British Commonwealth Indian Troops

 British Commonwealth Indian Troops

I had no plans to expand my British Indian force beyond the company or so I already had, but that fantastic painter Ray Haskins bought a job-lot of mixed 20mm figures and couldn`t identify one batch which I immediately saw were Ian Clunie`s Friend or Foe figures. Well Ray had no use for them so sold them onto me and they have been sitting in a draw for a while now as I lost my painting mojo (as usually happens during the hot months of June/July). 

Finally inspired by Steve Evans over on the Rapid Fire! Wargaming FB page I got off my arse and to finally get them done. When I really got around to sorting them out I found a mixture of packs and duplicates, far too many Sten guns and hardly any riflemen 😕 so with a sharp blade I pruned away the Stens and crudely replaced them with rifles from the spares box - not great, but at 4' across a tabletop, they`ll do for me. I still had a weird mix of figures so put in an order to Paul @ Early War Miniatures to add more riflemen.

These will serve as Indian 5th Brigade in Syria, or 4th Division in Tunisia or later Italy

This is the first batch, very mixed without pre-planning, first come first served. 

These figures confused the heck out of me, I`m no expert when it comes to WW2 and the extra length of cloth (hard to make out in these grainy pics I know) was it part of the turban? what colour would it be? Luckily I have a copy of Andrew Mollo`s 'Armed Forces of World War II' and this saved the day again.

It is just sacking wrapped around the helmet, with the trailing piece used to protect the eyes and mouth against sand/dust.

L-R converted moving 2 inch mortar (altered to an ammo bearer), 2 gunners

L-R Moving 2 inch mortar No2, moving Bren, EWM rifleman

L-R 2 of my rough converted ex-sten gunners, EWM rifleman

2 inch mortar team (though I`m pretty sure the No2 is from a Bren team

                                                                 First 12 figures all together

Taxdirt, Morocco, September 20, 1909

 Taxdirt

                                                         Morocco, September 20, 1909 

       For a an overall look at the 1909 Melilla Campaign see my post from last month:

      https://baberonwargames.blogspot.com/2025/07/2nd-melilla-campaign-1909.html

Painting of the Taxdirt Charge by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau Nieto

By September the army managed to gather 44,000 men in Melilla and it was decided to build a lighthouse to guide ships at Cape Tres Forcas (north of Melilla).

Among those troops sent to Melilla was the 2nd Cazadores Brigade (from Campo de Gibraltar), to which was added an expeditionary Squadron of the Alfonso XII Cavalry Regiment, formed around 4th Squadron (Captain Don José Álvarez Moreno) and filled out with volunteer personnel from the remaining three squadrons all under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Don José Cavalcanti de Alburquerque y Padierna. At that time the Regiment was in garrison in Jerez de la Frontera (Andalusia). The Squadron arrived in Melilla on July 30, and began preparing for action which was planned to begin around September 20.

The Commander of the area, General Marina decided the best thing was to take the entire region by force. This way he could keep the population under control and avoid revolts and, in addition, isolate Mount Gurugú held by the Kabyle of Beni Sicar. The action plan was simple. Two columns would be formed that should take the territory north of Melilla. Other units were sent further south towards Zocco del Arbaa and the Rio de Oro in the hope of drawing off enemy forces.

The first group would travel through the region from south to north through an area occupied by peaceful tribes. This first column (made up of 4,020 soldiers, eighty horses and eight cannons) was commanded by General Alfau and its troops were the following: infantry battalions from Barbastro, Figueras, Amposta and Las Navas; Lusitania squadron (cavalry); two Mountain artillery batteries; a company of Sappers, a communication company (Telegraphic); an Ambulance company plus the supply train.

The second group, would cross the area from east to west; its main aim was Taxdirt (sometimes referred to as Taxdir) west of Melilla. The column, (made up of 3,479 soldiers, eighty horses and eight cannons) formed around the Cazadores Division and under the command of General Morales and General Tovar, began its march in the early hours of 20 September, the squadron of Alfonso XII, minus one section, in the vanguard along with a battalion of Cazadores de Catalonia, a Company of engineers, a mountain battery and a machine gun section. The bulk of the column was made up of the division headquarters and the second brigade: battalion of Cazadores de Tarifa, a mountain battery, a battalion of Cazadores de Talavera and the rest of 4^th squadron`s cavalry, a telegraph Company, an Ambulance company and the supply train.

