The demise of Knuston Hall

I have just been sent a link to the Northamptonshire Telegraph. It headlines the news that North Northamptonshire Council has decided to sell Knuston Hall, the location used for Wargame Developments’ annual Conference of Wargamers (COW) from 1981 until 2021.

In a statement, Councillor Graham Lawman, the Council’s executive member for highways, travel and assets, said:

Knuston Hall is a Grade II listed heritage asset and, until recently, has been used as a creative course and event centre including overnight accommodation. The hall was closed during the Covid-19 pandemic and re-opened briefly in 2021, with heavily restricted guest numbers, until it closed again in January 2022 following surveys conducted at the start of the year finding that it no longer met statutory compliance requirements. To overcome these would have entailed significant investment in the building. Unfortunately, a combination of the need for such a significant investment to bring it up to standard and a large uplift in annual maintenance budgets means the business has become financially unviable.

It is very doubtful that whoever buys Knuston Hall will reopen it as a residential conference centre, so the forty-year link between Wargame Developments and Knuston Hall is over. For those of us who spent many very enjoyable conferences there, it will be sadly missed.

I hope that the excellent staff are treated properly by the Council and are either redeployed to better jobs or are given enhanced early retirement or a significant redundancy payment. They certainly deserve to be treated properly as they and the Hall are – in my humble opinion – victims of the previous council's shambolic governance. Their incompetance and financial mismanagement, added to lack of investment in what was a viable income generating asset, has led to the situation where the Hall had to close.

What name to use? A possible winner

After some great suggestions, a shortlist has emerged. The two frontrunners are

• Albion (probably the Commonwealth of Albion, ruled over by the Queen and Lord Protector, Queen Gloriana)
• Avalon (probably the Commonwealth of Avalon, ruled over by The Queen and Lord Protector, Queen Valberta)

I am tending to favour the latter of the two as the possessives of the country and monarch are Avalonian and Valbertan respectively, which seem to trip off the tongue slightly easier than Albionian and Glorianan. I also like the mythical links back to Arthurian Britain, one of the earliest imagi-nations.

The button box is sorted

I recently wrote about a 'sorting the button box' exercise that I undertook with regard to my collection of Axis and Allies Miniatures.

I have since 'won' a couple of eBay auctions that have increased the size of my collection, which now looks like this (the numbers indicate how many of each I have in my collection):

Australia

• Veteran SMLE Riflemen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common) 2

Canada

• Canadian Infantrymen (D-Day and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common) 4
• Eagle-Eyed NCO (D-Day and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon) 4
• Sherman DD (D-Day; Tank; Rare) 1

Nationalist China

• Kuomintang Machine-Gun Team (Set II; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon) 3
• Kuomintang Officer (Set II; Commander; Uncommon) 1
• Kuomintang Riflemen (Set II; Infantry; Common) 4

Finland

• Finnish Infantry (Eastern Front; Infantry; Common) 1
• Finnish Machine-Gun Team (Eastern Front; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon) 1
• T-26E (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare) 3

France

• Canon de 75 modele 1897 (Early War 1939–41; Artillery; Common) 1
• Hotchkiss Machine-Gun Team (Eastern Front; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon) 3
• Lebel 86M93 Grenadier (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common) 1
• MAS 7.5 mm Rifle (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common) 22

Germany

• BMW R75 (Contested Skies; Motorcycle; Uncommon) 1
• Fallschirmjäger (Reserves; Paratrooper; Common) 5
• Flammenwerfer 35 (Eastern Front; Flamethrower; Uncommon) 1
• Focke-Wulf Fw 190A (D-Day; Aircraft; Rare) 1
• Jagdpanther (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank Destroyer; Rare) 1
• Jagdpanzer IV/70 (Eastern Front; Tank Destroyer; Rare) 1
• Luftwaffe Infantrymen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common) 7
• Light Mortar (Base Set; Mortar; Common) 10
• Marder II (D-Day; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon) 9
• Mauser Kar 98k (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common) 23
• MG 42 Machine-Gun Team (Base Set, 1939–1945 and North Africa; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon) 12
• Nebelwerfer 41 (Reserves and Eastern Front; Artillery; Uncommon) 2
• PaK 35/36 Antitank Gun (Eastern Front; Artillery; Common) 5
• PaK 40 Antitank Gun (Set II; Artillery; Uncommon) 1
• Panther Ausf. D (Reserves; Tank; Rare) 1
• Panzer II Ausf. C (Base Set; Tank; Rare) 1
• Panzer II Ausf. F (Eastern Front and Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon) 1
• Panzer III Ausf. F (Set II, 1939–1945 and Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon, Rare) 4
• Panzer IV Ausf. G (Early) (Eastern Front and Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare) 4
• Panzerfaust 30 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry Antitank Team; Common) 14
• Panzerschreck (Contested Skies; Antitank Team; Common) 4
• Sd Kfz 222 (Base Set; Armoured Car; Uncommon) 1
• Sd.Kfz. 251 (Base Set, 1939–1945 and North Africa; Half-Track; Uncommon) 1
• sGrW 34 81mm Mortar (D-Day and Eastern Front; Mortar; Uncommon) 5
• sIG 33 (Base Set; Assault Gun; Rare) 1
• SS-Haupsturmführer (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon) 11
• SS-Panther Ausf. G (Base Set; Tank; Rare) 2
• SS-Panzer IV Ausf. F2 (Set II; Tank; Rare) 2
• SS-Panzergrenadier (Base Set and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common) 7
• SS Stormtroopers (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common) 7
• StuG III Ausf. D (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Assault Gun; Uncommon) 1
• Tiger I (Base Set, 1939–1945 and Eastern Front; Tank; Rare) 5
• Veteran Fallschirmjäger (North Africa and Counter Offensive; Paratrooper; Uncommon) 1
• Volkssturm Infantrymen (Reserves; Infantry; Common) 4
• Wehrmacht Expert Sniper (Set II; Sniper; Uncommon) 1
• Wehrmacht Oberleutnant (Set II and Eastern Front; Commander; Uncommon) 2
• Wehrmacht Veteran Infantrymen (D-Day and North Africa; Infantry; Common) 1
• Werwolf Partisans (Reserves; Partisan; Common) 4

Greece

• Greek Mountain Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common) 1
• Greek Officer (North Africa; Commander; Uncommon) 1
• Greek Soldier (North Africa; Infantry; Common) 7

