Tuesday 23 February 2016

From ClintB - 28mm Betteshanger Miners (111 points)


Betteshanger Miners;

The following is taken from Wikipedia.
Betteshanger colliery opened in the late 1920s and was the largest of the Kent collieries. It had two shafts of almost 2300 feet, plaques can still be seen where the shafts were once sunk. The colliery was served by a railway branch which left the main line between Deal & Sandwich.
Betteshanger had a tradition of union militancy; it was the first pit to come out on strike during the second World War and took active part in the miners' strikes of 1969, 1972 , 1974 and 1984-85
A sit-in was staged at the colliery in 1984 and those involved were sacked for trespass. The Kent Area's NUM initially refused to return to work until those sacked were reinstated and continued to picket the rest of the country after the NUM's national executive had voted to return to work,so Betteshanger was actually the last pit in Britain to return to work after the strike.



Thereafter, Betteshanger became known for the brutality with which strikebreakers were treated. Posters had gone up in the village with photographs and names of the 30 men who had broken the strike. It was the last Kent colliery to close, closing for good in 1989.


So where does this leave wargaming? Well these will be a socialist faction in Kent loosely allied with the Anglican league. Not working against them but neither fully supporting them in their fight against the London fascists. I will fully write them up for the VBCW forum. Probably next week.


The figures are a mix of makes, Sloppy Jalopy, Ironclad and Musketeer miniatures. Oh and one Warlord "Dad's Army- Verger" While the Flag was created by PETE BARFIELD  (LINK to Petes Blog). I have permission from Peter to offer the flag to any who want it in the challenge if they are to create this force. So if you want the Flag email me at Clintburnettagain(at)Hotmail{dot}UK[dot]com and I will happily pass the PDF of the flag on to you. the flag is not the official/real Betteshanger colliery flag, but one created for VBCW.  The flag was slightly too large when printed so I have had to turn one of the banner bearers just to fit it on the base. Oh well such is life! But you will notice the white horse emblem of Kent prominent on the flag which bears the motto "Invicta".

These troops carry a mixture of weapons, mostly rifles but also 2 Thompsons, a shot gun, a pistol and a Lanchester smg (Used by the royal navy).


All in all there are 22 figures with a flag and ready to join my previous miners and reek havoc on the Gravesend Fascists. All 28mm and all ready for battle now as I have over a platoon of miners if we include the ones from 2 weeks ago.

Thanks for looking and all comments welcomed.


I've been waiting for these boys to appear! And what an awesome appearance they've made. As for the banner, Petal's done a great job with that. As for the trouble fitting it on the base, just be grateful it wasn't one from the Yorkshire pits - you know, the ones that are so big they are on wagons.
This bunch of belligerent blackleg bashers should give you 110 points, but I'm going to add a point for the work with the banner.




36 comments:

  1. Thank you Tamsin. I still have some more VBCW troops to paint this challenge so expect some more (Socialists next time). And I am VERY grateful toy Peter for doing the banner I really think it is splendid, well actually better than splendid! And if any want it send me an email and I will pass it on.

    ReplyDelete
  2. WOW Clint you keep rolling out more and more splend banners sourounded by disreputable but fine looking chaps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Adam. Socialists next as I am painting red berets on some! And working on the Nautical bonus round.

      Delete
  3. This is an excellent entry Clint. That flag is magnificent and the figures are splendid. Altogether, the group makes a striking appearance.

    Also thank you for the history!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Anne. The history does make me maudlin, but it is what happened so I have to live with it. But they will be a formidable force on the table and it is good that the Anglican league do not have everything their own way in Kent during the VBCW. I am also impressed by the Pete's flag and his generosity. But I am disappointed with the photography, there were just too many of them to photograph signally or even in small batches. Oh well worse things happen in the next bonus round!

      Delete
  4. Great stuff Clint and great social history. I can remember the great NUM miner's strike from visiting my dad. I can also remember adds in Mil Mod for Thatcherite and Scargillite figures to fight it out on the table!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Peter. The miners strike did split the country and the legacy continues in the UK. And I had forgotten the Military modelling figures you mention but it is slowly coming back to me.

      Delete
  5. Great submission. You must have loads of these now. Don't fancy trying to invade Kent, although having been to Stood not sure I want too;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Martin. Kent really is a nice place and like all English counties it has it's good and it's bad places. Strood is not a very nice place but there are worse in the area. As for the amount of figures I really have no idea as I have painted over 150 for a friend as well.

      Delete
    2. Stood's not got much going for it apart from THE best Micro-Pub in Kent. The 10:50 From Victoria!

      Delete
  6. Stunning stuff, they complement the unit very nicely. Thanks for sharing this colourful figures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sander. They will be a very characterful unit on the table top. They will ally themselves with the Kent dock workers.

      Delete
  7. Lovely work Clint. The banner vignette is ace. I particularly like the groundwork you've done for it, with the men walking down the dirt road. Excellent stuff.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Curt. Those two figures are from Sloppy Jalopy. The vignette would be nothing without the Banner so I really am thankful to Pete for making me one. As for the dirt road, there was room for it and it fits the style of the other bases. So I thought why not?

      Delete
  8. They look great and the background and idea how to use them is very interesting!

    Christopher

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Christopher. Clearly they will want to fight the London Fascists but they are too few in number to also fight the Anglican league So rather than displace themselves to another part of the country they will fight as allies to the Anglican League and yet oppose them in every discussion that they can believing that there way is the best!

      Delete
  9. well done Clint! great paintwork on a geat theme!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you jester. They will be great fun to write up on the VBCW Forum.

      Delete
  10. Replies
    1. Thank you Fran they will have an outing to Sidcup in a couple of months.

      Delete
  11. Excellent work Clint!I know a few of these chaps......well their Grandsons anyway??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ray. No more Kent Miners from me this challenge. Moving on to Socialists

      Delete
  12. Excellent and that banner really finishes them off

    Ian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ian. I agree the banner is fantastic

      Delete
  13. Simply brilliant stuff Clint! Great background backed up by lovely brushwork and topped off with an original PK. What more could you ask?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Millsy. As a wargames unit It is not so bad and has a lot to commend it. I shall enjoy shooting the bejeezus out of it!

      Delete
  14. Replies
    1. Thank you Dave. The next 2 bonus rounds are now completed so I will push on with the Socialists.

      Delete
  15. Fascinating history lesson as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Barks. Not history that you ever really need to know unless you live locally. However it does show the militant socialist nature of the pit workers.

      Delete
  16. Great looking figures and what a flag.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you John. The flag really is terrific I am so grateful to PK for it.

      Delete
  17. Well done Clint! Really like the two flag bearers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Moiterei. When you have such a nice flag it is hard not to try to do good figures.

      Delete
  18. Very sharp looking figures, Clint! You'll be responsible if I do begin collecting my own VBCW. I'm a huge fan of the mixed weaponry, clothing, and those banners. I really like this one, but it seems a beer wagon should be following behind! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks David. There will be more VBCW in the challenge. Currently working on Socialists. Now a beer wagon sounds like JUST the thing. Maybe pulled by a tractor with Morris dancers as well. Or I might be getting carried away!

      Delete