General Tovar, Lt. Col. Cavalcanti and Captain Tovar

Telegraph wagons

On 20 September Morales` column found itself near Tamisunt Hill where the vanguard was suddenly embroiled in a major action with a large body of Riffi numbering 1,500 or more! The Catalonia battalion and the engineers supported by the mountain battery managed to take the hill, but the enemy responded and counter-attacked with great determination. General Tovar sent the Tarifa battalion commanded by 57 year old Lieutenant Colonel Don Eloy Moreira y Espinosa de los Monteros up the hill to support them. The fighting escalated (as did the casualties) to a point that by noon (after nearly four hours of combat) Gen. Tovar ordered Tarifa to relieve the Catalonia Battalion and the engineers on the crest; he also ordered three companies from the Talavera Battalion to replace Tarifa in the firing line. Unfortunately, the Riffi saw that the relief was taking place, they launched themselves against the Spanish! Taking advantage of the confusion, they threw themselves into the gap between Tarifa and Catalonia to cut off the advance of the former and the retreat of the latter. The movement was excellently timed; firstly, because they prevented the Tarifa battalion, exposed to Moroccan fire, from advancing and completing the relief. Secondly, because their attack also cut off the retreat of the last Catalonia company; a unit that already lacked ammunition and was more than exhausted.

The General ordered Lieutenant Colonel Cavalcanti to take his squadron to support Tarifa in a desperate charge. The objective was to get the soldiers to complete the relief before both they and the Catalonia battalion were destroyed!

The squadron which only numbered 65 men did just that, Cavalcanti moved his command to the enemies left climbing the hill until in a favourable position, then he ordered that sabres be drawn and his men to charge, in fact they made three charges in all, regrouping after each, then charging again (the last with only 20 riders). After the last, what few men remained still under Cavalcanti`s command retreated back to the cane field, where they had left their wounded. They dismounted and formed a firing line cordon to defend their comrades against the enemy, now eager for revenge.

Period postcard of the battle at Taxdirt

Seeing the brave cavalrymen in dire need of help Lieutenant Colonel Moreira (who you will remember is in command of the Tarifa Battalion) ordered his 2nd company forward to support the horsemen. The lieutenant colonel leading his men with great bravery riding his horse up and down the firing line, he himself was seriously wounded to his face early in the advance but refused to withdraw and continued to urge his men on despite the fact the wound had damaged his mouth and tongue and he was unable to give verbal orders and to losing a lot of blood, he used arm and hand signals to direct his men. His men formed a defensive cordon allowing stretcher bearers to come forward and evacuate the wounded cavalrymen.

With direct support of mountain batteries, the advancing Talavera battalion secured the hill and finally the Moors morale cracked and they broke off the action and withdrew. This allowed General Morales to establish a solid defensive position at Taxdirt.

The Squadron suffered 25 killed and a number of wounded including, Lieutenant Colonel Cavalcanti who was promoted to full Colonel and awarded, the Laureate Cross of San Fernando for his brave leadership.

On June 27, 1910, the Squadron returned to Jerez, and was awarded the Cross of San Fernando (collective) by order of the King. Presented by King Alfonso XIII in Sevilla, at the Prado de San Sebastián on November 23, 1910.

King Alfonzo XIII presenting the Collective award to the Regiment

A later version of the Regiments flag bearing the Cruze de Fernando

 

A memorial was built on the hill to commemorate the heroes of the Taxdirt Charges in 1910, this visited by King Alfonso XIII in January 1911 whilst on a tour of Melilla. The monument was removed in 1956 upon Morocco gaining her independence, it now stands in the Primo de Rivera Barracks of the Alcantara Armoured Regiment No10 in Melilla itself.