Hungary

• 8mm Huzagol 35M (Reserves and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common) 16
• PzKpfw 38 (t) (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare) 1
• Turan I (Reserves; Tank; Uncommon) 12
• 40/43M Zrinyi Assault Howitzer (Counter Offensive; Assault Gun; Rare) 1

Italy

• Blackshirts (Set II; Infantry; Common) 4
• Brixia M35 45 mm Mortar (Contested Skies and Eastern Front; Artillery; Uncommon) 3
• Fucile Modello 1891 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common) 9
• Italian Conscript (North Africa; Infantry; Common) 11
• L6/40 (Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon) 1
• Stalwart Lieutenant (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon) 4

Japan

• Azad Hind Fauj Infantrymen (Reserves; Infantry; Common) 4
• Type 89 Mortar (Base Set and 1939–1945; Mortar; Common) 4

New Zealand

• New Zealand Commander (Counter Offensive; Commander; Uncommon) 1
• New Zealand Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common) 2

Poland

• Cavalrymen (Set II; Cavalry; Uncommon) 4
• Determined Infantrymen (Reserves; Infantry; Common) 5

Romania

• Antitank Grenadier (Set II and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common) 13
• Bohler 47 mm Antitank Gun (Contested Skies; Artillery; Uncommon) 1
• R35 (Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon) 1
• Romanian Infantry (Eastern Front; Infantry; Common) 1
• Vigilant Lieutenant (Contested Skies and Eastern Front; Commander; Uncommon) 16

South Africa

• South African Infantry (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common) 1

Slovak Republic

• Slovakian Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common) 3

Soviet Union

• 82mm PM-37 Mortar (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Mortar; Common) 13
• BM-13 Katyusha Rocket Launcher (Contested Skies; Artillery; Rare) 3
• Commissar (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon) 3
• Communist Partisans (Contested Skies; Partisan; Common) 9
• Cossack Captain (Set II; Commander; Uncommon) 1
• Cossack Cavalrymen (Contested Skies; Cavalry; Uncommon) 3
• Degtyarev DP27 (Reserves; Infantry; Common) 2
• Fanatical Sniper (Set II and Eastern Front; Sniper; Common) 3
• Hero of the Soviet Union (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon) 1
• IL-10 Sturmovik (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare) 1
• IS-2 Model 1944 (Set II and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare) 2
• KV-1 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare) 1
• Mosin–Nagant 1891/30 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common) 7
• PPSh-41 SMG (Set II and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common) 7
• PTRD-41 Antitank Rifle (Set II and Eastern Front; Antitank; Uncommon) 2
• Red Army Forward Observer (Contested Skies; Artillery Observer; Common) 3
• Soviet Grenadiers (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common) 5
• Soviet-Polish Infantry (Eastern Front; Infantry; Common) 4
• SU-76M (D-Day; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon) 6
• T-34/76 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare and Uncommon) 6
• T-35 (Reserves; Tank; Rare) 1
• T-70 Model 1942 (Set II, 1939–1945 and Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon) 3
• ZIS-2 57mm Model 1943 (Set II and 1939–1945; Anti-tank Gun; Uncommon) 9

United Kingdom

• 6-Pounder Antitank Gun (Base Set; Antitank Gun; Common) 10
• 17-Pounder Antitank Gun (Contested Skies; Antitank Gun; Uncommon) 1
• Archer (Set II; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon) 4
• Bren Machine Gunner (D-Day and North Africa; Infantry; Common) 2
• Churchill Crocodile (Base Set; Tank; Rare) 2
• Cromwell IV (Set II and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare) 5
• Defiant Paratroopers (D-Day; Paratrooper; Common) 7
• Entrenched Antitank Gun (Eastern Front; Antitank Gun; Common) 2
• Gurkha Riflemen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common) 7
• Humber Scout Car (Base Set and 1939–1945; Armoured Car; Uncommon) 5
• Inspiring Lieutenant (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon) 52
• M3 Stuart (Base Set and North Africa; Tank; Uncommon) 1
• Mk.VII Tetrarch (D-Day; Tank; Uncommon) 3
• PIAT Gunner (Set II; Anti-Tank Team; Uncommon) 1
• Royal Engineers (Base Set; Engineer; Common) 16
• Sten Gun (North Africa; Infantry; Common) 4
• Universal Carrier (Contested Skies and Counter Offensive; Transport; Uncommon) 4
• Vickers Machine-Gun Team (Base Set and 1939–1945; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon) 12

United States

• 3" Gun M5 (Set II; Antitank Gun; Uncommon) 2
• BAR Gunner (Set II; Infantry; Common) 2
• Bazooka (Base Set and 1939–1945; Antitank Team; Common) 13
• Buffalo Soldiers (D-Day; Infantry; Common) 9
• FO Jeep (Contested Skies; Artillery Observation vehicle; Uncommon) 2
• Hunting Sniper (Contested Skies; Sniper; Uncommon) 5
• Jeep (Base Set and Eastern Front; Transport; Common) 4
• M1 Garand Rifle (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common) 12
• M3 Lee (Base Set; Tank; Rare) 1
• M4A1 Sherman (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Uncommon) 8
• M4A3 (105) Sherman (Base Set and 1939–1945; Artillery; Rare) 1
• M4A3E8 Sherman Easy Eight (Base Set; Tank; Rare) 1
• M5 Half-Track (Set II, 1939–1945 and North Africa; Half-Track; Uncommon) 3
• M26 Pershing (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare) 1
• M36 MGC (Contested Skies; Tank Destroyer; Rare) 2
• Marine Riflemen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common) 11
• Marines M2-2 Flamethrower (Base Set; Flamethrower; Common) 5
• Mortar M2 (Base Set; Mortar; Common) 4
• P-51D Mustang (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare) 1
• Quad 50 (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Antiaircraft Gun; Uncommon) 4
• Red Devil Captain (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon) 11
• Resourceful Hero (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon) 1
• Screaming Eagle Captain (Set II; Paratrooper Commander; Uncommon) 2
• U.S. Engineer (Eastern Front; Engineer; Uncommon) 1

Kingdom of Yugoslavia

• Yugoslav Partisan Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common) 1

Obstacles and Support Units

• Barbed Wire (D-Day; Obstacle; Common) 4
• Headquarters (Reserves; Support; Uncommon) 1
• Minefield (D-Day; Obstacle; Common) 1
• Pillbox (D-Day; Obstacle; Uncommon) 3
• Tank Obstacle (D-Day; Obstacle; Common) 2

It is interesting to note just how uneven the distribution of figures and vehicles are. For example, I have virtually no Japanese stuff ... but also have 52 Inspiring UK Lieutenants and 16 Vigilant Romanian Lieutenants!

