Private Thomas Edwards and Naval Brigade Gatling gun battery

Private Thomas Edwards was seconded from his unit, 1 battalion The Black Watch, to the Naval Brigade as a mule driver. From the moment I read an account of his actions at Tamai I had a vignette in mind.

During the furious fight he defended the Gatling guns after members of the naval crew had been killed or wounded. Despite being wounded himself he remained with the guns throughout the action. Edwards was awarded a Victoria Cross, and here is his citation in The London Gazette.

Top to bottom: a period post card celebrating Edwards’ actions at Tamai; my vignette of a Perry Miniatures’ Black Watch figure and Empress Miniatures’ ammunition mules; Edwards with the Naval Brigade battery; and finally, more progress with the towed Gatling gun and limber.

Suakin defences 1885

While researching the Suakin–Berber railway I stumbled on a contemporary map of Suakin, beautifully drawn by the Intelligence Branch of the War Office,  and full of detail.

In addition to showing the defences the map includes the railway, showing connections to three piers on Quaranteen Island, junctions, branches, and sidings. It also provides information about the landscape … all very useful for modelling and gaming.

Suakin defences and railway, 1885