Sunday 1 November 2020

Interesting drawing


 I found this interesting drawing of Victorian Canadian militia whilst trawling for  images online of Canadian militia. I was looking for interwar photos to no avail but found these snow shoes fellows instead. A most evocative drawing and one worthy of turning into a converted figure or three. Does anyone recognise the uniform?

I assume this is from some illustrated London News type journal, maybe a Canadian equivalent perhaps? I feel such journals offer much of interest to us gamers. Does anyone know if such things can be looked at on line ?

8 comments:

  1. https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/3556521
    Found the above interesting link

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  2. Same hats as these Canadian Artillery on sledges on a Harpers print:
    https://www.amazon.com/Hauling-Artillery-Sledge-Winter-display/dp/B01BJ4D3CM

    Preben Kannik Blandford Military Unicorns of the World has a page of Colonial troops 1870s 1890s Canadians figure 377 and 378 - I love this book. Desert Island Discs book for me ...

    I have seen toy soldier versions of this sledge and such head gear. Dorset? Saw it in a toy soldier magazine. Will keep looking for this link.

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    Replies
    1. Alex Sim figures (contactable online via the web link) and Dorset casting sled gun
      Here it is
      http://members.upnaway.com/~obees/soldiers/sledge_gun.jpg

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    2. Lego and block compatible figures do snowshoe pieces but pricey - I'm sure lolly sticks and coffee stirrers will do the trick.

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    3. What a dramatic print, excellent. The sledge and crew look terrific. I found an illustration from Army and Navy illustrated which had photos of winter gear albeit with furry hat. You can buy bound volumes of these on eBay very reasonably but I am trying not to spend at the moment. I had the kannik book and others about locomotives, tanks etc in similar bindings but gave them away to charity as the book capacity got too big. They were splendid reads indeed.

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  3. They look late Victorian to me. I may have a few reference works that could help, let me have a look tomorrow.

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  4. The Busby or fur wedge cap or Astrakhan or "Cap, Man's Winter, Fur" has been a popular winter military headgear with many Canadian military units. I know some units still used them as late as the 1970s - possibly later - though it would have been part of a winter dress uniform. Cadets at the Royal Military College were wearing them into the 2000s.

    The uniform pictured is very generic and could be just about any pre-1900 militia regiment. It looks like they might be carrying a Snider Enfield breechloading rifle which was used from 1867 into the 1880s.

    I have a number of books on Canadian equipment and uniforms, unfortunately most of them are squirrelled away in boxes and inaccessible during the current basement renovation...

    A few places you might want to check out:

    Military Heritage at Library and Archives Canada:
    https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/Pages/military-heritage.aspx

    The Canadian War Museum
    https://www.warmuseum.ca/

    Virtual Museum Canada
    http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/home/

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