2013 Fall/Winter CatalogueWhen buying

Toy Soldiers see that theyare W. Britains

www.wbritain.com

Price £1.00

WORLD WAR II–RAF matte finish

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World War II ..............................3 Clash of Empires .........................4 Napoleonic .................................6 Zulu War....................................12 Titanic .......................................14 W. Britain Collectors Club ..........16

Welcome to our Fall/Winter Collection of W. Britain model soldiers. Please note that we are changing the sequence of the catalogue titles a bit from the past in an effort to have the season more appropriately reflected when you receive your catalogues. The next catalogue following this one will be our Spring 2014 offerings and will include both stock items and new releases. As in the past, we will issue three additional catalogues for Summer, Fall and Winter with additional new releases along with supporting products from previous releases.

Glossary

Contents

You will notice two distinctly different types of figures in our catalogues, gloss finish and matte finish. The matte figures are 56/58mm-1/�0 scale and are painted in a hyper-realistic style with shading and highlighting, all with a matte finish for an added touch of realism. The glossy figures are a true 54mm figure and are painted in the classic style with simple, neat painting finished in a high gloss lacquer.

Limited Quantity Symbol We have very limited quantities of these items available and once they are sold out they will no longer be available.

54m

m

This Fall/Winter collection rounds out our Napoleonic British 44th Foot range and adds some Brunswick Allies to the fight alongside them at Waterloo in 1815. Our growing RAF collection gets some anti-aircraft defense, the Titanic disaster of April 1912 is reported again and the fighting at Rorke’s Drift in 1879 continues.Our Clash of Empires range has new additions depicting the ferocity of that frontier struggle. Look for more exciting new additions to this range in the Spring, along with new additions to our American Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Museum series and more!

56/5

8 m

m-1

/30

Scal

e

gloss finish matte finish

The Lewis automatic gun was designed by U.S. Army Colonel Isaac Newton Lewis in 1911. Because of political disputes between Lewis and the U.S. Army Chief of the Ordinance Department, the weapon was not adopted by the U.S. Army. Colonel Lewis retired from the Army and headed to Belgium to establish commercial production of the gun. By 191�, the Belgian Army had adopted the design using the standard .�0� British round, and in 1914, BSA purchased a license to build the guns in the UK. The Lewis gun was officially adopted for use by British land and Aircraft use in October of 1915. The gun proved to be reliable and effective and was widely used by the British Empire and her allies during that conflict. With the loss of so much equipment after the disastrous campaign in France in 1940, the British Army was forced to press available stocks of old Lewis guns into home defense. Over 58,000 weapons were taken from stores and refurbished and repaired during the course of WWII and many were used as dual mounts for close range air defense by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. In this role, it was credited by the British as bringing down more low-flying aircraft than any other anti-aircraft weapon.

25026 RAF Lewis Gunner, Spotter & Sand Bag

Emplacment5 Piece Set

Limited Edition of 400 Sets

COVER IMAGE: The figures used in the cover image of this catalog are the W. Britain 120th Anniversary 1893 1st Life Guards Trooper, No.49033

CLASH OF EMPIRES matte finish CLASH OF EMPIRES matte finish

4 5

16009 Woodland Indian Scalping Colonial Militia

Hand-to-Hand Set2 Piece Set

16007 Eastern Woodland Indian Running with

Musket No.11 Piece Set in Window Box

16006 Eastern Woodland Indian Attacking

with War Club1 Piece Set in Window Box

16005 Eastern Woodland Indian Kneeling Loading

1 Piece Set in Window Box

16004 Colonial Militia Officer Pointing with Sword

1 Piece Set in Window Box

16003 Eastern Woodland Indian and

Colonial Militia Hand-to-Hand Set2 Piece Set

In the 18th Century, the area known as the Northwest Territories was the traditional home to various native people. This same area was also important to the grand designs of European expansion and the clash of interests between the French and British culminated in the French and Indian Wars. The native people fought on both sides during this conflict. British victory in 176� gave control of the entire area to Great Britain. In the same year, a confederation of tribes resentful to the shift of power launched a series of attacks against British Forts which became known as ‘Pontiac’s Rebellion.’ Hostilities ended after the British Army expeditions of 1764 and peace negotiations over the next two years established a new relationship. The European view of land ownership and settlement was always at odds with Native views resulting in uneasy peace punctuated violence. Warfare on the North American frontier was brutal, and the killing of prisoners, the targeting of civilians and other atrocities were widespread. The ruthlessness and treachery of these conflicts was a reflection of a growing divide between the separate

