ponders nirvana.
British Intervention Force in North America 1861-68
28mm metal figures designed by Alan Perry
For a few weeks in 1861, Britain was on the verge of war with the United States. After two Confederate commissioners were seized from the British mail packet Trent by a U.S. ship, Britain was incensed and began to send British regulars to support troops in Canada. The crisis became known as the Trent Affair or the Trent Crisis. Two battalions of Guards actually landed in Canada, with the third to follow, which shows the concern and outrage the British government felt over the crisis. It seems like these would have been part of the 75,000 British regulars and potentially 50,000 Canadian militia and volunteers, ready to march. Of course, in a matter of several weeks the crisis was over, but 18,000 British regulars (6,823 reinforcements sent during the crisis) were on active service in Canada by early '62.
So this is a 'what if' range, which hopefully conjures up many exciting ideas for battles and campaigns – well, it does with me!
The initial packs are in the uniforms shown to have been worn in Canada soon after their arrival. These are basically home service uniforms with the addition of a Kilmarnock cap, mostly. The coat is the 1856 pattern which lasted until 1868. Canadians also used this coat for a short period, so the Line Infantry could be used as Canadian militia with the slight addition of a scarlet band around the lower half of the Kilmarnock.
Some people have asked if they could use them for the Crimea – sadly not, as the uniform was two styles on from then. From other campaigns during the 60s, it seems the plainer frock coat (with the colored distinctions, on collars and cuffs) were use – in India it was red, and in New Zealand entirely blue. So a simple deduction would point to the army doing the same in North America. The way the equipment is worn is also taken from period photos and illustrations of British troops on campaign in other parts of the world. There are tantalizing descriptions and photos of what 'North American campaign' headgear could have been, which will be nice to do. But more of that later…
Packs BIF-4 (standing firing skirmish line) and BIF-5 (kneeling skirmish line) are based on contemporary prints of British infantry drilling in Ireland in 1860, which show one section in skirmish order all kneeling, while another stands to fire in skirmish order next to them.
Andy Taylor (not to be confused with Andrew Taylor) has done a stunning paint job on all of these.
- BIF 1 - Scots Fusilier Guards command standing - £7.00 GBP
- BIF 2 - Scots Fusilier Guards standing - £7.00 GBP
- BIF 3 - Line Infantry command standing, Kilmarnocks - £7.00 GBP
- BIF 4 - Line Infantry skirmish line, Kilmarnocks - £7.00 GBP
- BIF 5 - Line Infantry skirmish line kneeling, Kilmarnocks - £7.00 GBP
- BIF 6 - Line Infantry Firing Line, Kilmarnocks - £7.00 GBP
- BIF 7 - Line Infantry command marching, 1855 pattern shako - £7.00 GBP
- BIF 8 - Line Infantry marching, 1855 pattern shako - £7.00 GBP
- BIF 9 - Line Infantry command marching, Kilmarnocks - £7.00 GBP
- BIF 10 - Line Infantry marching, Kilmarnocks - £7.00 GBP