Sincere Thanks to Readers on Third Anniversary of Arnhem Jim Blog

While it hardly seems possible, this blog is rapidly approaching its third anniversary in late March. With consistently expanding, readership and support, the blog continues to grow. There are readers now identified in 164 countries, literally Andorra to Zimbabwe, Greenland to the Falkland Islands, with the number of hits now exceeding 180,000. I’m most sincerely appreciative of the continuing support provided by readers of this blog, and want to personally thank each of you very much.

I have to apologize for a reduction in rate of the number of articles presented in the blog, but quite honestly ideas for subject matter have become increasing harder to conceive. What consistent readers may have noticed is that older articles have been refined and expanded with additional details, and corrections made, as they are discovered,

One specific area that I will try and continue to focus on is the ever expanding market in fraudulent items of militaria, everything from cap badges to field equipment. With newer and younger collectors emerging, this is fertile ground for exploitation by unscrupulous individuals. As the centennial of World War I occurs I would anticipate that memorabilia from that period would be particularly susceptible to nefarious endeavors by “war profiteers” of a new generation.

The other inevitable fact of life is that as my generation of collectors becomes older, collections which have been acquired over decades will be coming onto the market. This means that genuine items, acquired in the period when there were a broad range of “war surplus” stores and other sources, will appear to look like they have just been drawn from quartermaster stores. Wary collectors will be understandably reticent to believe that items in this condition could be anything but newly manufactured replicas. This will require the continuous acquisition of knowledge by newer collectors in order to discern the “wheat from the chaff”. I hope that the information contained in this blog will continue to be an aid in that process. An additional suggestion is to join and actively participate to the extent of your knowledge, an online forum(s) of people with similar interests to you. Don't be afraid of asking questions. For the most part the members of these forums were not always that knowledgable, and will be of ready assistance to newcomers. Realize too that they are also interested in the identification of reproductions (not clearly identified as such), as well as outright fraudulent items. Some forums have specific sections related to the subject.

I would sincerely invite anyone with a specific field of interest regarding the British Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces at the Battle of Arnhem, “toy soldiers”/military miniatures, or any aspect of militaria collectibles, not to hesitate contacting me via the “comments” section on any of the blog pages related to your query. I will try and respond with either relevant links related to your request, or after research publish an additional bog page on the subject to the extent of my knowledge.

For those who might be interested the following is a three part video of the presentation of new regimental colours to the 4th Battalion (TA), The Parachute Regiment, by the Prince of Wales, at historical Hardwick Hall, home of the regiment's training depot in World War II.

 

The Territorial Army in Scotland - circa 1935 (a W. Britains Ltd. Connection)

This film was made a year before I was born in 1936. While Germany rearmed, and Italy had already invaded Ethiopia, this propaganda film was produced in Great Britain, promoting joining the Territorial Army. The narrative is obviously so dated that it sounds "stilted" (gross understatement), however the footage covering the state of the training and equipment is fascinating. It reflects the period in history that the British Army was in transition to becoming fully mechanized. The viewer is readily able to identify several items of equipment and vehicles which W. Britains Ltd. chose to replicate, contemporarily, in its boxes of toy soldiers. In numerical sequence the inspiration for the following Britains sets can be seen in real life size. Britains introductory year and span of manufacture to 1941 are in parentheses);

Set 146A (1460) RASC General Service Wagon (Active Service Order) (1933-1941)

Set 1201 Gun of the Royal Artillery (1932-1941)

Set 1318 Machine Gun Section (Lying and Sitting) (1934-1941)

Set 1331 General Service Limbered Wagon, Active Service Order, Khaki (1934-1941)
Set 1335 6 Wheeled Covered Army Tender w/Driver (1934-1941)
Set 1432 10 Wheeled Covered Army Tender w/Driver (1936-1941)

Set 1479 Royal Artillery Limber, Short Poled Pattern (1936-1941)
Set 1521 Royal Air Force Biplane (1937-1941)
Set 1791 Dispatch Riders, Motorcyclists (Royal Corps of Signals) (1939-1941)

It is interesting that neither Set 1203 Tank of the Royal Tank Corps, with Driver and Machine Gunner, (Carden Loyd Mk VI, well established by date of film) or its successor, Set 1876 Bren Gun Carrier with Crew, the latter which would become ubiquitous in the British Army, are present in the film.