populations of the British colonists and the Native Americans The American War of Independence further aggravated the situation, and with the 178� Treaty of Paris the territory again changed hands, this time to the young United States. Despite the treaty, the British kept forts and supported policies of native resistance to further settlement in the territories. President George Washington directed the United States Army to halt the hostilities between the natives and settlers and to enforce U.S. sovereignty over the territory. The small U.S. Army was ill equipped for the task and suffered a series of defeats, including the Harmer Campaign of 1790 and St. Clair’s Campaign in 1791. These humiliating defeats prompted Washington to appoint Revolutionary War hero General “Mad” Anthony Wayne to reorganize the Army to deal with the escalating situation. In 179� Wayne took command of the new ‘Legion of the United States’ and led his men to a decisive victory over the confederation of tribes at the battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, With the treaty of Greenville in 1795, the Native leaders agreed to give up their lands and move to Indiana where in 1811, tensions would again erupt into open warfare on the frontier.

NAPOLEONIC matte finish NAPOLEONIC matte finish

6 7

36121 Brunswick Leib

Battalion Drummer1 Piece Set in

Clamshell Pack

36118 Brunswick Leib

Battalion Officer No.11 Piece Set in

Clamshell Pack

36117 Brunswick Leib Battalion NCO No.1

1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36120 Brunswick Leib Battalion Casualty on Ground

2 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36119 Brunswick Leib Battalion

Standing Reaching for Cartridge1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36116 Brunswick Leib Battalion Kneeling

Defending No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36115 Brunswick Leib Battalion Standing Loading No.1

1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36114 Brunswick Leib Battalion Kneeling

Firing No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36113 Brunswick Leib Battalion Standing

Firing No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

The Black Brunswickers were raised in 1809 to fight Napoleon Bonaparte’s occupation of Germany. These Brunswickers were distinctively attired in black wool uniforms, black leather belting and wore silver death heads on their shakos, quickly earning the nickname ‘The Black Legion’ or ‘The Black Horde.’ During the Waterloo campaign, they were placed under the Duke of Wellington’s command and joined the Allied forces of the Seventh Coalition in Belgium. The regiments were heavily engaged at Quatre Bras on June 16, 1815, where their commander, Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, lost his life. The corps lost over 500 men in this engagement, and only two days later they were again engaging the French as part of the Anglo-Allied army at Waterloo. Wellington held the Leib and Light Battalion in Reserve just north of the Chateau Hougomont. By midafternoon, the regiments were moved forward to support the Allied right wing, and were formed into squares where they stood in place taking heavy casualties from artillery. At about 4:00 P.M., 4,800 French Horseman charged their positions hoping to break the center right of the Allied line, but the Brunswick squares stood fast. Late in the day, the Brunswickers were repositioned to the center of Wellington’s line facing the last gasp attack by Napoleon’s Imperial Guard. Facing these veterans, the Brunswick regiments broke and fell back in disorder, but were rallied by their officers in time to participate in the Allied “General Advance” that swept the French Army from the field. Our new release of ‘Black Brunswickers’ will allow you to form a firing line or to build a square to repel your French Lancers!

NAPOLEONIC matte finish NAPOLEONIC matte finish

8 9

36123 British 44th Foot Light Company

Crouching Running1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36122 British 44th Foot Light Company

Kneeling Firing1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36124 British 44th Foot Light Company NCO

Blowing Whistle1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36125 British 44th Foot Light Company

