It’s a case of thanks but no thanks. I can see that the standard truncheon was shorter but like the look of the version in the comic. So see this as artistic license as used by a sadistic MP who probably had his truncheon custom made to inflict more pain!

Being tied to a cart or a fence post for an hour or two a day is "akin to a crucifixion"?

Glad you find the practice trivial. Obviously not a fence post, but tied to the wheel of a field gun would look like modern day crucifixion. Some sadistic officers made sure those in field punishment No1 were within range of German artillery, to compound the threat and fear the men would feel. So horrified were some colonial soldiers seeing the practice, they freed the men being punished.

The Brits still used the wheel at that time? Gee, I think even the Prussians had given it up long before.

The Germans were also shocked at how many men we executed for things like falling asleep on duty.

Yes, field punishment no1 included being tied to a post or gun wheel for several hours at a time, then drilled in full kit. A practice designed to break the men, both physically and psychologically. Cruel and dehumanising in practice.

Ultimately this is an anti war statement, some may not like it, but it’s valid and a contrast to some modellers who glorify war.

Building the 1/35 BL 8inch Howitzer from Roden at the moment. A large artillery gun of the Great War. Big thanks to Nigel Ashley for help with the great war research.

The kit is not the easiest of fitment and lots of flash. The original has vinyl wheel detailing, so replaced this with styrene and added additional details (white) based on the research references. Still have some details to add and refine with file but it’s coming together. The gun platform will be mostly buried, a nice addition to the Roden kit.

The man's on fire!

I wondered what the burning smell was!

Excellent modelling!

Thanks mate, the manual has been really useful. I did have parts of the mechanism working but froze with Tamiya thin as won’t be elevated. It’s given me a good understanding of how the gun actually works.

...which was a capital offense in German armies in earlier generations. In Frederick the Great's army, that was punishable with runs of the gauntlet. I honestly didn't know that the British army had such draconian punishments, in a time in which the British considered themselves supremely modern, enlightened, and civilized. Very interesting...

Prost!
Brad

Quite shocking the level and degree of punishment metered out on British soldiers for what today would get you a telling off or written warning from HR.

This is the last of what we’re deemed serious crimes and their punishment during the 1914-18 war.

Charge

Maximum penalty

Shamefully delivering up a garrison to the enemy

Death

Shamefully casting away arms in the presence of the enemy

Death

Misbehaving before the enemy in such a manner as to show cowardice

Death

Leaving the ranks on pretence of taking wounded men to the rear

Penal Servitude

Wilfully destroying property without orders

Penal Servitude

Leaving his CO to go in search of plunder

Death

Forcing a safeguard

Death

Forcing a soldier when acting as sentinel

Death

Doing violence to a person bringing provisions to the forces

Death

Committing an offence against the person of a resident in the country in which he was serving

Death

Breaking into a house in search of plunder

Death

By discharging firearms intentionally occasioning false alarms on the march

Death

When acting as a sentinel on active service sleeping at his post

Death

By discharging firearms negligently occasioning false alarms in camp

Cashiering or imprisonment

Causing a mutiny in the forces, or endeavouring to persuade persons in HM forces to join in a mutiny

Death

Striking his superior officer

Death

Offering violence or using threatening language to his superior officer

Penal servitude

Disobeying in such a manner as to show a wilful defiance of authority, a lawful command given personally by his superior officer

Death

Disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer

Penal servitude

When concerned in a quarrel, refusing to obey an officer who ordered him into arrest

Cashiering

Striking a person in whose custody he was placed

Cashiering or imprisonment

Deserting HM service, or attempting to desert

Death

Fraudulent enlistment

First offence imprisonment; second penal servitude

Assisting a person subject to military law to desert

Imprisonment

Behaving in a scandalous manner unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman

Cashiering

When charged with the care of public money, embezzling the same

Penal servitude

When charged with the care of public goods, misapplying the same (applicable to Quartermasters)

Penal servitude

Wilfully maiming himself with intent to render himself unfit for service

Imprisonment

Drunkenness

Cashiering or imprisonment

Committing the offence of murder

Death

Thanks chap. New job from Monday so expect the rate of pace to be a lot slower from now on, made quite a bit of modelling progress, so pleased with the latest model so far.

Setting out the 1/35 scene on the base.
I like to keep the story focused in my dioramas, so sacrificed some of the Howitzer fixed base to fit the frame. Most of the BL 8inch base is buried, so shouldn’t detract from the overall look.
Most of the modelling is now complete, so next stage is cleaning the figures and artillery piece, modelling the base and ground work.

Looking really good, excellent composition and great detailing on the gun

Thanks mate, will be slow progress from this point on with the new job starting Monday. Glad I’ve managed to get this far.