Looking at what I now have in my collection, it has become obvious that with a few judicious additional purchases, mainly of figures and artillery, I could quite easily put together several World War 2 Fast Play Portable Wargame armies, so having recently decided to put my Eastern Front/Great Patriotic War project on the back burner, it might just have eased itself forward just a bit!

As the figures and vehicles are already painted, creating such armies would be relatively quick and simple. Furthermore, they take up a lot less space than my existing 20mm collection and are much lighter to carry about, all of which makes the idea much more attractive in the light of my current medical problems.

Nugget 347

I collected the latest issue of THE NUGGET on Saturday, and I will post it out to members later today. In the meantime, members can read this issue online.

IMPORTANT: Please note that this is the second issue of THE NUGGET to be published for the 2022-2023 subscription year. If you have not yet re-subscribed, a reminder was sent to you some time ago. If you wish to re-subscribe using the PayPal option on the relevant page of the website, you can use the existing buttons as the subscription cost has not changed.

What name to use?

Having finished my Zubian Army, I only have the British Colonial figures in my collection to renovate, varnish, and rebase. This should take me about a fortnight … but I’m rather stuck as to what to call the country whose army they will represent.

In the past I’ve used Britannia, and that is currently the front runner. However, I’m open to using a different name and I’d appreciate suggestions. Alternatives I have already considered so far include:

• The United Kingdoms (which harks back to the heptarchy)
• Albion (the name used by the Romans before the name Britannia became more popular)
• Anglia (named after the Angles who invaded during the post-Roman period)
• Saxony (again, named after the Saxons who invaded during the post-Roman period)
• Jutland (yet again, named after the Jutes who invaded during the post-Roman period)
• Pritania (derived from the Greek name – Pritani – used before the Roman invasion)
• Northland, Norland, or Normandy

The Army of Zubia: The infantry, machine gun, artillery, and train units

I have just finished renovating, varnishing, and rebasing the rest of the units that will make up the Army of Zubia.

The Army of Zubia has the following units:

• Infantry
• 1st Guard Regiment
• 2nd Guard Regiment
• 1st Infantry Regiment
• 2nd Infantry Regiment
• 3rd Infantry Regiment
• 1st Machine Gun Battalion
• Cavalry
• 1st Cavalry Regiment
• 2nd Cavalry Regiment
• Independent Cavalry Squadron
• Artillery
• 1st Artillery Regiment
• 2nd Artillery Regiment
• Train
• 1st Supply Column
• 2nd Supply Column
• 3rd Supply Column

The Army of Zubia.

The units are shown attached to the magnetic sheet that holds them in place in thier REALLY USEFUL BOXES storage box.

Units shown in italics are militia or reserve units.

Nugget 347

The editor of THE NUGGET sent me the latest issue on Sunday, and I will send it to the printer later this morning. With luck, it should be ready to be posted out to members early next week.

IMPORTANT: Please note that this is the second issue of THE NUGGET to be published for the 2022-2023 subscription year. If you have not yet re-subscribed, a reminder was sent to you some time ago. If you wish to re-subscribe using the PayPal option on the relevant page of the website, you can use the existing buttons as the subscription cost has not changed.

A bit of nostalgia ... and possibly the reason why I am interested in military history

After I had found the photograph of the Frazier Street Coronation street party, I remembered that I had an aerial photograph of the Waterloo area dating from before the Second World War.

I have annotated it so that anyone who knows that part of London as it is now should be able to pick out the various places that still exist.

The following map extract should help.

I was born in the General Lying-In Hospital (shown below circled in red), my Aunt Mary, Uncle Peter, cousin Jacqueline, and grandmother lived on Webber Row (circled in light blue), my great grandmother and my Aunt Kit lived in a tenement off Frazier Street (circled in purple), and when she was a child my mother went to school at Joanna Street School (circled in green)

My maternal relatives did their shopping in Lower Marsh, which they always called 'The Cut' even thought the road with that name actually runs between the Waterloo and Blackfriars Roads, and I had another aunt (my grandmother's sister, who was also somewhat confusingly called Mary and referred to in the family as Little Aunt Mary) who lived with her husband on an estate just across the Waterloo Bridge Road.

My paternal relatives lived in the East End, and when I was growing up, I saw less of them than I did my mother's family. My grandmother looked after me a lot when I was very young, and her idea of child car was to take me to the Imperial War Museum (which is just off the bottom of the map) and let me wander whilst she sat outside chatting with her friends. The museum's warding staff (most of whom were veterans of the First World War) looked after me and explained the exhibits to me ... so it is no wonder that I grew up with such an interest in military history!

The Queen Is Dead! Long Live The King!

Today is the day of the late Queen's funeral, and Sue and I will, like many other people, be spending it at home watching events as they unfold.

The late King, George VI, died on 6th February 1952, the day before my second birthday, and the late Queen immediately became Queen Elizabeth II. Her coronation was held on 2nd June 1953, and I have a few vague and very hazy memories of attending a street party that was held on that day in Frazier Street, Waterloo, SE1.

The Coronation street party held in Frazier Street. In the background are several of my aunts, my grandmother, and my great grandmother.

Me (aged 3), not looking at the camera! Even then I was probably more interested in the food than what was going on around me.

During my life I have worked for the bank that dealt with the Queen's money (Coutts and Company) and although I was not introduced to her, I was at the opening of the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich, and she passed me whilst I was standing by one of the exhibits. (As a member of the Board of Friends of the Museum I was asked to stand by an exhibit that I knew something about. I chose the M1 75mm Pack Howitzer, which my father had used when he was a member of 53rd [Worcestershire Yeomanry] Air Landing Light Regiment, Royal Artillery). We were told not to try to make eye contact with her, so all I actually saw was the feather on the top of her hat as she walked past me!

Today I will be saying a quiet 'Goodbye' to her as I watch her funeral unfold. She has been my sovereign for most of my life and I am still finding it difficult not to refer to the new king a Prince Charles.