For his own heroism during the battle Lieutenant-Colonal Moreira was promoted to full colonel and was awarded the Cross of San Fernando (2^nd class). His wound was a serious one and would force him to stay in hospital for more than a year.

A rather grainy image of Col. Moreira (best I could dig up)

The Invasion of Mallorca (article) A few more photos added 08/08/2025

 The Invasion of Mallorca

August 1936 by Richard Baber

Another article which originally appeared in SOTCW magazine The Journal

I`d like to thank L Sabia Byrne from the Spanish Civil Wargamers FB group for his input and new info

I’ve always been fascinated by amphibious operations during wars – Gallipoli, Torch, D-Day, Inchon etc; the logistics involved in such daring assaults really ignites my interest. I quickly realised however that as a wargamer I could never re-create such large scale landings, not having either the room or the time or figures required. So I’ve been limited to running small scale landing operations usually just a small part of something more grand.

 Whilst I was researching into the Rif War (Morocco 1919-26) [see Journal 53 for the results of this research], I found that the Spanish had carried out two major amphibious operations in Morocco (at Alcazarseguer in March 1925 and at Alhucemas Bay on September 8^th) and a number of smaller ones during the war against Abd el Krim`s rebellion. When I was reading up on these landings I found several references to an invasion of Mallorca during the Spanish Civil War? I was intrigued and did a little digging to find further information. Later in the summer of 2005, I found myself on Mallorca and actually visited the small fishing village – Porto Cristo where the Republican soldiers landed back in August 1936! Surprisingly there was not a statue or plaque (at least not one I could find) to this event in Porto Cristo. Anyway here are the results of my brief study into this interesting and very game-able operation:

 In the summer of 1936, a group of Spanish Generals began a rebellion against the elected government. The Balearic Islands were quickly brought under the control of the rebels (except for Menorca) with the military authorities assisted by local members of the right-wing Flange party. The rebels attempt to take control of Barcelona had been a total disaster so when news began to filter back of the Nationalist occupation of the islands of Majorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Carbrera. Regarded as part of Catalonia, with popular feelings running high, plans were quickly formulated to send a Catalonian Expeditionary Force to liberate the isles.

Two separate forces set out, neither with the knowledge or consent of the Republican government in Madrid. One from Valencia, under the command of a Civil Guard Captain Manuel Uribarri with 1,200 men. (Mostly anarchist militia but including about 400 Civil Guard). These set sail in a liner – Mar Cantabrico, escorted by two destroyers – Almirante Antequerra & Almirante Miranda. This force headed first for Carberra (August 1st), then onto Formentera (August 8th) and finally Ibiza (August 9th); none of these landings were seriously opposed and all three islands were soon secured for the Republic.

 And from Barcelona a much larger force commanded by an naval air force officer – Captain Alberto Bayo (see below). This force’s objective was Mallorca it consisted of: 2,000 men (mostly regulars and Catalan militia) in eleven merchantmen escorted by the Battleship – Jaime I (see notes below); the Cruiser – Libertad; 3 submarines and a torpedo boat; these arrived in Menorca in late July. 

 

Militia arriving at Porto Cristo by K-type landing barge 

Captain Alberto Bayo

After a couple of weeks planning Bayo completed his palns for the landings the date chosen was August 16^th. The initial force had been swelled by additional volunteers from Menorca. A substantial naval force was assembled including two ex-British K-type landing barges (K-12 & K26) both of whom had participated in the landing s at Alhucemas Bay on September 8th 1925, during the Rif War. These craft were to carry the assault units ashore from the merchantmen. Under cover of an intense bombardment the mixture of militia, regulars, Civil Guards and naval marines pored ashore in Anguila Cove near Porto Cristo on the east coast of the island. The Nationalists faced with overwhelming odds withdrew in land, at this point confused by their sudden and unexpected success, the Republicans settled down on the beach without trying to exploit the situation. They did however unload vital supplies, vehicles (cars and various lorries) and some artillery – six 75mm and four 105mm guns.

First Republican column to land in Mallorca, near Porto Cristo, August 16, 1936. Photo Badosa.

