Trommelfeuer!

Among the many postcards my grandfather brought back from the Great War, was the humorous German postcard - Trommelfeuer (trans. barrage, or more correctly, 'drumfire'). This was printed by Gerhard Stalling Publishers in Oldenburg in Lower Saxony.

This depicts just the sort of 'barrage' all soldiers much have dreamt of once they returned to the front!

Here's the reverse side. One can't help but wonder where it was purchased and by whom - and why it never was written on or posted.

You can see more of these postcards from this and other wartime publishers in Germany here: http://www.zeno.org/Bildpostkarten/M/Erster+Weltkrieg/Humor

Since I on on the topic of barrages, this weekend saw more GWSH II preparations (after a long pause) which have been focussing on German artillery which are the Corps/Divisional 'assets' for IX Corps (17th and 18th Infantry Divisions):

• 8 Regiments of the 7.7cm Feldkanone 96 n.A (7.7 cm field gun)
• 2 Regiment of 15cm schweres Feldhaubitze m/02 (15 cm howitzer)

Thanks to the Landships II website for the details. A very useful resource - well worth a look.

Here's a few pictures. I'm quite happy how they turned out although I needed to build the sides of the base up more as the guns and the limbers are sitting at quite an angle.

Irregular Miniatures GWG23 7.7 cm field gun. 4 Regiments per division.

German 15cm howitzers (Irregular Miniatures) - 2 regiments (of 2 batteries each) attached at Corps level

The Swan of the East (I)

I have been kitting up for some naval gaming in the Pacific and Southern Atlantic theatres.  In historical terms this will include von Spee's dash across the Pacific and the engagements at Coronel (1 November 1914) and the Falklands (8 December 1914).

But first its my old favourite – the Battle of Cocos. HMS Sydney vs. SMS Emden. 9th November is not far away, but this will be one commemoration I'm ready for!

Planned layout of the HMAS Sydney vs SMS Emden clash at Cocos Islands

HMS Sydney sights the smoke trail from the Emden

HMAS Sydney is spotted - Müller order a full head of steam and the SMS Emden leaves it's shore party behind and makes of open water.

Sydney closing to a distance of 9,500 yards (8,700 m)where they set a parallel course to the Emden and open fire to deadly effect. 

North Keeling Island - the final resting place of the Emden

German 18th Division - Battle of the Frontiers

The clock seems to have stopped ticking on the 1st of August 1914, here.

Despite a good, solid start to this project, German mobilisation has languished for a couple of months – family, work and a return to study have more than filled my waking hours.

However, I'm pleased to report some progress. In a flurry of recent activity two regiments of the German 18th Division have rolled into the marshalling area.

Alas, just some quick iPhone shots ...

I'm onto artillery next, have a bit of a break from the infantry.

One of the benefits of a return to study at my old university is I get to visit a great antiquarian bookshop that was once a regular haunt of mine - Bradstreet's Books.

I managed to pick up an interesting title: John Laffin, Panorama of the Western Front.

From Amazon:
In 1916 the French illustrator Georges Malfroy decided to produce a series of panoramic views of the entire western front from the english channel to the Swiss border. It was designed to give people an idea of where their children/loved ones were fighting and so they could make sense of the names mentioned in newspapers. He put together his illustrations from topographical survey maps, ariel photos and extensive personal travels to different areas of the front
(http://www.amazon.com/Panorama-Western-Front-John-Laffin/dp/1856279014)

Not a bad little volume - I know there is a collection of ariel photographs of the Western Front been published recently, just out of my price range at the moment. I