THE QUEEN IS DEAD!
LONG LIVE THE KING!

---

We are also having to get used to singing the revised word of the National Anthem.

God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.

Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour,
Long may he reign.
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King.

Backstories for my Belle Époque imagi-nations: The Khedivate of Zubia

The history of Zubia can be traced back to beyond the beginnings of recorded history. It is one of the earliest cradles of civilisation, and its people live in the shadows of many ancient monuments. However its era of importance as a major power has long gone, and it is now just a dusty, insignificant former province of the Sofaman Empire.

The flag of the Khedivate of Zubia.

Its current ruler – the Khedive of Zubia – is a middle-aged, fat, and indolent individual who lives in luxury whilst the peasants live in abject poverty. He is descended from an Stalbanian soldier who was made Khedive over one hundred years ago by a grateful Sofaman Sultan (the Stalbanian had saved the Sultan’s life). The country could be rich – it has the potential to grow far more food crops than the population can eat – but the Khedive has done little to improve the lot of the population. Instead he taxes them hard and uses the money to buy fine wines for himself, fashionable dresses for his numerous mistresses, and to build himself bigger and more lavish palaces.

The River Zub is Zubia. Without it the country would not exist. The river brings the silt that makes the land fertile. Its water is used to irrigate the fields. It also provides an easy means of movement from one end of the country to the other. Along the banks of the river everything is green; away for the river everything is desert.

The majority of Zubians are hard-working peasants who live in the villages and settlements that dot the fertile area along the edge of the River Zub. They tend their fields, grow their crops, and pay their taxes – often under duress. They are not generally a warlike people, but when roused they can be formidable opponents. Most towns are populated almost exclusively by urbanised Zubians, whereas a cosmopolitan mix of foreign traders, bankers, and civil servants, Stalbanian army officers, Levantine businessmen, and Zubian servants forms the population of the capital city – Zubairo – as well the main towns of Secundria and Port Zub.

A few Zubians still follow the old ways and live nomadic lives. They move from one oasis to another as the seasons change, and they depend upon their herds of camels and goats to supply them with almost everything the need. They rarely visit the fertile area along the River Zub except to buy essential supplies and to trade camel or goatskins.

The army of Zubia is small but reasonably well equipped. Its recruits are ‘taken’ from amongst the Zubian peasants, and the officers are mostly second or third-generation Stalbanians and Khakistanis, although a few Zubians have been promoted from the ranks.

The Army of Zubia: The cavalry

I have been slowly but surely continuing to renovate figures from my existing 15mm Colonial collection as part of my Belle Époque project. The latest batch are the cavalry for the Army of Zubia.

They comprise two cavalry regiments and one independent cavalry squadron.

Unlike the other imagi-nations that have been created for this project, Zubia has been around for some time and can best be thought of as being a simulacra of late nineteenth century Egypt. The troops of Zubia look like Egyptian troops. They wear white uniforms with red fezes or tarbushes, and are armed with modern-ish weapons.

I have been to … the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre … again

Sue and I visited the Prince Philip Collections Centre back in November 2021. On that occasion we went on a ‘behind the scenes’ tour; this time our visit was part of the programme of Heritage Open Days that took place from 12th to 16th September. This year's theme was Astounding Inventions, and we took part in the morning tour on Wednesday 14th September.

The group we joined assembled in the reception area, and at just after 10.30am the seven of us, accompanied by two members of staff, set off on our tour. Initially we went from the modern main building to the storage buildings. These were originally built as part of the RAF Kidbrooke, which had been a stores, maintenance, and training facility from 1917 to 1965. These old buildings have now been repurposed as dedicated, temperature-controlled storage.

The first exhibit that we looked at was a wonderfully detailed ship model of Brunei’s Great Eastern under construction at Millwall.

The model is incredibly detailed, ...

... and includes a vignette of Brunel inspecting the half-finished ship …

… and the boat used by a painter who painted several pictures of the ship during her career.

We then passed on to the area where various larger items are stored, ...

... including the carbon filament used to light a lighthouse before the invention of the light bulb ...

... and an early quick-firing gun.

We ended our tour back in the main building, where we spent some time in one of the picture storage areas, where we were able to examine a paining of the bombardment of Algiers.

By this time our hour-long tour was up, and after thanking the staff for everything that they had done, we returned home.

---

The Centre organises 'behind the scenes' tours every first Thursday in the month, and the cost of this longer tour is well worth it if you have any interest in things maritime. They also run 'Make, do and maintain' sessions on every third Saturday in the month (the cost is £1.00 for the booking fee and the session lasts from 10.30am to midday) and 'Saturday Super Store Tours' which last an hour and cost £12.00.

Sorting the button box

During my first teaching practice in a junior school in Harlow, Essex, I was on a very rapid learning curve. Luckily, I was teamed up with a very experienced teacher who taught me many useful lessons in the art of teaching. One of these was to always have what he called a ‘sorting the button box’ exercise ready.

Despite what some educational ‘experts’ might have the general public believe, the learning dynamic in a classroom is not always good, and as a teacher one has to recognise that and to accordingly adjust whatever they expect their class to do. For example, if there has been a fight during break time or rain has poured down at lunchtime and the children have not been able to go outside to run about and let off steam, trying to get the children to concentrate on anything difficult can be counterproductive to learning. In these circumstances having a ‘sorting the button box’ exercise can help them to calm down and prepare them for productive learning. (Such exercises are also good things to give to individual children who are upset or need to calm down, especially if they have been in a confrontation with another child or a member of staff.)

There are times when I need to have my own ‘sorting the button box’ exercise, usually on days when I am feeling a bit depressed or tired and unable to concentrate on reading, writing, or painting. Yesterday was such a day … and I spent what turned out to be a productive couple of hours sorting out a boxful of Axis and Allies Miniatures. I inherited them some years ago and had never sorted them out properly. I have now rectified that … and it has made me realise just quite how much stuff I own.