Finally as the days passed, the Republican’s became bolder and began to advance in land a beachhead of 25 miles long by 8 miles deep. They formed columns which began to probe outward from this bridgehead, but as Nationalist resistance increased until these advances ground to a halt. Then on the 27^th things turned for the worse, Mussolini had promised military aid to the rebels and it started to arrive on the island in the form of three Italian SM81 bombers and three CR32 fighter planes. Until this point the Republicans had benefited from air superiority with Dornier Wal float planes and bombers flying from the mainland. The self-styled “Dragons of Death” quickly reversed this situation and gained complete control of the air, once this was achieved, they began strafing and bombing the republican troops too.

 Further infantry reinforcements were flown in including a force of Italian Black shirts, plus loads of much needed supplies. A counter-offensive commanded by Lt Colonel Garcia Ruiz was launched on the 3rd September under a sustained artillery barrage. Over 2600 Nationalist troops began a series of bold thrusts into the Republican enclave. At first, though shocked by the ferocity of the Rebel attack, the Republican militia retired in good order. However as the days wore on, casualties mounted. With no adequate medical supplies or field hospitals, harried from the air and under constant bombardment, an orderly retreat became an unnecessary rout. Despite a numerical superiority of nearly three to one the militia began to abandon their equipment and flee to the coast, the Nationalists close on their heels. No mercy was shown. A convent converted into a makeshift hospital was captured and all the militiamen therein were slaughtered. Many of the 400 militia women who fought alongside their male counterparts were abandoned to their fate in the rush to flee the island. These women were some of the few prisoners taken, all the men being shot out of hand. Much was later made of the abandoned 'milicianas' by Nationalist propaganda. By September 13^th it was all over and Italian Planes were already bombing Ibiza. The republicans so demoralized by the disaster on Mallorca decided to abandon the islands and retreat back to the mainland.

 American defense attaché in Paris reported that the force "after an initial success, suffered disaster due to Italian bombing [which inflicted] heavy losses and finally forced a precipitate withdrawal."

 By the end of September all of the Balearic isles except Menorca were back under Rebel control. Menorca remained a part of the Republic until the end of the civil war, when it surrendered without a shot being fired. By 1938 Nationalist warships strategically based in Palma (Mallorca) and aided by German and Italian aircraft had the Republicans effectively blockaded and they were an important factor in its defeat.

Republican forces

Catalan Expeditionary Force - Capt. Alberto Bayo

Organised in 4 groups:

Group 1

Baleares Militia – 2 battalions

Socialist Militia – 2 battalions

Red & Black Column – 2 battalions

Group 2

ERC Militia – 2 battalions

Libertad Column – 1 battalion

Menorca Militia – 2 battalions

Group 3

Tchapaiev company (100 foreign volunteers)

1 company of Civil Guard

1 company of Carabineros

1 company of Infanteria de Marina (naval marines)

2 batteries of 75mm guns (6), 1 battery of 105mm guns (4)

Air support

1 - Savoia-Marchetti S62 float plane

1 – Macchi M18 float plane

2 – Dornier DO15 Wal float planes

Naval support

Jaime I – Battleship (below)

Libertad – Cruiser

Miranda - Destoryer

Antequera – Destroyer

Valdes - Destroyer

J L Diez - Destroyer

3 x B Class Submarines (Nos 2, 3 & 4)

The gunboat: Shortstop 17

A Fleet tug

A Harbour tug 

                                                                 Tug Cillope (Cyclops)

2 K-type landing barges (K-12 & K-26)

Transports:

Ciudad de Barcelona, Ciudad de Cadiz, Ciudad de Mahon, Ciudad de Tarragona, Isla de Tenerife, Unde Mendi

Ciudad de Cadiz

Ciudad de Tarragona

Motor vessels:

Mar Negro & Mar Cantabrico

Mar Negro

The liner Marques de Comillas was used as a hospital ship, this large passenger ship of 9,922 tons that was confiscated by Bayo himself to transform it into a hospital ship, an action that was quite easy for him since Bayo, in addition to being the head of the Naval Base, he was also the head of the port of Barcelona. He manned the vessel with civilian doctors and medical teams under the command of Commander Cabezón, these formed three surgical teams. The ship carried red cross insignia, but Bayo also made the ship his command and control vessel for the operation and transmitted signals and orders from her, she also carried weapons.

