Fun In The Falklands or Military Mayhem In The Malvinas

 Hi all,

Well, you'll recall that I'd been drawn towards the Perry Miniatures, British Intervention Force and the possiblities for some 'what if' scenarios.

I also rather like the Triple Alliance ranges and so, this got me thinking and mulling, and finally, after Roger and my brother Andy, made positive noises, I've been looking at combining the two ranges to have some hypothetical hijinks.

The Falkland Islands became British territory in 1833 and a few years after the Falkland Islands Defence Force was formed by Lieutenant Richard Clement Moody R.E and comprised of a a cavalry and artilery corps and two platoons of infantry.

The force declined in sice until the Crimean War when Governor Rennie, reformed the FIDF to defend against incursions by the Russian Empire. Yes, that's rght, there were fears that Russia might go all the way to the South Atlantic to invade the Falkland Islands.

So, here we have some nice historical notes with which to have some 1860s fun.

 

                                                 Moody as a colonel of the Royal Engineers
 

Moody was put in charge of Chatham in in 1864 and retired a Major-General in 1866, and so, here's where we divert from history and recreate the war that never was.

We assume that in the aftermath of the Crimean War and the Trent Affair, Argentina (always claiming sovereignty of the Malvina) sees an opprtunwan Island in the Falkland Sound, but in fact, fortify the island and build a military staging post and, in 1863 builds up an invasion force and invades the falklands, landing along Grantham Sound with a division of infantry and 2 brigades of cavalry, along with engineers and artillery.

The FIDF begin to observe and harrass the Argentinians as they establish redoubts and a supply base. Stanley is fortified

London responds exactly as you would expect, and mobilises the a RN fleet and the British Intervention Force lately in Canada (where Moody has served previously in British Columbia  https://www.falklandsbiographies.org/biographies/moody_richard ) and sends them down to the Falkland Islands. Moody is dispatched with a detachment of Royal Engineers as part of  the Royal Navy mobilisation, having as he does, unsurpassed knowledge of the islands.

The force comprises 2 battalions of Guards and detached sharpshooter companies, 9 battalions of infantry in 3 brigades, a cavalry brigade of two hussar and one lancer regiment and several batteries of artillery.

The Royal Navy bombards Swan Island and begins harrassing Argentinian vessels in the Falkland Sound and the British main force goes ashore at Stanley, chasing of an Argentinian naval squadron which has been prowling around and bombarding Stanley.

Leaving well supplied naval artillery redoubts and a token infantry force, the Argentinians begin moving across the islands establishing supply caches and aiming to encircle and take Stanley.

So, there you have an excuse for a really colourful hypothetical war.

It also gives you the forces for the Trent Affair, Fenian Raids and of course a nice big chunk of War of The Tiiple Alliance troops.

So, that's 2022's project sorted - well the first half of 2022, because I fear that I may also end up buying  800 War Of The Triple Alliance... Yeah I know, I KNOW! But Roger seems to be correct (as usual) that we may just have found the 'One True Period'.

Changing tack, last night the memsahib and I made our first proper foray into a mass environment to see 80s synth pop pioneers Heaven 17. Now, I am not a Heaven 17 fan, (let the record clearly show that) but what was special about this gig was that it was one of two (and only two,) dates where they played the first two Human League albums, 'Travelogue' and 'Reproduction' which have not been played live since 1979/80. You may know that Martin Ware of H17 was also the founder of The Human League before the split of THL, which led to H17. 

Anyway, I've seen some great gigs, but the sheer passion of the performance, and a 'home crowd' which was behind the band (Sheffield is a notoriously hard city to impress as Ultravox found out a few years back, when they brought their own internal politics onto the stage. They were a little put about as before they'd had a rave reception on the previous tour, when they were a little les self absorbed) made it 'something special' to the extent that I think it will be one day regarded in a similar way to the first gig(s) by the Sex Pistols.

The whole set was 2 and a half hours with no support or break, and those attending got a seriously 'top end' show. They did an encore which comprised of two H17 tracks, 'We don't Need That Fascist Groove Thing' and 'Temptation' which (and I reiterate I'm not a H17 fan) took the whole fucking roof off, with the vocals.

Anyway, today I am being supported by coffee and I'm pottering at my desk, sorting two forces for the 1863 Invasion Of The Falklands. 

Speaking of coffee, I need to top up my caffeine levels, so I will sign off for now...

TTFN