The complete list of Axis and Allies Miniatures that were produced was as follows*:

Australia

• Australian Officer (North Africa; Commander; Uncommon)
• Carro Armato M11/39 (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon)
• Lend Lease Stuart (Counter Offensive; Tank; Uncommon)
• Owen SMG (North Africa; Infantry; Uncommon)
• Veteran SMLE Riflemen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)

Belgium

• Belgium Bicycle Troop (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Uncommon)
• Belgium Infantry (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
• Belgium Officer (Early War 1939–41; Commander; Uncommon)
• T-13B3 (Early War 1939–41; Tank Destroyer; Rare)

Canada

• Canadian Infantrymen (D-Day and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
• Churchill III (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
• Eagle-Eyed NCO (D-Day and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
• Entrenched Antitank gun (Reserves; Artillery; Common)
• Intrepid Hero (Reserves; Hero; Uncommon)
• Ram Kangaroo (Eastern Front; Armoured Personnel Carrier; Rare)
• Sherman DD (D-Day; Tank; Rare)
• Sherman VC 17-Pounder (1939–1945; Tank; Rare)

Nationalist China

• Kuomintang Machine-Gun Team (Set II; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
• Kuomintang Officer (Set II; Commander; Uncommon)
• Kuomintang Riflemen (Set II; Infantry; Common)
• T-26 Series 1933 (Set II; Tank; Rare)

Independent State of Croatia

• Croat Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)

Finland

• Finnish Infantry (Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
• Finnish Machine-Gun Team (Eastern Front; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
• Finnish Officer (Eastern Front; Commander; Uncommon)
• Finnish Ski Troop (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
• StuG III Ausf. G (Eastern Front; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• T-26E (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)

France

• Bold Captain (Contested Skies; Commander; Uncommon)
• Canon de 75 modele 1897 (Early War 1939–41; Artillery; Common)
• Char B1-bis (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
• FCM 36 (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
• Free French Infantrymen (D-Day; Infantry; Common)
• French Alpine Troop (North Africa; Infantry; Uncommon)
• French Resistance Fighters (Reserves; Partisan; Common)
• Hotchkiss H39 (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• Hotchkiss Machine-Gun Team (Eastern Front; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
• Lebel 86M93 Grenadier (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
• MAS 7.5 mm Rifle (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
• Morane-Saulnier MS.406 (Early War 1939–41; Aircraft; Rare)
• P107 Half-Track (Early War 1939–41; Half-Track; Uncommon)
• Panhard et Levassor P 178 (Reserves and 1939–1945; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• Renault R-35 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare and Uncommon)
• Somua S-35 (D-Day, 1939–1945 and Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)

Germany

• 20mm Flak 38 (Contested Skies; Anti-aircraft Gun; Uncommon)
• 7.5 cm LEL G1818 (North Africa; Artillery; Common)
• 88mm Flak 36 (D-Day and North Africa; Anti-aircraft Gun; Rare)
• 88mm with Gun Shield (Eastern Front; Anti-aircraft Gun; Rare)
• BMW R75 (Contested Skies; Motorcycle; Uncommon)
• DAK Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
• Disciplined Spotter (D-Day; Spotter; Common)
• Dornier Do335 (Reserves; Aircraft; Rare)
• Elefant (Reserves; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Panzer IV Ausf. D (Contested Skies; Tank; Uncommon)
• StuG III Ausf. G (Counter Offensive; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Fallschirmjäger (Reserves; Paratrooper; Common)
• Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind (Contested Skies; Anti-aircraft Vehicle; Rare)
• Flammenwerfer 35 (Eastern Front; Flamethrower; Uncommon)
• Focke-Wulf Fw 190A (D-Day; Aircraft; Rare)
• Fortress Defender (D-Day; Infantry; Common)
• Grizzled Veteran (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon)
• Hummel (Eastern Front; Artillery; Rare)
• Jagdpanther (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Jagdpanzer IV/48 (Contested Skies; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Jagdpanzer IV/70 (Eastern Front; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer (D-Day; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)
• Jagdtiger (D-Day; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Junkers JU 87B Stuka (Early War 1939–41; Aircraft; Rare)
• Junkers JU 87G Stuka (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare)
• King Tiger (Set II, 1939–1945 and Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• Kubelwagen V (North Africa and Early War 1939–41; Transport; Uncommon)
• Luftwaffe Infantrymen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
• Light Mortar (Base Set; Mortar; Common)
• Marder II (D-Day; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)
• Marder III Ausf. M (Eastern Front; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)
• Mauser Kar 98k (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
• Messerschmitt Ace (North Africa; Aircraft; Rare)
• Messerschmitt Bf109E (Contested Skies; Aircraft; Rare)
• Messerschmitt Bf 110 (D-Day and North Africa; Aircraft; Rare)
• Messerschmitt Me 262 (Reserves; Jet Aircraft; Rare)
• MG 34 Machine-Gun Team (Counter Offensive; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
• MG 42 Machine-Gun Team (Base Set, 1939–1945 and North Africa; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
• Motorized Schützen Infantry (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
• Nashorn (Set II and Counter Offensive; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Nebelwerfer 41 (Reserves and Eastern Front; Artillery; Uncommon)
• Opel Blitz 3Ton (North Africa; Truck; Uncommon)
• PaK 35/36 Antitank Gun (Eastern Front; Artillery; Common)
• PaK 38 Antitank Gun (Base Set; Artillery; Common)
• PaK 40 Antitank Gun (Set II; Artillery; Uncommon)
• Panther Ausf. D (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
• Panther Ausf. A (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• Panzer IB (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon)
• Panzer II Ausf. C (Base Set; Tank; Rare)
• Panzer II Ausf. F (Eastern Front and Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon)
• Panzer II (F) "Flamingo" (Set II; Tank; Uncommon)
• Panzer III Ausf. F (Set II, 1939–1945 and Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon, Rare)
• Panzer III Ausf. N Commander (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
• Panzer IV Ausf. A (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
• Panzer IV Ausf. E (North Africa and Eastern Front; Tank; Rare and Uncommon)
• Panzer IV Ausf. F2 (1939–1945; Tank; Uncommon)
• Panzer IV Ausf. G (Early) (Eastern Front and Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
• Panzer IV Ausf. G (Base Set; Tank; Uncommon)
• Panzer IV Ausf. H Commander (North Africa; Tank Commander; Rare)
• PzKpfw 38(t) (Reserves; Tank; uncommon)
• Panzerjäger I (Early War 1939–41; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)
• Panzerjäger Bren 731 (e) (Reserves; Anti-Tank Vehicle; Uncommon)
• Panzerfaust 30 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry Antitank Team; Common)
• Panzergrenadier (Set II; Infantry; Common)
• Panzerschreck (Contested Skies; Antitank Team; Common)
• Panzerspähwagen P204 (F) (North Africa; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• Pioneers (Eastern Front; Engineer; Uncommon)
• Recon BMW R75 (Counter Offensive; Motorcycle; Uncommon)
• Sandbagged Machine-Gun Team (D-Day; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
• Sd Kfz 222 (Base Set; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• Sd Kfz 234/2 "Puma" (Contested Skies; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• Motorcycle Half-Track (North Africa and Early War 1939–41; Motor-Cycle Half-Track; Uncommon)
• Sd.Kfz. 7/1 (North Africa; Anti-Aircraft; Rare)
• Sd.Kfz. 231 (North Africa and Early War 1939–41; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• Sd.Kfz. 234/4 (Eastern Front; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Sd.Kfz. 250 (D-Day; Half-Track; Uncommon)
• Sd.Kfz. 251 (Base Set, 1939–1945 and North Africa; Half-Track; Uncommon)
• Sd.Kfz 303 Goliath (Reserves; Demolitions; Uncommon)
• sGrW 34 81mm Mortar (D-Day and Eastern Front; Mortar; Uncommon)
• sIG 33 (Base Set; Assault Gun; Rare)
• SS-Haupsturmführer (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
• SS-Jagdpanther (Eastern Front; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• SS-Panther Ausf. G (Base Set; Tank; Rare)
• SS-Panzer IV Ausf. F2 (Set II; Tank; Rare)
• SS-Panzergrenadier (Base Set and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
• SS Stormtroopers (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
• StuG III Ausf. D (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Assault Gun; Uncommon)
• StuG III Ausf. G (North Africa; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Sturmpanzer IV "Brummbär" (Set II and 1939–1945; Assault Gun; Rare)
• Tiger I (Base Set, 1939–1945 and Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• Veteran Fallschirmjäger (North Africa and Counter Offensive; Paratrooper; Uncommon)
• Veteran Panzer III Ausf. L (North Africa; Tank; Rare)
• Veteran Tiger (D-Day and North Africa; Tank; Rare)
• Volkssturm Infantrymen (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
• Wehrmacht Expert Sniper (Set II; Sniper; Uncommon)
• Wehrmacht Oberleutnant (Set II and Eastern Front; Commander; Uncommon)
• Wehrmacht Veteran Infantrymen (D-Day and North Africa; Infantry; Common)
• Werwolf Partisans (Reserves; Partisan; Common)
• Wespe (North Africa; Artillery; Rare)