                             Marques de Comillas wearing her red cross colours in Barcelona
                                                                                               

                                                                                              Jaime I 

Was of the Espana Class.  This was a pre-WWI ship and was one of the world’s smallest dreadnoughts with her sister Espana, displacing only 15,700 tons standard and mounting a main battery of 8 12”/50 cal. in two turrets fore and aft and two turrets amidships.  Twelve coal fired boilers gave them a speed of 19.5 knots on 20,000 HP.  Jaime I carried 20 4”/50cal. guns and some AA.  Both had belts of from 3 to 9 inches, deck armour of 1 to 2 inches and 10 inch turret armour. 

 Nationalist forces

Col. Garcia Ruiz

2^nd Palma Battalion – 4 companies (motorised)

2 companies of Civil Guard

5 companies of Carabineros

Legion de Mallorca (Flangist Militia) – 4 companies

3 artillery batteries 75mm (motorised)

2 heavy artillery batteries (155mm)

4 companies of engineers

4 AA batteries

1 battery of mortars

6 coastal batteries

15 companies of Citizen Militia (Milicas Ciudadanas)

Force reserve

1st Palma Battalion – 4 companies (motorised)

Milicas Ciudadanas – 4 companies

4 artillery batteries (75mm)

Air support

3 – Savoia-Marchetti S81 bombers “Dragons of Death”

3 – Fiat CR32 fighters

1 – de Havilland DH82 “Tiger Moth”

1 – Macchi M41floatplane

1 – Savoia-Marchetti S55 seaplane

Captain Alberto Bayo Girot

Born in Cuba in 1892, served with distinction in the infantry during the Rif War where he lost an eye serving with indigenous troops. On July 18, 1936 he was serving as a liaison officer for Prat de Llobregat aviation squadron  and the general staff of 4th Division. On July 19, he had actively participated in the operations against the insurgents in Barcelona, ​​machine-gunning the artillery forces of the San Andrés barracks with the machines under his command when they came out to try to control the situation and then, at the head of a group made up of aviation soldiers and armed civilians managed to reduce the forces of sappers from the Gran Vía barracks and in collaboration with the Assault forces participated in the attack on the Atarazanas barracks, he proposed to his superior commander, Lieutenant Colonel Diaz Sandino,Minister of Defense of the Government of the Generalitat, to carry out a landings in the Balearic Islands in order to restore them into the Republic`s control. He offered to lead said military expedition.

After the unsuccessful episode in Mallorca, Bayo participated in the Battle of Brunete, rising to commander and later to lieutenant colonel. At the end of the war he went into exile in Mexico. There he published a book about the landing in Mallorca, eventually ending up in Cuba, where he instructed Fidel Castro 's guerrillas in Sierra Maestra and directed a school of activists to operate in South America. He died in Havana in 1967.

Sources

Hugh Thomas - The Spanish Civil War (1961)

The Spanish Civil War by Antony Beever (ISBN 0-304-35840-1)

La Guerra Civil Espanola (Vol5) by Gabriel Cardona (ISBN84-96507-10-6)

Abanderado (vol6, issues 1, 2) “The Battle of Majorca 1936” by Brian Cunniffe

Revoluntionary Warfare: Spain 1936-37 by Christopher Hall

Viva la Muerte (Nationalist forces 1936-39) by Christopher Hall

http://www.revistanaval.com/armada/buques1/espagna.htm

http://html.rincondelvago.com/alberto-bayo.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/guerracivil/

http://shipbucket.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9820&start=110

https://www.amigosdelamili.com/cuarteles/barcazas-k-4-armada-desembarco-anfibio-clases-k-bdk-lct-y-otras?fbclid=IwAR3YNYnOxNx7DYkAD6NCRLv6HrUhozBfToAOf-2oLOI9MtwFaCCevz__32k

