Monday 6 May 2013

Captain William Morris...

…The Pocket Hercules.



So named because of his short stature, forty three inch chest and immense strength, Captain Morris completes the triumvirate of the Charge of the Light Brigade Characters from ‘Great War Miniatures’ distributed in the United Kingdom through ‘North Star Military Figures’.  This is a cracking little miniature and perhaps my favourite of the three.  Again a one piece sculpt, nicely proportioned and dynamic in its portrayal of the man who led the 17th Lancers into the ‘Valley of Death’ astride his favourite charger, ‘Old Trumpeter’.





Morris was one of those rare creatures in that he was a professional and experienced soldier having attended the Royal Military College and saw service in India during the Sikh Wars winning medals for gallantry at Sobraon and Aliwal, but this active service saw him looked down upon by those with wealth and social standing who referred to men like Morris as 'Indian' officers.  


Captain Morris would be one of the first to reach the Russian guns and survived the charge only to endure an untimely death from dysentery in Poona during the Indian Mutiny.







51 comments:

  1. Grat paint Michael , really nice
    Cheers

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  2. I'm really getting to like the way they sculpt horses and your brush seems to love them.

    And don't they make a nice statement all lined up together.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Anne, I love the horses particularly and always try to give them the paint job they deserve.

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  3. Great work Michael, the brush work on this chap is excellent.

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    1. Thank you Mr Smilie, certainly my favourite so far.

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  4. Damn nice figure and history Michael!

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  5. Great stuff Michael, a much better face this time for you to display your skills with.

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    1. Thank you Scott, definitely a more characterful sculpt.

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  6. Great job Michael and as already said a much better face on this one. They look great together as well in that last pic.

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    1. Thank you Simon, they must have made an impressive sight on the charge that fateful afternoon.

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  7. You are very good at painting horses. I like this model the best of the three. As others have said the face sculpting wise is much nicer.

    P.S. Thanks for adding my blog to your roll call.

    Rob

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    1. Thank you Robert, I think it helps having a great sculpt to work with; as for adding your blog you are more than welcome - it is too good to miss out on.

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  8. Very nice figure and a heroic story with an unworthy end.

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    1. Thank you and you are right it just doesn't seem an appropriate end to a very brave and fine soldier.

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  9. Damn fine painting once again Mr Awdry! Is it me or does the horse look like he's doing the goose step?

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    1. Thank you Ray - not sure about the goose step, but he certainly has a broad stride!

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  10. That's a wonderful picture of all three together. Another great paint job Michael. I enjoyed this series you did.
    Rod

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    1. Thank you Rod, I was thrilled to see them altogether again.

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  11. another great figure and interesting history. Thanks for sharing
    Peace James

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  12. Wonderful stuff. What a trio!

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    Replies
    1. That is very kind of you to say so, thank you.

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  13. Superbly painted character figure. Best, Dean

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  14. A very fine figure, Michael. A wonderful piece of history, and another chap featured in "Flashman at the Charge", no?

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    1. Thank you Sidney, I think you are right too.

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  15. I love the factual history that you give with the figure it is both interesting and amazing to know the real life of these characters. Great painting skill on show Michael.

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    1. Thank you Pete, I do enjoy the history behind these larger than life characters.

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  16. Nobody's asked about the guy with the meat cleaver. Have I missed something? :-)

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    1. Oho! I should have scrolled down. Great figure! I would have retreated if I saw that guy charging at me. I wouldn't want to end up as commissary stores.

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    2. A fearsome chap, particularly if you came between him and his grog!

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  17. Thank you Andrew, really pleased to see the three reunited.

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  18. Smart looking figure and the three look good together.

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    1. Thank you Sean, that is very kind of you to say so.

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  19. Lovely work Mr. Awdry! I admire his pinstriped trousers and his glorous muttonchops. Well done!

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  20. Hi Micheal,

    once again an absolutely lovely figure. Excellent!

    Cheers
    Stefan

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  21. Another fantastic painting job !! Very nice miniature!!

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