Greece

• Greek Cavalry (Early War 1939–41; Cavalry; Uncommon)
• Greek Mountain Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
• Greek Officer (North Africa; Commander; Uncommon)
• Greek Soldier (North Africa; Infantry; Common)

Hungary

• 8mm Huzagol 35M (Reserves and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
• 37mm Light Antitank Gun (Reserves; Anti-Tank Gun; Common)
• PzKpfw 38 (t) (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• Solthurn 31m MG Team (Counter Offensive; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
• Tenacious Officer (Reserves; Commander; Uncommon)
• 38M Toldi IIA (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
• Turan I (Reserves; Tank; Uncommon)
• 40/43M Zrinyi Assault Howitzer (Counter Offensive; Assault Gun; Rare)

Italy

• 47/32 Anti-Tank Gun (North Africa; Artillery; Common)
• Autoblindo AB41 (North Africa and Early War 1939–41; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• Blackshirts (Set II; Infantry; Common)
• Breda Modello 30 LMG (North Africa; Infantry; Uncommon)
• Breda Modello 37 (North Africa; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
• Brixia M35 45 mm Mortar (Contested Skies and Eastern Front; Artillery; Uncommon)
• Cannone da 75/27 modello 11 (Early War 1939–41; Artillery; Common)
• Carro Armato M11/39 (North Africa; Tank; Uncommon)
• Carro Armato M13/40 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare and Uncommon)
• Fucile Modello 1891 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
• Italian Alpine Troop (North Africa; Infantry; Uncommon)
• Italian Conscript (North Africa; Infantry; Common)
• L3/35 (D-Day; Light Tank; Uncommon)
• L6/40 (Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon)
• Macchi C.202 Folgore (North Africa; Aircraft; Rare)
• Semovente L40 da 47/32 (Early War 1939–41; Assault Gun; Rare)
• Semovente 75/18 (North Africa; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Semovente 90/53 (North Africa; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Stalwart Hero (Reserves; Hero; Uncommon)
• Stalwart Lieutenant (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
• Veteran Carro Armato M13/40 (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)

Japan

• 47mm Anti-Tank Gun (Base Set; Anti-Tank Gun; Uncommon)
• 70mm Type 92 (North Africa; Artillery; Uncommon)
• Arisaka Rifle (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
• Azad Hind Fauj Infantrymen (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
• Honour-Bound Hero (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon)
• Imperial Engineer (Counter Offensive; Engineer; Uncommon)
• Imperial Sergeant (Base Set; Commander; Uncommon)
• Imperial Sniper (Set II; Sniper; Common)
• Japanese Bicycle Trooper (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Uncommon)
• Jungle Spotter (Early War 1939–41; Spotter; Uncommon)
• Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden-Kai (Reserves and Counter Offensive; Aircraft; Rare)
• Mitsubishi A6M Zero (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare)
• Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar (Early War 1939–41; Aircraft; Rare)
• SNLF Captain (Set II and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
• SNLF Fanatics (Contested Skies; Infantry; Uncommon)
• SNLF Paratroopers (Set II; Paratrooper; Common)
• Type 1 Ho-Ni (Set II; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• Type 2 Ka-Mi Amphibious Tank (Set II; Tank; Uncommon)
• Type 3 Chi-Nu (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
• Type 4 Ho-Ro (Counter Offensive; Assault Gun; Rare)
• Type 87 Armoured Car (Contested Skies; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• Type 88 75 mm AA Gun (Counter Offensive; Anti-aircraft; Rare)
• Type 89A Chi-Ro (Contested Skies; Tank; Rare)
• Type 89B Chi-Ro (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
• Type 89 Mortar (Base Set and 1939–1945; Mortar; Common)
• Type 92 Machine-Gun Team (Base Set and 1939–1945; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
• Type 95 Ha-Go (Base Set and 1939–1945, Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare and Uncommon)
• Type 97 Antitank Rifle (Reserves; Soldier; Common)
• Type 97 Chi-Ha (Set II and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
• Type 97 Te-Ke Tankette (Set II; Tank; Uncommon)
• Type 99 LMG (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)