https://www.fideus.com/bayo%20deseado.htm

https://www.facebook.com/groups/946642695471243

https://www.griegc.com/2020/03/15/la-operacion-sobre-las-baleares-i-organizacion-de-la-operacion-y-la-toma-de-formentera-e-ibiza/?fbclid=IwAR1aPBLVPSx791mfcANQHFr7B0TgdbB_YetS1ZmNMc6IFbRdXP3mQrSE4P8

https://www.griegc.com/2020/09/15/las-operaciones-sobre-las-baleares-ii-el-papel-de-la-flota-republicana/?fbclid=IwAR1SLhY7k2NNaa14hqXujN17N-FS4wUgJhcIKqMyCze35oZaqnsC67MoXDU#

https://www.griegc.com/2021/07/01/las-operaciones-sobre-las-baleares-iii-las-columnas-republicanas/?fbclid=IwAR2Ivk-3nR8oIx-B1HBg2_uPGzrhnPRdW3BNEhvEiwIY6CFyXvvewhxCScc

Goodbye Dolly Gray (book review)

Goodbye Dolly Gray

By Rayne Kruger 

Published by Mackays of Chatham

ISBN 0-7126-6285-5

Paperback, 540 pages

Now way back, when I was editor of the SOTCW magazine, The Journal and was admin of the society forum we had long discussions about what was acceptable and allowed to be discussed on the forum and submitted for publication within the society magazine. Frankly as editor I was continuously scrounging for content and in that vein I made the comment that I would consider anything from 1900 to present and I would also allow late 19th Century stuff like the first year of the 2nd Boer War as an example, as this was a direct link to the C20th.

So here I am over a decade later, picking up a book on a conflict I have never read about and have no plans ever to game – The Second Boer War. The book takes its title from a musical hall song often referred to as the "Boer War Anthem", when in fact it was written by an American about the earlier Spanish-American War!

This book is as I`ve said the first I`ve ever read on this topic, I was of course aware of the basics – Britain wanted to extend her dominion over the independent Boer Republics (and their wealth - diamonds and gold). The Boers resisted and the war dragged on for nearly three years costing a fortune and many thousands of lives on both sides. Churchill (then a journalist) was captured (and escaped); the British used concentration camps (an estimated 20,000+ died of neglect and disease) and scorched earth tactics in an attempt to control the Boers. Both sides fought with great courage and determination, the British suffered awful defeats – Spion Kop (how many Kop ends are there in northern football grounds), the loss of the guns at Colenso and the death of General Roberts son; the sieges of Ladysmith, Kimberly and Mafeking (and Baden-Powell`s defense)!

The book starts with the political machinations of Cecil Rhodes and the British verses the national pride and independent nature of the Boer leadership and goes right though the war until the Boer surrender on 31^st May 1902.

There are a few maps (not enough in my opinion) and a number of B/W period photos and prints of the various personalities. His style is easy to read, he doesn`t get bogged down with details and tries very hard to remain neutral to both sides propaganda, claims and counter-claims. Battles are described in a brief, clear style – though his descriptions of British officers, particularly their facial hair did bring a smile to my face now and again. There are a number of actions which I think could easily transfer to tabletop if you were so inclined. The author tries his best also to cover the various stages of the war, which covers a huge amount of ground – South Africa being twice as large as France!

As the war progressed tactics and strategies changed, the Boers employed trenches first which proved a nasty surprise for the British. The British in turn built lines of blockhouses linked by barbed wire to enclose the vastness of the Veld (countryside) and hoped to pen in the Boer commandos (only partially successful). Eventually numbers told, with Britain calling in aid from her colonies – Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India plus raising local volunteers. All this is detailed and makes for interesting reading, as does the names of officers who would later rise to command during World War One – French (who commanded the British Expeditionary Force in France); Douglas Haig (who replaced him) and Allenby (of TS Lawrence fame). One famous name who I had not linked to the Boer War was a volunteer stretcher bearer during the disaster at Colenso was a young lawyer from India – M. K. Gandhi!

Overall an excellent primer, worth tracking down.