Looting French Officer2 Piece Set

In the Eighteenth Century, British Infantry regiments were normally made up of nine companies of regular infantry and one company of elite grenadiers. Although this was successful for fighting in the developed European terrain, it was less successful in the virgin forests of North America. The British forces in North America developed tactics for this new kind of warfare and light companies were trained to fight in a non-traditional method relying on marksmanship and extended order. Although the experiment was successful, the practice was abandoned for a short period at the end of the French & Indian War. By 1770, regular Regiments were required to have one company designated and trained as Light Troops. The training was inconsistent and often inadequate, but by the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, progressive officers were writing well thought out manuals for this new corps. While most companies of the regiment fought in tight formations, the ‘Light Bobs,’ as they were nicknamed, fought up to 80 paces in front of the main body of troops in pairs and in spaced intervals. Additional tasks of these light troops included rear guard and flanking protection, reconnaissance and protecting artillery. When infantry formed squares, light infantry and artillerymen were often instructed to take cover in the squares when they were attacked by cavalry. Our new offering of ’Light Bobs’ of the 44th Regiment of Foot are on their way back to the protection of the Battalion and Grenadier companies formed up into a defensive square. One enterprising soul pauses to loot a watch from a French casualty before sprinting to safety as the Sergeant signals others to follow with a sharp signal from his whistle!

NAPOLEONIC matte finish NAPOLEONIC matte finish

10 11

36079French Line Infantry Fusilier Drummer Marching No.1

1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36077French Line Infantry Fusilier

Marching No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36094French Line Infantry Fusilier Marching in Greatcoat No.2

1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36093French Line Infantry Fusilier in

Greatcoat Reaching for Cartridge No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36092French Line Infantry Fusilier

Standing Loading No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36075French Line Infantry Fusilier Standing at the Ready No.1

1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36088French Line Infantry Fusilier

Wounded No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36078French Line Infantry Fusilier Eagle

Bearer, 105th Ligne, No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36076French Line Infantry Fusilier

Officer Advancing No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36091French Line Infantry Fusilier

Charging No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36090French Line Infantry Fusilier

Advancing at Attack March No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36067French Line Infantry Fusilier

Advancing at Port Arms No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36042French Line Infantry Fusilier

Standing Firing No.21 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36080French Line Infantry Fusilier

Kneeling Firing No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

36074French Line Infantry Fusilier

Standing Firing No.11 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

When Napoleon Bonaparte arrived in Paris after his escape from Elba, he found that the size of the regular army was radically cut by Louis XVI. Napoleon immediately revised the structure of the army and conscripted men to fill the ranks. The strength on paper of each regiment was 900 men. The newly reorganized regiments were allowed to resume their old numbers in the line and new eagles and colors were presented. Because of the short period of time Napoleon had to rebuild his army, many of the new conscripts were only issued with a shako, greatcoat, cross belts and a musket, wearing a mix of civilian and issue clothing underneath. At Waterloo and Quatre Bras, the average strength of the French regiments was only 520 men, ranging from the 1/10e Ligne with 718 all ranks and the weakest, the �/108e Ligne with only 251 men. The W. Britain collection represents both regulation uniforms and those of the ill equipped conscripts to build your own Arme’e du Nord!Previously Released

Previously Released Previously Released

ZULU WAR matte finish

12

ZULU WAR matte finish

1�

20145 British 24th Foot Bugler Standing

1 Piece Set in Clamshell Pack

Previously Released20127

“Zulu Twilight No.1”– Dead Zulu on Mealie Bags and Another on the Ground

4 Piece Set

20128 “Zulu Twilight No.2” – Dead Zulu on

Biscuit Boxes and Another on the Ground4 Piece Set

20144 “No Rules” – Zulu Kicking British 24th Foot in Back

2 Piece SetLimited Edition of 400 Sets

This quarter we bring you new sets based on collector’s requests for our Anglo-Zulu War collection. We gave you a sneak peek of our new bugler on page 6 of the Summer catalogue and here he is. This figure should work equally well for the defense of Rorke’s Drift and British defeat at Isandlwana. The same can also be said for our two sets of Zulu casualties with scenic accessories. They can be used as part of the barricades at Rorke’s Drift, or as stacked supplies near our wagons or tents for Isandlwana. Please check with your favorite retailer, or visit our website to see more of the models from our Anglo-Zulu War range!