New Zealand

• Daimler Dingo Armoured Car (Counter Offensive; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• New Zealand Commander (Counter Offensive; Commander; Uncommon)
• New Zealand Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)

Poland

• 7TP (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
• 7TPdw (Set II; Tank; Rare)
• Cavalrymen (Set II; Cavalry; Uncommon)
• Cromwell IV (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
• Determined Infantrymen (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
• Polish Mauser Kar 98 K (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
• Polish Officer (Early War 1939–41; Commander; Uncommon)
• TKS Ursus Tankette (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon)
• wz.36mm ATG (Early War 1939–41; Artillery; Common)

Romania

• Antitank Grenadier (Set II and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
• Bohler 47 mm Antitank Gun (Contested Skies; Artillery; Uncommon)
• R-2 LT-35 (Set II; Tank; Rare)
• T4 Medium Tank (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• R35 (Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon)
• Romanian Cavalry (Counter Offensive; Cavalry; Uncommon)
• Romanian Infantry (Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
• Romanian Mortar (Counter Offensive; Mortar; Uncommon)
• Romanian Sd.Kfz. 251 (Counter Offensive; Half-Track; Uncommon)
• Vigilant Lieutenant (Contested Skies and Eastern Front; Commander; Uncommon)

South Africa

• Marmon Herrington Mk. II AC (Early War 1939–41; Armoured Car; Rare)
• South African Infantry (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
• Valentine II (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)

Slovak Republic

• Motorcycle Recon (Early War 1939–41; Motorcycle; Uncommon)
• PzKpfw 35(t) (Counter Offensive; Tank; Uncommon)
• Panzer 38(t) (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
• Slovakian Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
• Slovakian Marder III (Counter Offensive; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)

Soviet Union

• 76mm Model 1942 (Eastern Front; Artillery; Uncommon)
• 82mm PM-37 Mortar (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Mortar; Common)
• 85mm AA Gun (Counter Offensive; Anti-aircraft Gun; Rare)
• BA-10M (Reserves; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• BA-64 (Eastern Front and Counter Offensive; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• BM-13 Katyusha Rocket Launcher (Contested Skies; Artillery; Rare)
• BT-5 (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
• BT-7 (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
• Commissar (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
• Communist Partisans (Contested Skies; Partisan; Common)
• Cossack Captain (Set II; Commander; Uncommon)
• Cossack Cavalrymen (Contested Skies; Cavalry; Uncommon)
• Degtyarev DP27 (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
• Fanatical Sniper (Set II and Eastern Front; Sniper; Common)
• Guards Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
• Guards T-34/76 (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
• Guards T-34/85 (Set II; Tank; Rare)
• Hero of the Soviet Union (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon)
• IL-10 Sturmovik (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare)
• IS-2 Model 1944 (Set II and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
• IS-2 Veteran (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• IS-3 (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
• ISU-122 (Eastern Front; Assault Gun; Rare)
• KV-1 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
• KV-2 (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
• KV-85 (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• Lend-Lease Half Track (Eastern Front; Half-Track; Uncommon)
• Russian M1910 Maxim MG (North Africa; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
• Mig-1 (Early War 1939–41; Aircraft; Rare)
• Mongolian Cavalry (Early War 1939–41; Cavalry; Uncommon)
• Mosin–Nagant 1891/30 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
• PolishSU-85 (Counter Offensive; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• PPSh-41 SMG (Set II and Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
• PTRD-41 Antitank Rifle (Set II and Eastern Front; Antitank; Uncommon)
• Red Army Forward Observer (Contested Skies; Artillery Observer; Common)
• Siberian Shock Troops (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Uncommon)
• Soviet Conscript (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
• Soviet Grenadiers (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
• Soviet M3 Lee (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
• Soviet-Polish Infantry (Eastern Front; Infantry; Common)
• SU-76M (D-Day; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)uSu-85 (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• SU-122 (North Africa; Assault Gun; Rare)
• SU-152 (Reserves; Assault Gun; Rare)
• T26B (1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
• T-28 (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
• T-34/76 (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare and Uncommon)
• T-34/76 Commander (North Africa; Tank Commander; Rare)
• T-34/76 Model 1942 (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• T-34/85 (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• T-35 (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
• T-38 Light Amphibious Tank (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Uncommon)
• T-70 Model 1942 (Set II, 1939–1945 and Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon)
• Valentine VI (Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon)
• Veteran NCO (Eastern Front; Commander; Uncommon)
• Veteran SU-76M (Counter Offensive; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• ZIS-2 57mm Model 1943 (Set II and 1939–1945; Anti-tank Gun; Uncommon)
• ZIS-5 Ton (North Africa; Truck; Uncommon)
• ZIS-42 Half-Track (Counter Offensive; Half-Track; Uncommon)

United Kingdom

• 3-Inch Mortar (Counter Offensive; Mortar; Uncommon)
• 2-Pounder Antitank Gun (North Africa; Antitank Gun; Common)
• 6-Pounder Antitank Gun (Base Set; Antitank Gun; Common)
• 17-Pounder Antitank Gun (Contested Skies; Antitank Gun; Uncommon)
• 40 mm Bofors L60 (Contested Skies; Anti-aircraft Gun; Uncommon)
• Archer (Set II; Tank Destroyer; Uncommon)
• Bedford QL 3 Ton (North Africa; Truck; Rare)
• Bren Machine Gunner (D-Day and North Africa; Infantry; Common)
• BEF Infantrymen (Early War 1939–41; Infantry; Common)
• Centurion A41 (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
• Churchill IV (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• Churchill AVRE (D-Day; Engineer Tank; Rare)
• Churchill Crocodile (Base Set; Tank; Rare)
• Comet A-34 (Contested Skies; Tank; Rare)
• Concealed Forward Observer (D-Day; Spotter; Common)
• Cromwell IV (Set II and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
• Crusader II (Base Set and North Africa; Tank; Rare)
• Cruiser Mk IIIA13 (Early War 1939–41; Tank; Rare)
• Defiant Paratroopers (D-Day; Paratrooper; Common)
• Entrenched Antitank Gun (Eastern Front; Antitank Gun; Common)
• Gloster Meteor (Reserves; Jet Aircraft; Rare)
• Grant I (North Africa; Tank; Rare)
• Gurkha Riflemen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
• Hawker Typhoon (D-Day; Aircraft; Rare)
• Humber Scout Car (Base Set and 1939–1945; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• Inspiring Hero (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon)
• Inspiring Lieutenant (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
• M3 Stuart (Base Set and North Africa; Tank; Uncommon)
• M22 Locust (Reserves; Tank; Uncommon)
• Mk.VII Tetrarch (D-Day; Tank; Uncommon)
• Matilda II (North Africa and Early War 1939–1941; Tank; Rare)
• Morris Reconnaissance Car Mk2 (North Africa and Early War 1939–41; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• PIAT Gunner (Set II; Anti-Tank Team; Uncommon)
• Royal Engineers (Base Set; Engineer; Common)
• Sherman IVC (Counter Offensive; Tank; Rare)
• Sherman VC Firefly (D-Day and Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• SMLE No.4 Rifle (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
• Staghound (Eastern Front; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• Sten Gun (North Africa; Infantry; Common)
• Spitfire Ace (North Africa; Aircraft; Rare)
• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I (D-Day and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare)
• Universal Carrier (Contested Skies and Counter Offensive; Transport; Uncommon)
• Valentine I (1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
• Valentine II (Set II; Tank; Rare)
• Vickers Machine-Gun Team (Base Set and 1939–1945; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)

