Saturday, 18 January 2025

AWI Hessians Completed

Completion of the Hessian grenadiers a couple of weeks ago left me with just a few odds and ends to tidy up before I could call the Hessian contingent, and therefore the AWI British, complete. First off are eighteen Hessian Jaegers:











These were really nice to paint and included an interesting command figure with an eyepatch. I calculated he would be modelled after someone notable but could not guess who that might be. I found the answer on the very informative Jemima Fawr's Miniature Wargames Blog https://www.jemimafawr.co.uk/2022/12/25/nescit-pericula-my-awi-hessian-army-part-3-jager-artillery/ which has a wealth of well-researched information for anyone undertaking an AWI project. The subject in question is apparently Captain Johann Ewald, a veteran of the Seven Years' War, who lost his eye in a drunken duel with a friend:











The rest of the figures include some of the usual dynamic Perry skirmishing poses which are a joy to paint:





















Next up were are two Hessian Swedish 4pdr cannon, artillery. I  painted them in Prussian artillery blue as this would appear to be the most likely colour scheme for pieces supplied by Hesse-Kassel:











Again, some lovely sculpting and eight different poses across the two models:





















Last off the production line are the three Hessian commanders from the Perry Hessian General set.  Wilhelm von Knyphausen seems to have been a steady and calm commander:











Johann Stirn was a brigade commander and, according to the excellent Tarleton's Quarter blog http://gilesallison.blogspot.com/2007/11/major-general-johann-daniel-stirn.html, somewhat of a disciplinarian:











The final command figure is Friedrich Riedesel who was a Brunswicker and therefore in command of the Brunswick contingent. He was captured at Saratoga and, rather interestingly, appears to have been the person responsible for introducing illuminated Christmas trees to North America (according to Wikipedia at least, which means it must be true):



















The Hessians are now finished and the AWI British army completed.

All up, I estimate this AWI British project now totals 834 figures made up of 769 mounted and foot and 65 horses, plus 10 artillery pieces and 8 wagons and limbers. 

This has taken the best part of ten months, which is longer than I had originally planned although I did add a few extra units on the way. 

Next up, the Continentals.


4 comments:

  1. These are simply wonderful looking figures Lawrence. I would love to see the collection on parade.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Excellent work, Lawrence! I wondered about the eye-patched jaeger too. Happy to see the history behind the figure. That is some good research work by the Perry's.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Some brilliant painting Lawrence!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lovely looking figures to finish off the Crown forces, Lawrence ..... I still have several regiments of AWI Patriots awaiting paint, once my current obsession with 10mm Ancients has run its course!

    ReplyDelete