The large photo is of 137th Brigade (including 1/6th Battalion North Staffs) at the Riqueval Bridge on the St Quentin Canal, October 1918... The original photo is in the Staffs Regt Museum, Whittington Barracks...

Hi Planeteers. Something a bit different....1-1 scale. Apologies for the image quality. Here is a lifesized mannequin that I've just completed to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the breaking of the Hindenburg Line, but specifically to celebrate the taking of the Riqueval Bridge and crossing of the St Quentin canal by men of the Staffordshire Regiment. It's now part of a display at the Regimental Museum. I can tell that working in 1-1 scale is a lot harder than any of the other scales I've done over the years. All the uniform items are reproduction and the period lifejacket is a long term loan, courtesy of a theatrical costumiers.

Great project.
Gordon

Looks great! The photo of the bridge is amazing too. Now if someone would try that in 54mm....

One suggestion about the 1:1 sculpt..... next time try dressing up a teenager, give him a mobile phone, USB power supply and wifi…. he'll stay in that spot

Entry photo is incredible shot.
Thanks for sharing this project with us, also haven't seen this life vest worn by troops.
Presume it was used in canal crossing.
-Mike

Amazing peice of history, thanks for the back story to the photo, too. Whilst I’ve no interest in the period, I’m awed by photos from then.

Kylie
Canal crossing, would that be the far canal?

Hi gents, thank you for your comments. To answer a couple...Mike,yes, the life vests, which were commandeered from ferries and trawlers, were issued for the canal crossing. The attack took place in the early hours of 29th September, with expectations that the defending German troops would blow the bridge. As it turned out, although a fair number of troops did cross the canal via assorted rope and chain' bridges, some did wade it too. To access the canal banks they had to slide down a 50 feet deep, 45 degree incline. Having crossed the waters they then had to scale the opposite bank (where the photo was taken). When the attack went in, the defending Germans appear to have been caught on the hop and the bridge was captured intact by a combined party of Staffords and Engineers and the charges disabled. Nap, yes the figure is now on display at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield. Working in life size, with actual or repro uniforms, brings some unique 'modelling' problems, particularly with partial attachment of limbs, then dressing and posing the figure. It's certainly not as easy as glueing an already 'clothed' arm on a 54mm. Also, I don't have a modellers desk, I have what resembles 'Frankenstein's laboratory' . I'll look to do an SBS next year when we celebrate the Regiment's 75th anniversary of its participation at Arnhem............Now, does anybody know where I can get a 17 Pounder for the Baskeyfield diorama!!!! Cheers all.

I was always under the impression that Baskeyfield's action was with a six pounder, air portable A/T gun...?

Great stuff - informative, relevant, and rather poignant with the centenary and all. The photo of the bridge is astonishing, and for an
idiotic moment, I too wondered if it was perhaps the inspiration for some insane diorama.

Valiant, I bow to your superior knowledge. I have just checked the VC citation and it was indeed a 6 pounder. Thank you for pointing out my error.

Very well done. An iconic photo that often turns up in books relating to the period.

Mike