The Anglo-Turkish War of 1880 and Madasahatta

15mm Mike’s Models Colonials. Sudan British for 1882/85 and the later Omdurman period. Camels, rifles and a naval landing party. Egyptian infantry, cavalry and camelry along with Sudanese Askaris (I think). A single artillery piece and a Gatling gun along with a small Boer contingent.

The Anglo-Turkish War of 1880 was originally an idea I had in order to get some later ‘blue water’ ironclads built. My plan was to fight a battle between the two opposing fleets for inclusion in Developing The Portable Ironclads Wargame - the addition of ‘The American Civil War’ to the title came about when it decided that  the between the two books the focus was primarily on the war between the states. A fictional conflict felt a little out of place surrounded by ships and battles of the American Civil War - despite the ‘what if’ nature of many of the combats I fought! 

The ironclads for the Royal Navy and the Ottoman Turks are still under constriction - they have been started but thus far only the hulls have been prepared - but for now will have to wait to get finished because of a fairly exciting development. The development that I am talking is my acquisition of a selection of painted 15mm Colonial figures - British, Egyptian, Boer and Askari types - produced by Mike’s Models. I will let the pictures do the talking.

British infantry followed by what looks like a Zulu War era volunteer mounted rifle unit(?) - I do not know the period well enough to comment.

More British followed by the Egyptians and Sudanese (on the left) and the Boers in the rear.

Rifles, British cavalry, mounted infantry and the artillery park.

The collection is by no means complete but there is more than enough to form the basis of a good 1880 set up featuring the British Army along with a smattering of Egyptian and Boer opposition. For organisation the available types would be ideally suited to something akin to Bob Cordery’s Portable Colonial Wargame meaning three figure infantry bases, two figures cavalry and skirmishers and for artillery/mgs a gun and two crew. There is a distinct shortage of artillery so I will need to raid Irregular Miniatures to bolster this arm.

The first order of business will be some tidying up of the figures - a lot of the riders have become unhorsed - in respect of the paint job. I am not planning on any extensive repaints but there are a few chips here and there. The painting technique is very old school and would be easy enough to replicate - even for me! There is also the rebasing - luckily these are on cardboard bases so that should not be difficult to do. I shall also give them a coat of satin varnish just to freshen them up but other than that there will be little to do. 

The Siren Lure of Madasahatta….

So how does this all tie in with Madasahatta? Well, it doesn’t, at least not yet but that is where my thoughts are heading. The problem is changing the back story of the island to accommodate forces for 1880. Madasahatta as we know it only really came to prominence in 1891 with the discovery of gold in the Bloeminstip mountains. The Germans moved in first and established Hansaland followed by the British two years later with New Surrey. The border between the two colonies, running along the centreline of the Bloeminstip Mountains, was set in the Treaty of Badlikortout agreed in 1898. Taking the history of the island back to 1880 changes things a little so I will need to get my head around a feasible prequel. I have an idea about this but need to flesh it out first. I will say no more than other than it was a good job that there featured an Arab Concession centred on Port Maleesh!

Once the figures have been repurposed and reorganised, and the ships built, the plan is to make use of Eric’s marvellous creation once again - either through the Portable Colonial Wargame or possibly even Dominion of the Spear and Bayonet.

I am delighted to have secured this little lot as it will save me a heap of time getting the collection to the tabletop and enjoying these vintage warriors.