My personal need to record the deeds of my little metal men
is somewhat inexplicable and to an extent slightly worrying. After all, they
are only inanimate pieces of lead alloy dressed up in pigment and glued onto
pieces of wood. So, why do these little warriors deserve to receive a history
in the same way as the real men they represent?
Perhaps it is the love we put into choosing, cleaning,
priming, painting, varnishing and basing them for self and friends to admire. Maybe
it’s the pride and the agony of seeing them march across the table carrying our
own high hopes of victory only to be dashed again on club night or when the
lads come round for a game. Maybe it’s the memory of what was going on in your
life when you painted them; triumph, tragedy, loneliness, illness, joy or anger.
You may recall the movie or radio show that was on in the background when you
sat with brush in hand. They may have been born during deep winter or high
summer, or whilst you were on holiday or travelling with work (one of my most
common memories). I remember once sitting in Lufthansa’s University in the
middle of the Odenwald near Heidelberg during a stifling August, hand painting
Thirty Years War flags for the Augsburg Regiment and wondering whether they had
ever campaigned on the plain which stretched out in full view below my bedroom.
Perhaps it is the emotion evoked when
researching the history of the real men our tiny soldiers are in the image of.
Whatever the reason we love to talk and remember about deeds
of renown. For years I recorded every action that my League of Augsburg units
fought in. Each unit had its own section in which I noted the scenario, their
position in the line, their opponents, battle performance, whether the achieved
anything, captured or lost colours, casualties and whether I considered the
performance worthy of distinction. I even sketched the trophies each took (if
any). No small job considering that in a big battle I might be making as many
as 30 entries in my diary at a time.
I stopped it several years ago but still have the massive
telephone directory type ring folders I made. It’s nice to flick through
occasionally and remember. So, to kick us off here is the very first unit for the
period I ever painted. You’ll see many more as the weeks roll by….
Mackay’s Regiment of
Foot
Apparently formed in 1595. By the 1680s they were serving in
the Dutch Army as part of the Scots Brigade. By 1688 they were under the
command of Sir Hugh Mackay of Scourie, a very experienced Highlander who had
served the French and Imperialists. Mackay led them at Killiecrankie in 1689.
They fought in Flanders and were at Steenkirke (where Mackay fell) and Landen.
After Steenkirke they were commanded by Aeneas Mackay until 1697 when they
became Murray’s.
Painting Them Originally
I first painted this regiment in 1992 when I got into the period. I used Dixon miniatures. I dressed them in a mid-dark red at the time using the black undercoat method. They were originally based on a 20mm per model frontage, 4 models per base, 16 models in total. Pikes (2 or 3 I can’t remember) were integral with the central stands. They had a single cotton hand painted flag of 40 x 40mm which was a yellow St Andrews cross on a red field. It long ago disappeared by being converted into the standard of Regiment Jyske and sold.
I first painted this regiment in 1992 when I got into the period. I used Dixon miniatures. I dressed them in a mid-dark red at the time using the black undercoat method. They were originally based on a 20mm per model frontage, 4 models per base, 16 models in total. Pikes (2 or 3 I can’t remember) were integral with the central stands. They had a single cotton hand painted flag of 40 x 40mm which was a yellow St Andrews cross on a red field. It long ago disappeared by being converted into the standard of Regiment Jyske and sold.
Painting Them Again!
As my period interest flourished I bought Foundry models and decided to do Mackay’s again from scratch. I did a 36 model unit using Foundry models with Essex grenadiers and a couple of head conversions around about 1995 or ‘96. I decided on a much more vivid red for this incarnation and put a lot of character into the faces particularly. This large unit picked up a couple of 1st prizes in painting competitions (The Durham show around 1996 is one I recall as was a Scottish show perhaps Claymore or Kirriemuir).
Several Children From
a Single ParentAs my period interest flourished I bought Foundry models and decided to do Mackay’s again from scratch. I did a 36 model unit using Foundry models with Essex grenadiers and a couple of head conversions around about 1995 or ‘96. I decided on a much more vivid red for this incarnation and put a lot of character into the faces particularly. This large unit picked up a couple of 1st prizes in painting competitions (The Durham show around 1996 is one I recall as was a Scottish show perhaps Claymore or Kirriemuir).
The unit was too large for normal gaming use so I broke them
up. The core stayed as the ‘New Mackays’
with excess models moving into a reformed Ramsay’s
with others moving to a reformed Montcashel’s
(obviously switching sides!). Cuff and breeches colour changes were made
during transfers. By now I was rebasing in what was to become the standard BLB
frontage and Mackay’s found themselves on 4 stands, 6 models per
stand (except the animated pike stand of 5 models). In this form they fought
most of their actions and appeared in a variety of publications including BLB
and Wargames Illustrated.
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| Pikemen - A white cuff job moved these into Ramsays! |
Another Comeback
They were rebased for a fourth time in 2011 when I wanted to give my ‘platoon firing’ Foot a more open formation to distinguish them on the table. The frontage was opened up to 20mm again and base depth reduced from the standard 60mm to 50mm.
Glorious ServiceThey were rebased for a fourth time in 2011 when I wanted to give my ‘platoon firing’ Foot a more open formation to distinguish them on the table. The frontage was opened up to 20mm again and base depth reduced from the standard 60mm to 50mm.
In total they have fought 65 recorded actions receiving seven distinctions. Their average battle losses are 30%. They have captured the colours of: Gordon's and O'Gara's regiments. They have lost their own colours four times. Their finest hour was capturing the colours of O'Gara's Regiment on the banks of the Shannon 1691. Their darkest hour was losing their nerve crossing the Boyne in a 1690 refight whilst under fire from the Irish Footguards. They panicked two friendly brigades into retreat. They have fought in their original Scots-Dutch Brigade line up with Balfour's and Ramsay's 12 times including Killiecrankie and Neerwinden stretching as far back as 1993. This service record covers the period of Old Mackay’s and New Mackay’s. Sir Hugh has been captured twice by the French! They have fought in perhaps another 20-25 actions which were not recorded and have guised as Saxons and Russians during GNW battles! I think I have had my money's worth from these veteran Scots.
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| The Brigade Deployed for Battle |
In 1995 the Old Mackay’s were given a different paint job (a much more scarlet- red). A few new models were added, some of which were Essex officers. They were given a natty red hat trim and generally spruced up. They became Regiment Waldek-Pyrmont of the Dutch Army and continue to serve! They will themselves feature later on the blog.
Mackay’s Regiment of Foot. Scots in Dutch pay. Painted by Barry Hilton