"Would British 8th Army figures work for Singapore?" Topic

I get the impression they might be suitable for the '41-'42 campaign, but I have seen more than a few examples of the units there wearing '08 Pattern webbing rather than '37 pattern webbing, but I know that isn't ALWAYS the case.

In short, what's the skinny?

20mm or smaller? Sure. Who's going to tell?

I don't think it's a silly question at all, some of us like to be accurate. otherwise why not just use a Roman Legion for Pickett's Charge? Just say that those pila are rifle-muskets and you're good to go right?

Long answer short, they would work just fine

The sun helmets are the more visible difference…

But unless you want to transplant heads from lets say British Colonial troops in Sudan onto bodies of 8th army WWII troopers…I say make it easy on yourself and use the 8th army guys.

Frederick, Brantley thank you. I appreciate it.

One question Brantley? Did they wear the sun helmet in combat? I haven't seen a lot of that, as opposed to dishpan helmets?

Interesting question and great photo.

I agree with it not being a silly question. Accuracy and details are important to some. Research and 'trying ' to get things right is a large part of the hobby for me.

Good point. A Google images search offers a fair number of period shots of Brit soldiers in Singapore in sun helmets in non-combat settings…but the one picture I found of British prisoners has them in the regulation Brodie helmet.

See: link

My policy is one infantry army per country per war, though I'll stretch a point for temperate and tropical uniforms. Otherwise, strict accuracy requires four British armies for the Peninsular War. (With stocks. Without stocks. With gray trousers and with Belgic shakos. Might get up to five depending on when they started painting the knapsacks black.) Mind you, I try to make the uniform an accurate one. But if it's a year or two off for the battle--well, life and money are too short to do it any other way.

I wonder if the HAT WWI Colonial British that came out recently might not fit the bill?

If you're gaming in 15mm, Peter Pig makes separate heads that you can use to swap for cheaper than buying whole new models just for the heads.

Greetings

The only unit I have seen pics of in combat in sun helmets in Asia are West Yorks in Burma.

Troops in Malaya certainly had pith helmets – there are colour pictures of artillery with them.

Edward

What about the Pulp Figures British?

I'd say they'd be fine, those chaps in the photos above are all wearing '37 web kit, just the MT rifle clip pouches, suggesting they're rear eschelon, drivers or gunners.

AIF 2 pounder crew on the Malay Peninsular, looks to be wearing p,37 kit, and unusually a pair of Bombay Bloomers

Consider Eureka's 15mm WWI British in Sinai. They have the sun helmets.

+ 1 Frederick.

My grandfather's regiment was en route to the Middle East when they were diverted to the Far East. They all turned up in their desert kit.

So yes, 8th Army is fine.

The majority of troops were Commonwealth, so you can also field miniatures wearing bush hats, turbans (Sikhs and Muslims), and Gurkhas.

I have stuck with the British wearing helmets – I find they still lose the campaign, regardless.

I'd say they'd be fine, those chaps in the photos above are all wearing '37 web kit, just the MT rifle clip pouches, suggesting they're rear eschelon, drivers or gunners.

Their kit bags name then and show they are Royal Artillery.

8th Army figures are fine …life's too short to add Bombay Bloomers! Good point about Commonwealth troops, but they're not hard to come by and it's a great campaign….not so good for the Commonwealth overall, but there were successes. I've seen at least one pic of Argylls in long trousers and tin hats so they'd be very easy to do: they were about the best unit in the campaign so they got chucked into the fray again and again.

I would think 8th Army too late – you would need Western Desert Force for 40-41. The equipment of the 8th Army once formed would be too late.

Is that their name and rank printed on their kit bags there? Puzzled by "L. Sgt" on the nearest two chaps- Lance Seargent?

Lance Sergeant is a Royal Artillery rank, I think it equates to Corporal but I'm sure someone out there will know for sure.

Zippee has a good point and WD figures would be better for many units, especially if you can get them with Turbans and so on, but lots of units in Malaya had '37 pattern webbing, so it's OK.
Lance Sergeants are to be found in other units, but I've never been quite sure why. Superior to corporals, but junior to full sergeants.

8th Army was formed in September 1941, so I struggle to see how it would be 'too late'. My grandfathers troopship didn't land until February 1942! They set off for the Middle East long after 8th Army was formed.

And here they are, debarking in Java. In their desert kit.

Lance-sergeant was a rank used by wider than the RA, without checking I'm reasonably sure it was used by all arms. It was along the lines of a senior corporal, so they were still counted as rank and file rather than sergeants.

Just noticed the above post! As to why, my impression is that the rank was found where say there were two Corporals in a sub-unit, and one Sergeant in charge of it. One of said Corporals could be a Lance-sergeant, so giving a clear 2-in-C in the event the Sergeant was lost or absent.

Gary

Only the Guards and the Royal Engineers should have lance sergeants. (according to the Royal Engineers anyhow!)
It may have been different in the Indian Army (where this artillery may very well originate)

The pith helmets in WWI and WWII were larger than the ones worn in the colonial period.
My old man (RAF), on his way round the Cape to North Africa, said they threw theirs all away in either Durban or Mombasa.

John Baskeyfield, 2nd South Staffords, VC winner at Arnhem was a Lance-Sergeant. Commander of the other anti-tank gun in the action was Lance-Sergeant Mansell

Sounds like Lance-Sergeant may have been for semi independent commands or to test for future promotion. Anti-tank guns or scout units could be detached and then a Lance-Sergeant could be in command. Could also be that it was given as a field promotion to test if a corporal was ready to be promoted to Sergeant.