would fit GEA.
Painting:- 1 pdr Pom-pom Gun Team.
Same colours as above.
Humbrol 55 grey blue for German putties.
Humbrol 66 grey with a touch of white for worn German uniforms.
The Germans were using British kit as well by the end of the campaign.
Konigsberg Gun from Actualsize Miniatures.
Actualsize Miniatures very kindly threw in some damaged models of the Konigsberg guns and I have made this up as such.
Humbrol 66 grey with a touch of white for gun and trail.
Humbrol 33 black and Humbrol 11 silver for wheel rims.
Humbrol 70 for rust dry brushed.
Humbrol white dry brushed over all.
The RNR Rhodesia Native Regiment was formed in 1916 to enhance Southern Rhodesia’s commitment in East Africa and to protect the Northern Rhodesia border. These were the men of Murrays Column that harassed the German columns. The BSAP was tasked with training and forming the RNR so there are strong links between the BSAP, RNR and the later RAR Rhodesian African Rifles formed in 1940 WWII.
The RNR when first deployed to Nyasaland still had Martini Henry rifles and wore slouch hats for a period. At later stages of the conflict they were issued with Lee Metfords or long lee-enfields but the 303 lee- enfield MkI was then issued. The 303 Lee-Enfield sculpt is detailed on these figures.
Officers of the RNR 1916.
RNR Askari with slouch hats.
Some time ago I received this set of greens sculpts from Richard Kemp and what a wonderful set. This batch will go off to Underfire Miniatures in the near future once I have the support weapons arrive.
The RNR Rhodesia Native Regiment was formed in 1916 to enhance Southern Rhodesia’s commitment in East Africa and to protect the Northern Rhodesia border. These were the men of Murrays Column that harassed the German columns. The BSAP was tasked with training and forming the RNR so there are strong links between the BSAP, RNR and the later RAR Rhodesian African Rifles formed in 1940 WWII.
The RNR when first deployed to Nyasaland still had Martini Henry rifles and wore slouch hats for a period. At later stages of the conflict they were issued with Lee Metfords or long lee-enfields but the 303 lee- enfield MkI was then issued. The 303 Lee-Enfield sculpt is detailed on these figures.
L-R RNR Officer with walking stick. Officer with 303 rifle and ENCO with 303 rifle. Last RNR Askari bugler. European officers have a choice of slouch hats or Wolseley helmets. THE Askari bugler has a chice of pillbox hat or slouch hat.
RNR Officers detail.
ENCO and Askari bugler detail
RNR Askari front detail slouch hats and various pill box hats provided. pill box hats with flap down or rolled.
A “”Sample ” of David Michael Freemantle s excellent selection of Bushwars Vehicles in many scales… requests welcome.. from Rhodesian bush war models
This is just a small selection. More to follow.
Rhodesian War Games 