So How did I get into War Gaming? - The early Years [1964-1970]

Like many a child of the 50s and 60s a had a box or two of Airfix soldiers and Airfix models littered the windows, shelves and hung from the ceiling. Primarily this had all started with my mother who had a love of the RAF, there had been a base nearby.

Avro Lancaster,

So first I built planes a Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster, Mosquito, ME109, Junkers etc etc. All of these were assembled and hung with black thread from bamboo poles that rested on the pelmets I had a double aspect room so they sat there quite well. Of course it was a time before blu tac so they did roll off and therefore repairs were an occasional activity. The Avro Lancaster always had a dominant position as my father had been sent to South Africa to train as a navigator on them. However on his return due to the reduction of losses, Bomber command had no need of him so released him he was asked which service he wanted, he chose to become a Bevin Boy instead as -. 'He didn't want to be bossed around by jumped up self important individuals.'

I did paint one airplane, but was disappointed with the results so in the end nothing else was.

From there I started on to ships, HMS Hood, HMS Ark Royal and the Bismark are three I remember, but I know the geek side had kicked in and I had to have supporting Destroyers for the Battleships and aircraft carrier, you know how these things escalate. In the end I could assemble these without reference to the assembly instructions.

British Commandos

With my fingers in these Airfix pies you won't be surprised to know I also had 20mm armies of infantry and some vehicles.

An eclectic mix, probably controlled by what was available in the local shops, and with hindsight it could be that the stocks they carried were probably influenced by other local purchasers, existing wargamers.

In addition with an Uncle who helped liberate Singapore and my mother's interest in the success we had had in the desert I believe these factors
also played a  part.

Russian Infantry

So I had American Paras, in lieu of Marines, Japanese Infantry, 8th army and DAK, then British and German for NE europe and for some reason Russians.

Of course the TV came into being at some point in my childhood and we all watched imported american tv, so don't be surprised that I had Union and Confederate armies foot and horse with a good sprinkling of Indians.

Indians

My biggest frustration back then was assembling the artillery limbers and mounting the Cavalry on their bases. No glue would keep them in place that is if you could get the little pins on the
hooves to fit the holes in the base. Drilling and rebasing are terms I understand today, not then. Although I do recall one broken PIAT replaced by a sewing pin.

My battles were fought on the floor with a dust sheets draped over books etc. The 'Britains metal' vehicles which looked so out of scale
(did I care - no) were also employed, favourite was a cannon that could fire matchstick.

Union Cavalry

Despite all my efforts I never managed to get the Swan Vesta matches to flare up and catch fire even though I fired them at sheets of sandpaper, the scenery over which I moved the desert forces I also used the metal rods from my Bayko Building set


Being an introverted lad by nature and circumstance, (only Grammar School boy in village and marked out because of it), most of my gaming was solo, though I remember a younger lad from up the road who played, but he moved into the local secondary and that ended.


Lego arrived and ships were made from this, the fleets maneuvering around the floor, marbles used as missiles to smash them.

The pressure of homework began to kick in and my soldiers were put away with the Lego. Very little survives from that period as they were sold or used in the playgroups my mother ran.

You all know what lego is but Bayko?

I found an image of the very kit I had on e-bay!

Bayko Building bases into which rods were inserted, then sections of wall, window were dropped into place, prefab style, sadly this disappeared with the advent of Lego.