Beyond the 4th cataract: campaigns in Nubia during the New Kingdom

I've definitely been through a dry patch as far as DBA goes. I've not even been inspired to paint for several months (what's going on?!). I always find a campaign is the way to get me back into the saddle - so to speak.

So, the project is to be around the campaigns of the New Kingdom Pharaohs to conquer Nubia.

Spurred by threats from the south, Egypt’s New Kingdom pharaohs mounted military campaigns against Nubia, and by the Reign of Thutmose III (1479–1425 BC) Egyptians controlled Nubia to the 4th cataract. An Egyptian govenor administered the country called Kush and ensured the flow of Nubian gold to Egypt. Nubia also contributed exotic products such as animal skins, ivory, and ebony as well as dates, cattle, and horses prized for their quality. Despite being required to send many rich resources to Egypt, Nubia prospered during this period. Many Egyptians settled in Nubia, and Nubians moved north to Egypt. 

Egyptian pharoahs constructed temples throughout Nubia to honor Egyptian dieties, gods unique to Nubia, and themselves as divinities. The most important religious site in Nubia was dedicated to the Egyptian state god Amun. It was located at the foot of a sacred mountain (modern Gebel Barkal) at the frontier settlement of Napata near the 3rd cataract. Started by Thutmose III, this temple complex was elarged by later pharaohs.
New Kingdom Egyptian pharaohs conducted many campaigns to bring Nubia under Egyptian control.

Source:  http://oi.uchicago.edu/museum/nubia/nknapnk.html

Just a teaser to start the ball rolling.

Colonial Defences of Hobart, January 2013 visit

Some pics mostly of the caponiers and ditches at Kangaroo Bluff Battery from my recent trip to Hobart. We managed three (well four if you count two at Battery Point) colonial batteries in four days - how's that for a patient family! It's quite a difficult battery to photograph given it's low profile.

Mount for the Nordenfelt on the landward entrance to the battery.

Not much ventilation. You can imagine it would get very hot and smokey inside if a steady rate of fire was kept up.

This image gives an indication of how effectively the troops int he caponier can enfilade forces
making an assault on the battery wall.

Note the hatch in the low section of the roof which provides access tot he Caponier.

Another location I enjoyed was Alexandra Battery in Sandy Bay. There is a great tunnel down from the top carpark that gives way to a wonderfully preserved battery (although no ordnance left in place).

Sweeping view of the Derwent looking towards Kangaroo Bluff (on the south bank, just of left hand side of shot)
from a tower above Alexandra Battery 

Entrance to the tunnel down to the battery

Heading back up the tunnel

And finally the few remnants of the defences at Battery Point and some emplacements at Stinky Beach, Sandy Bay.

Inside the WWII gun emplacement at Long Beach, Sandy Bay

Tunnel entrance under Battery Point

Looking downhill from what I presume if the location of Prince Albert Battery in Princes Park, Battery Point. Note the scald marks in the grass suggesting something is below. The tunnel entrance is below the playground.

Battle of the Falkland Islands, 8 December 1914

Alas, life was too busy to provide a commentary. This engagement was fought using Grant Fleets rules and the King and Kaiser expansion kit. Models are 1:2400 Panzerschiffe. The German squadron copped a pounding although not without dishing out some hot stuff to Admiral Doveton Sturdee.

New year ... new scale! WSS in 6mm

I've been tempted for some time by 6mm wargaming - first by the Spanish tercios of a comrade who frequents the local gaming store, then more recently by the convincing marketing on the Baccus website. This, coupled with a desire to explore 18th century conflicts without having to play a game of bridge while I'm wargaming (I'm not a fan of event cards in wargames) has led me to Polemos WSS rules - we shall see if that was the right decision in due course!

In the meantime, here are some early pics of my French forces which are massing in Flanders! Painting 6mm has been an interesting new challenge but I'm slowly getting there.

I should add a note of thanks to this blog's 7 FOLLOWERS! Thanks a lot you mob! I appreciate your support of this haphazard blog. G'day to the most recent arrival, Ray. Always enjoyed your blog.

80-PR R.M.L Warrnambool

Memories of the old days mucking around with (big) guns with the HRSA ... This battery is located at Flagstaff Hill, Warrnambool, in Australia.

A 'Waterloo Man' at the world's end

On a recent trip to Tasmania I had the opportunity to visit an old friend who I first met in 1992 – Barracks Sargent Philip Maher, c. 1791–1847 CE.

Maher awaits Gabriel's Trumpet at the original burial ground in Ross, a garrison town in the midlands of Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania). The military presence had an important impact in the early days of Ross with a number of the early buildings around the town having military origins and several streets are named after battles of the Napoleonic wars. Some of the soldiers stationed at Ross were veterans of these campaigns.

Among them is Philip Maher of the 51 Regiment of Foot, The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Maher ended his days in Ross as the Barracks Sargent but his headstone records his military service noting him as being a Waterloo Man and a veteran of the Peninsular Campaign.

There is a very good image of the text on the headstone here

The old burial ground at Ross is a very atmospheric spot on a quiet day – the graves sit on a stoney hilltop in a quiet valley in central Tasmania. The only sound is the grass swishing in the wind as one sits in quiet reflection.

A good photo gallery for the burial ground can be found here


Since my last visit the inscription seems to deteriorated considerably but is still legible. 

Sacred

To The Memory

Of

Philip Maher

Who departed this life

On 31^st March AD 1847

and served as Quarter master

Sargent in the 51 KOLI

During a long campaign on the

Peninsular and Waterloo

and Late Barrack Sargent

At Ross

AGED 56 Years

Its my intention to follow up what history I can of Maher given little is currently provided in the guidebooks at Ross. An initial search of the newspapers of the time has Maher forwarding a donation to St Joseph’s Church - the oldest Catholic Church in Hobart. A letter from Maher printed in the Colonial Times of Hobart, records this donation from the men of the Regiment towards the construction of St. Josephs - possibly assisting with the construction of the 60 foot tower of the church which was completed in 1843.

Colonial Times, Hobart, 22 March 1842, page 3

More to come ...

Ploughland

With the impending addition of 'ploughland' to the DBA terrain options for arable landscapes, there have been some excellent pieces of terrain being created. Some inspirational ploughland terrain created by Timurilank which can been seen at his Eighteenth Century Sojourn blog - have a look!

In the same spirit I will provide some before and after (when they're done) shots. Currently I'm using these pieces cut from a larger terrain mat I was working on a couple of years ago.