Another convenient omission in this entirely positive and upbeat propaganda film is any reference to gas warfare and training in the use of gas masks and capes, which was yet to come. Britains saw to Air Raid Precautions (ARP) which were to be taken by both the military and the civilian population, represented in Set 1759 Air Raid Precautions Stretcher Party Squad and Gas Detection Services.

Significant portions of the film covers the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) T.A. More about the Cameronians and their replication by W. Britains Ltd. toy soldiers can be seen at http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/11/another-set-of-w-britains-toy-soldiers.html. 

Another unique feature is the depiction of signalmen of the Royal Corps of Signals still training at this late date with the Heliograph, Mk V, which is discussed and described in more detail at http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/06/19th-century-military-communications-at.html.

Description: A promotional film for the Territorial Army in Scotland (circa 1935), the TA's training techniques are highlighted.

Shotlist: Credits (0.18); Shot of Union Jack (0.31); The war proved the high military value of the TA. Its role is now to support the regular army in the event of a great national emergency and to provide the means for any temporary expansion of the forces of the Crown. There are two divisions in Scotland. The 51st (Highland Division) and the 52nd (Lowland Division). Also No. 602 City of Glasgow (Bomber) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force (1.28); Section of men in their regimental uniforms march into camera, including shot of a lorry driver of the Royal Army Service Corps (2.08); General views as the men practise shooting at the rifle range near Dechmont, Cambuslang (2.49); Group of men being taught how to use the Lewis gun. Close-ups of men using the gun and loading magazines (3.30); Shots of a group at the side of a road using the Lewis gun as an anti-aircraft gun (3.36); General view of gunners receiving instruction in the use of a horse-drawn machine gun (4.25); Panning shot of TA camp (Belltents) (4.48); General views of the Royal Engineers constructing a girder bridge (5.49); General views of Royal Engineers demolishing a chimney with explosives and close-ups of the men loading the charge (6.20); General views of the Royal Corps of Signals. Shots of men on motorbikes, general views of as tented signal office, operators tapping out Morse code signals (7.08); Close-up of the radio transmitter and shot of smaller transmitter on the back of a lorry (7.42); Shots of group of men operating portable radio equipment (7.48); General views at the tented signal office (8.08); General views of group of men as they erect telegraph poles (8.52); General shots of men laying ground lines with the aid of a mechanised cable lorry (9.03); Shot from static camera of a convoy passing through country road (9.18); General views of the transport division of the infantry with shots of men looking after the horses and general views of a grooming and equipment competition (10.19); Shots of the battalion leaving camp, led by a pipe band (10.52); General views of a group of men from the Signals using a heliograph and brief shots of men reading a map and others practising semaphore (11.21); General views of the men (11.27); General views of a mock attack with shots of the battalion marching and suddenly dispersing (11.54); Shots of various groups assembling machine gun posts (12.32); General views of the divisional battalion marching past Divisional Commander, General McCulloch, Lord Strathcona, the Under-Secretary of State for War (12.46); General views at the cook house (13.07); General views at the DAD hospital in the camp and shots of nurses attending to the patients (13.23); General views of sports including tug-of-war, musical chairs played on horseback, children's race and Highland dancing (14.10); General views of pipe band marching over the brow of a hill (15.04); Shots of changing guard (15.42); Silhouette of four buglers (16.55); General views of a mock attack by a convoy, including shots of men forming an observation post, gun crews with close-ups of loading and firing of a four inch gun (18.26); Close-up of RAF ensign (18.29); Shots of men working on bi-planes and parts of engines 602 Squadron (18.58); Line up of the bi-planes with their engines running; brief c/u control gauges (19.15); General shots of "wapitis" planes taking off and general views of the planes flying [ground aerial shots] (20.35); Shots of the battalion led by a pipe band as they march to the TA headquarters in Hill Street, Glasgow, with shots as they pass St Enoch's station, Buchanan Street and Hill Street itself. The End (21.34).

Although the film cannot be directly embedded on this page, it can be viewed in its entirety (in full screen) at http://ssa.nls.uk/film/1693. The overall web site, Scottish Screen Archive, contains additional intriguing footage of the Scottish Regiments of the British Army.