20143 Sierra Toy Soldier Company

“Brothers in Arms”Hand-to-Hand Set

3 Piece SetLimited Edition of 300 Sets

Available only from Sierra Toy Soldier Company

contact them at:www.sierratoysoldier.com

Exclusive!

Please note: the image used in the 2013 Summer Catalogue showed the incorrect

Zulu drapped on the mealie bags. The image shown here uses the correct figure.

TITANIC COLLECTION matte finish

14

62002 “Great Loss of Life”

Newsboy Selling Papers1 Piece Set in Window Box

At 2:40A.M. April 15, 1912, the unthinkable had happened. The ’unsinkable’ White Star flag ship, RMS Titanic slipped beneath the waves and into history. The Titanic had been the largest ship afloat at the time and was considered a masterpiece of design in White Stars Olympic class of ocean liners. On this maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, she carried 2,224 passengers and crew. Just two hours after the Titanic foundered the Cunard liner RMS Carpathia arrived on the scene of the sinking, where she brought aboard an estimated 705 survivors. More than 1,500 people died in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in modern history and the disaster was greeted with worldwide shock and outrage at this huge loss of life. Even before the survivors arrived in New York aboard the Carpathia, investigations were

planned to discover how this could have happened and what could be done to prevent a similar disaster in the future. The Carpathia’s arrival in New York led to a frenzy of press interest, with newspapers competing to be the first to report the survivor’s stories. Newspaper reporters schemed and bribed to get the first news, with at least one boarding the rescue ship before it docked. Crowds gathered outside newspaper offices to see the latest reports being posted in the windows or on the billboards. It took another four days before a relatively complete list of casualties could be compiled and published, adding to the agony of the relatives waiting for news of those who had been aboard the Titanic. The Titanic’s collision with an iceberg in the North Atlantic signaled an end to an era. The thought that anything was possible and that man and industry could design machines that could challenge nature itself, was now in question.

Creating a Scene with W. BritainSince First Gear took over W. Britain in 2005 we have worked to give you, the collector, almost everything you need to create compelling dioramas and vignettes with our figures and accessories. Quite often in the rush to finish a catalog the pure enjoyment and “wow” factor of making up these scenes is lost in the shuffle. So here are a few of our favorites to feast your eyes on. Remember anyone can make a scene – the important thing to remember is have fun and let W. Britain figures and scenics do the rest!

Join Now!

The William Britain Collectors Club Membership Details

50046CWWI

British LewisGunner Walking

1916-17Matte

50044CNapoleonic

British 44th Foot Corporal Kneeling

Defending Matte

50047CRegiments

48th of Foot Grenadier Company Standing at Parade Rest

1755-1763Gloss

50045CMuseum CollectionBritish Coldstream

Guardsman, Home Service Full Dress

Matte

Select one of these great figures for 2014!

2014 WilliamBritain Collectors Club

£35 UK, £40 Europe, £45/$68 ROW, $55 US

• Four copies of the exclusive Club magazine, The Standard (RRP £5/$7 each, total value of £20/$28)

• FREE copies of all large format catalogues and leaflets which are usually only given to the trade (RRP £10/$16)

• FREE entry to certain Club events

• Exclusive special edition club figures (only available to purchase by club members)

• A FREE Club figure, choose from the above pieces (RRP £26/$32)

Membership Prices

WBC0513 © 2013 First Gear, Inc.

For more information on any of our products, please use the contact information below:

FIRST GEAR®, W. , W. Britain, ,and are registered trademarks of First Gear, Inc., Peosta, Iowa.

www.wbritain.com

From the United States, Canada, Australia,Central and South America contact:

First Gear / W. Britain Consumer Services Dept. P.O. Box 52 • Peosta, Iowa 52068-0052

Toll Free(USA): (888) 771-5576 or (563) 582-2071(ext.1) • Fax: (563) 582-2415 or (563) 690-1247

Email: wbinfo@wbritain.com

From the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe contact:

W. Britain c/o Bachmann Europe Plc.Unit 13 Moat Way • Barwell • Leicestershire, LE9 8EY

Tel: (0) 1455 841756 • Fax: (0) 1455 848963www.bachmann.co.uk

BWBC0413

Please visit our club webiste at: www.wbritaincollectorsclub.com