Meanwhile....Back to Toy Soldiers

 Last weekend I headed up the NE Turnpike Extension to Kingston, PA for a game with the PAWM crew. 

The game on our bi-weekly menu was a semi-fictional bash between Turks and Russians set in 1750-something. Probably in South Central Kerplachistan. Or not. 

The battle lines are formed. 

The rules were Age of Reason, the figures were provided by Darrell S., who also ran the game, and our host was Mike S. 

For the Turks, it was our glorious host, Omar Bin Mike, myself, and John El OFM, as the Grand Visine.

Our Dastardly Russian opponents were Three Guys Named Ivan (Mark C., JIM B., and Jim) and Roger.

Those Dastardly Russians...minus Roger, hiding off camera

I held the Turkish left flank with my Ortas of the Benandjerries and the Peanutbutterjellies, with some rather questionable gents with bows and more with pointy sticks and swords. I had a similar brigade to my right. Pretty, pretty figures, but nothing I'd want to storm the proverbial castle with. 

The game was one of those "line up and bash about" types, which sometimes is just the mental floss you need after a week at work. 

Our Dastardly Russian foes slowly beat our gallant Turkish hordes and then finally ground us down in several turns of gritty, chart-busting die rolls. (hint: I'm not a fan of AOR, but that's just me)

John El OFM's Big Whomping Gun gets whomped itself, by Cossacks (BOO! HISS!)

Just when you think your Janissaries are doing what they...Orta be doing... 

They fall apart...with the Russians arguing about how good it is to be Russian... 

All in all, a fun game. I like the Seven Years War. But I'd rather play Honours of War or Post of Honour. Too much chart busting with Age of Reason for me. But fortunately, Darrell knows the rules and we have a good group. 

More D-Day Ohio Pictures

 Whilst I'm sure the last thing anyone really wants to see is a 50-something playing at Soldiers (especially when he is a real part-time Soldier and KNOWS better), here are a few shots taken during the recent D-Day re-enactment in Conneaut, Ohio.

It's truly a wonderful experience to participate and educate the public on what occurred on 06 June 1944, especially those who do not fully understand the contribution of Canada to the war. 

Making Jambon et Oeufs for my section

Again, it was such a privilege to represent my Canadian heritage at this event and to fall in with some wonderful like-minded people. The "Boiler Regiment", aka Regiment de la Chaudiere, are a fine bunch of folks and it was an honour to hit the beach with them and try to re-create a small part of history. 

I hope to keep on working with them at events in the future. 

"Aere Perennius"

I Have Been To...The Frontier Army Museum

An exercise planning conference at Fort Leavenworth, KS required my attendance, so I was duly given notice, a set of travel orders, and transportation and sent to the land of sunflowers and Kansas City style barbeque. 

Fortunately, that meant I was also able to visit the Frontier Army Museum. The last time I was here was several years ago when I was afforded the opportunity to attend the Military History Instructor's Course. 

Taught by professors who do an American Idol style competition to see who gets to speak in front of a group of Army history nerds, it was an amazing two-week experience which included being allowed "behind the scenes" at the museum to see how they conserve materials and interpret displays. 

Aisles and aisles of artefacts from the Corps of Discovery to the Pershing Expedition

This sleigh was built for and used by Colonel George Custer and his wife

One remarkable display involves the Rocket and Mountain Artillery Battery from the Mexican War

Uniform worn by one of Teddy Roosevelt's 1st US Volunteer Cavalry, aka The Rough Riders

And a Curtiss Jenny biplane used in the pursuit of Pancho Villa... operated by the US Army Signal Corps, of all things. 

It was wonderful to see the artefacts they currently have on display. I highly recommend this museum, even if you have to go through the kabuki dance of going through the visitor's center process to get on post. It's a real treat. There is so much more to see, wagons, kit, weapons, artefacts from Lewis and Clark's expedition, than I can show here. 

I hope you get a chance to see this very interesting part of US military history. 

Labour Day...A Bit Late

It was brought to my attention by someone, that perhaps there was a misunderstanding about what some folks do for a living versus what those folks actually earn. As well as the conditions by which someone might earn those wages. 

In case there is any misunderstanding about where my sympathies lie... I would ask you to view the following videos. I have spent most of my life on the managerial side of things, but that doesn't mean I have forgotten from whence I came. 

And my former profession... 

I don't often get upset, but if you ever want to know how I feel about the average worker and what we have to do to make a living, please feel free to ask me and I'll tell you. 

Take It From Day To Day

Being of a certain age and, of Canadian heritage, I used to listen to the late Stan Rogers as avidly as I listened to Stompin' Tom Connors, Woody Guthrie, The Limelighters, Schooner Fare, and many other folk musicians. 

One of the songs I really enjoyed, being a merchant mariner, was Stan's song "Take It From Day To Day", which was about a person sailing on the RCMP's vessel "St. Roch", during its transit of the Northwest Passage during WW2. 

The captain of the vessel was a fellow by the name of Larsen. 

Okay. Good song. Sounds like a tough master of the vessel. Right. And? 

Soooo..... during my voyage to Oslo, sure don't Sandy and I decide to visit the Norwegian Maritime Museum and the Fram Museum. The Fram is dedicated to polar exploration and has two of the most famous vessels to ever engage in polar exploration and navigation, the Fram and the Gjoa. 

In the hall that holds the Gjoa, I'm looking at the presentations and interpretations of various artefacts and what do I espy? 

This would be THE uniform of Henry Larsen

Born in Norway, Henry Larsen immigrated to Canada in 1928 and joined the RCMP. Being a seaman, he naturally gravitated to the St. Roch and wound up in command of her in short order. In 1940-1942, the St. Roch travelled the Northwest Passage from west to east and patrolled the Arctic being THE representation of Canada to everyone there. She then returned the same route in 1944. 

Just to emphasize, the St. Roch has a crew of eight men. These eight RCMP officers covered the whole of the Arctic during their voyage. If that's not a movie that needs to be made, then I don't know what could make for a better script. 

As a historical miniatures wargamer, there's a number of scenarios, including prevention of a German attempt at establishing a weather station on Greenland, that I could see these guys being a part of. 

It's a heck of a good song, so it might make a heck of a good wargame and maybe, just maybe, one amazing movie if a Tom Hanks or a Steven Spielberg would take it on... but that's just me.