8th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division, CEF

My final entry to the Fourth Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge - a nice 300 point bomb.

The 8th Infantry Brigade was part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force's 3rd Division in the Great War. It consisted of four battalions of "Mounted Rifles" which had been originally been raised in late 1914 as 8 regiments in two brigades. Upon their arrival overseas, however, it became immediately apparent that there would be no role for mounted rifles anytime soon and were thus "dismounted" and amalgamated into four regular infantry battalions.

These are all to be part of my "Vimy Project" - a megalomaniacal dream to play the entire Canadian Corps' assault on the ridge on the 100th anniversary of the battle in 2017 (more on all that shortly!). So far I have done the terrain and miniature for the 4th Division (and the opposing Germans in their sector). This year I am doing the 3rd Division and terrain for it's section of the line (and the Germans opposite). Next year will be the 2nd Division and in 2016 I'll finish up the 1st Division - so I'll have the entire Corps (and terrain... and Germans...) ready for early 2017.

The entire Fourth Division was made of miniatures I modeled, cast and (of course) painted myself. Later, I got the idea in my head that the rest of the Divisions I would do making up brigades from various different manufacturers. The 8th Brigade, here, is made up of models I picked up from Renegade Miniatures a couple years back during one of their 5-4-4 sales. I also have miniatures for the 7th Brigade - which are all Great War Miniatures - and so far I have painted the 42nd (Royal Highlanders) Battalion (which was, apparently TWO YEARS AGO!). I'm not sure what I'm going to do for the 9th Brigade...? Probably Brigade Games - as there is a highland unit in the 9th Brigade (Camerons of Canada, I think?) and Brigade has Highland figures - which some of the other manufacturers don't!? 

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version):

This is the entire Brigade along with the Brigade Commander and headquarters signalers and the 8th Company, 3rd Canadian Machine-Gun Battalion and the 8th Trench Mortar Battery (the Commander, signalers and MG and Mortar Teams were painted previous to the Challenge, but are shown here for completeness!)

Brigade Commander and HQ along with the 8^th Trench Mortar Battery and the 8^th company, 3^rd Canadian Machine-Gun Battalion

First Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles - which my Great Uncle Bertram served with at Vimy Ridge!

Second Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles

Fourth Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles

Fifth Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles

Well now what…? I think I should do some planning for the next couple months and maybe do an update on the Vimy Project… It’d be nice if I could maintain momentum on this and finish up the 7^th Brigade – as I already HAVE those figures, they’re all based and primed and ready to go, and one of the battalions is already painted! 

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

Game Plan 2014 Part 2

Vimy Project Update

More A Songs of Blades and Heroes