My South London Warlords’ Memorabilia
There has been a lot of talk at the Warlords recently about the Clubs long history, so being the only active member from when the Club started in 1971 I thought I’d reminisce about what I have accumulated and what it means to me. Some may remember a TV programme back in the day called “All My Yesterdays” – this is my equivalent.
The earliest thing I have is the first mention on the Club forming in November 1971 edition of Military Modelling, we weren’t called South London Warlords back then – The South Bermondsey Military Modelling Club –rolls off the tongue? I also have an advert for the very first Club Open Day in April 1972 at the Surrey Tavern. We’ve grown a bit since then!
Then I move onto the club’s 19th Century Wargaming rules, written by Dave Rotor— one of the three founding fathers of the Club – some will recall his Minifig shop near Victoria Station in London. These are probably 1973-74. They cover Napoleonic, American Civil War and Franco Prussian War gaming. Looking back at them they look very old school but at the time they were widely used, even if the games were a tad bloody! I know of only one other person who still has a copy. I might try a game with them in 2024 just for old times’ sake.
The first Trophy I have is from 1974. This was won by myself, Jon Louder and Steve Lodge – both ex-club members, at the Southend Club Show (SEEMS). We wrote rules covering the Mongol invasion of Japan— yes very niche in 1974, painted the new Minifig Samurai and Mongol figures and won best game at the Show Award. I’m fairly sure it’s the first trophy the club won anywhere.
Then there is the original club badge, with a Napoleonic shako on it. The image I think was based on the front cover of the ruleset. At that time Napoleonics was the main gaming period at the club, very popular even now. It’s still my first love in my gaming.
In 1976 medals were awarded as prizes in the Salute Painting Competition. I won my gold medal for a 25mm Minifig mounted figure of Warwick the King Maker, on a fully barded horse, I’d painted the Warwick Heraldry onto the barding – a feat I couldn’t do now! It’s nice to see that medals are back in vogue at Salute after nearly 50 years.
In 1980, along with Mike Evans, Peter Edwards and Mike Taylor we won Best Demo game at Salute. This was a 1940 20mm WW2 game based on the French defending the retreat lines to Dunkirk. In 1980 there was nowhere near the choice and availability of stuff there is now, my French were Airfix WW1 infantry painted khaki. We were awarded a shield each plus a copy of a Blandford book. Blandford were a longestablished publishing house and many of us started with their reference books alongside our Funckens.
Then in 1983 we did it again with a huge 15mm Napoleonic game, taken from, the sorely missed, Jim Cutler’s campaign. Jim had been running a wonderful 1814 Campaign at the Club and we took the battle from this. The figures all belonged to Peter Edwards – there must have been thousands of them!
This was followed in 1984 by, again, picking up Best Game at Salute with a 36ft long Operation Market Garden game in 20mm. This took 18 months to plan, had a team of 12 and was certainly one of the highlights of my time as a Warlord. Never again!
They were, to paraphrase Mr Bowie, our golden years as a Demo Team.
Club games were barred from winning at Salute just afterwards. I wonder why?
I still do the occasional game at shows, the last couple being based in South America in the 1820s. I was instrumental, with Mike and Martin, in creating the Warlords Hall of Fame idea – how many great ideas originate over a lunchtime pint with your wargaming buddies? So after all these years the Warlords still matter moving forward.
I hope this shows that there is a long, and cherished, history of gaming within the South London Warlords, as there is in many a club. It’s made us realise that, as we get older, the history of our club needs recording before, like old soldiers, it fades away.