United States

• 3" Gun M5 (Set II; Antitank Gun; Uncommon)
• 37mm Gun M3 (North Africa; Antitank Gun; Common)
• BAR Gunner (Set II; Infantry; Common)
• Bazooka (Base Set and 1939–1945; Antitank Team; Common)
• Buffalo Soldiers (D-Day; Infantry; Common)
• GMC CCKW (North Africa; Truck; Uncommon)
• DUKW (Counter Offensive; Transport; Uncommon)
• Early M4A1 Sherman (North Africa; Tank; Rare)
• FO Jeep (Contested Skies; Artillery Observation vehicle; Uncommon)
• Higgins Boat (D-Day; Transport; Rare)
• Hunting Sniper (Contested Skies; Sniper; Uncommon)
• Jeep (Base Set and Eastern Front; Transport; Common)
• F4U Corsair (Reserves and Counter Offensive; Aircraft; Rare)
• Lockheed P-38G Lightning (D-Day; Aircraft; Rare)
• LVT (D-Day; Amphibious Transport; Rare)
• LVT (A)-1 (Counteroffensive; Amphibious Tank; Rare)
• M1 81mm Mortar (D-Day; Mortar; Common)
• M1 Garand Rifle (Base Set and 1939–1945; Infantry; Common)
• M3 Half-Track (D-Day; Half-Track; Uncommon)
• M3 Light Tank (1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
• M3 Lee (Base Set; Tank; Rare)
• M3A1 Scout Car (Counter Offensive; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• M3A5 Lee (Eastern Front; Tank; Rare)
• M4A1 Sherman (Base Set and 1939–1945; Tank; Uncommon)
• M4A1 Sherman Commander (North Africa; Tank Commander; Rare)
• M4A3 (105) Sherman (Base Set and 1939–1945; Artillery; Rare)
• M4A3E8 Sherman Easy Eight (Base Set; Tank; Rare)
• M4 Sherman T-38 Calliope (Reserves; Tank; Rare)
• M5A1 (Eastern Front; Tank; Uncommon)
• M5 Half-Track (Set II, 1939–1945 and North Africa; Half-Track; Uncommon)
• M7 105mm Priest (D-Day and Counter Offensive; SP Artillery; Rare)
• M8 Greyhound (Reserves; Armoured Car; Uncommon)
• M16 Half-Track (D-Day; Half-Track; Uncommon)
• M8 75mm Pack Howitzer (North Africa; Artillery; Common)
• M10 (North Africa; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• M12 GMC (Eastern Front; Artillery; Rare)
• M18 Hellcat (Base Set; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• M18 GMC (1939–1945; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• M20 Recoilless Rifle (Reserves; Artillery; Common)
• M24 Chaffee (Set II; Tank; Rare)
• M26 Pershing (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Tank; Rare)
• M36 MGC (Contested Skies; Tank Destroyer; Rare)
• M1919 MG (North Africa; Machine-Gun Team; Uncommon)
• Marine Riflemen (Contested Skies; Infantry; Common)
• Marine Sergeant (Counter Offensive; Commander; Common)
• Marines M2-2 Flamethrower (Base Set; Flamethrower; Common)
• Mortar M2 (Base Set; Mortar; Common)
• P-51D Mustang (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Aircraft; Rare)
• Quad 50 (Contested Skies and 1939–1945; Antiaircraft Gun; Uncommon)
• P40 Tomahawk (North Africa; Aircraft; Rare)
• Rangers (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
• Red Devil Captain (Base Set and 1939–1945; Commander; Uncommon)
• Resourceful Hero (D-Day; Hero; Uncommon)
• Screaming Eagle Captain (Set II; Paratrooper Commander; Uncommon)
• Screaming Eagle Paratroopers (Set II; Paratrooper; Common)
• Thompson Sub-Machine Gun-Gunner (Reserves; Infantry; Common)
• Untested Recruit (North Africa; Infantry; Common)
• U.S. Engineer (Eastern Front; Engineer; Uncommon)
• Veteran M4 Sherman Rhino (Set II; Tank; Rare)

Kingdom of Yugoslavia

• Yugoslav Partisan Infantry (Counter Offensive; Infantry; Common)
• Yugoslav Partisan Commander (Counter Offensive; Commander; Uncommon)

Obstacles and Support Units

• Ammo Dump (Reserves; Support; Uncommon)
• Barbed Wire (D-Day; Obstacle; Common)
• Fuel Depot (Reserves; Support; Uncommon)
• Headquarters (Reserves; Support; Uncommon)
• Minefield (D-Day; Obstacle; Common)
• Pillbox (D-Day; Obstacle; Uncommon)
• Tank Obstacle (D-Day; Obstacle; Common)

I am having little trouble identifying which tanks and artillery I have in my collection, but the figures are presenting me with a problem. I hope that a trawl through the Internet will help ... but if someone out there has a link to a source of photographs that show each figures, I would be very grateful for the link.

Once I have identified what I have in my collection, I will publish a list as a blog post.

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* The information in brackets indicates which set the miniatures formed part of, what the miniature represented, and how common (or not) they were.