Monday 20 May 2013

My 28mm Lieutenant Colonel Fremantle of the Coldstream Guards....

....who in 1863 toured the Confederate states for 3 months and is seen here in the movie Gettysburg and played by the actor James Lancaster, he viewed most of the battle from a tree, met Longstreet and Lee amongst other Confederacy officers and wrote a very interesting diary of his travels through the south which I have just read and liked, my copy was from 1956 sans dust jacket.

So anyway you're wondering why am I harping on about him, well I wanted to represent Fremantle with a figure for my ACW forces as a possible scenario involving him (his journey) was uneventful and relatively safe until he crossed over in to the Union lines (some townsfolk handed him over to union military forces with a note that said basically in nice words to hang him as a spy).....

....so after much searching through Victorian and Crimean miniature sites I either found nothing or nothing cheap (part of a larger set) but surprisingly Ray found and bought for a £1 a suitable figure at the Foundry stand at Salute in their singles pile (what a nice guy, it's hard to believe some people say such terrible things about him).


I present Lt Col Arthur James Lyon Fremantle (1835-1901), he is described as wearing a grey hunting suit with a cowboy hat at one stage but I could only find this version which is more like the movie version below........



James Lancaster in a scene from the movie..........


....the man himself and you can read more here.

.....and the book is well worth a read!



....and that great girl Tamsin is giving away five lots of goodness and today is the last day so go visit here and the links for the other 4 are there also!





72 comments:

  1. People say nasty things about Ray? Heavens forfend!

    That chap sounds like a rather interesting character. I might try to get hold of a copy of that book.

    Oh, and thanks for the pimpage

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    1. No problem and as I highlighted 5 days in one go, is that 5 times 5 equal 25 entries?

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  2. That was really cool of Ray to pick up a suitable figure for you. He looks great!

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  3. Yours does look like the movie version and I have seen that movie, but it's been ages ago. Ray did something nice for you? I think that's one of the 7 signs of the Apocalypse:)

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    1. I love the number four. And so very cool of Rayola to do that for you. He's a great guy.

      Are you twitching yet? All this Ray praise.

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    2. Twitching like a meth addict!

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  4. Very nice Mate. I remember this character from the Film Gettysburg. Although you and Ray squabble like siblings it is clear that deep down you have a deep and meaningful level of................ Please insert the appropriate word as situation permits. Friendship / animosity!

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  5. Great work Fran, and well done Ray!

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  6. Nice paint job on the figure, now I fancy watching the film again!

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    1. Good movie with a little too much dialogue and smell the frat acting!

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  7. Nasty things about Ray?...I' m suspicious on the culprit...

    Marzio.

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  8. Nice paint job Fran. Thats a really cool figure.

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  9. I wouldn't be able to say wich representation of Fremantle is more...errr... unexpected for a british officer!

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    1. The mental image of the hunting suit and cowboy hat had me a little freaked!

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  10. Nice miniature, well done on the paint job. I keep forgetting this book, thanks for the reminder.

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  11. He sounds like quite an interesting fellow who got up to a lot on his travels. His diaries must be pretty interesting.

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    1. An interesting read of a language that has changed since then!

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  12. Looking real nice! Always loved James Lancaster in the movie and you have done him justice!

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  13. Captured the movie version very well

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  14. Ray did something nice? You aren't dying, are you?

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  15. Great figurine , and lovely paint .
    Greetings .

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  16. Nice stuff. So, will this character model put in an appearance in any games soon?

    So what did you do to earn a present from Ray? Or did you just slip him a Mickey Finn?

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  17. Great little painting there matey!

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  18. Great figure and I wish I'd known that Fremantle had had his diaries published as I'd come across him at least twice in other histories. Your rendition of him reminds me of a Crimean photograph of a British Officer.

    And Ray did something nice for you too...so how is the anger management therapy going ?

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  19. I love that movie, Gettysburg!

    Nice painting!

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  20. Great job and great movie too

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  21. He looks great and thanks for the tip on the book!

    Christopher

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  22. What a great looking character and plenty of shenanigans for him to get up to in the Deep South. Who could ever say bad things about Ray though? ;)

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  23. Great looking figure...and so nice Ray!

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  24. See?? See???? Its all lies I tell you all liessssssssssssss!

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  25. Nice looking Lt., General. I like a military leader who wears his sword slung low and easy...for a fast draw.

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  26. Aw, Ray treating you well isn't he? Aww

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  27. The figure is very nice; what a good chap is Ray!

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  28. What a great figure and a lovely paint job too.

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  29. Great figure, Fran! Good movie too.
    I read that Britain and France were very tempted to assist the South. The events at Gettysburg and Antietam combined with the Anaconda plan blockade, and the sheltering of the Russian Navy in New York Harbor, kept them on the side line.
    A lot of adroit political and diplomatic moves going on then.

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    1. He was treated well by the south due to the hope that Britain would assist them in the war but never would due to the slavery issue!

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  30. Very cool. I know what you mean about Ray! I can hardly believe the things I make up...er, say about him myself! :D

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  31. Lovely work, Fran and how colorful to have him on the table with all the butternuts. Can you imagine the stir he must have caused walking among the rebs dressed like that?

    I've got to find and read that book.

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  32. Didn't know anything about Freemantle. I'll have to check him out. It's a wonder he wasn't shot, that jacket really stands out.

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  33. great work Fran

    what an interesting man. I just looked up his wikipedia page because of this post. certainly interesting to hear about this odd tale from history.

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    1. I like the weird and unique through history.

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  34. Very cool figure of an interesting man. Watching the epic battle from a tree no less! Best, Dean

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  35. needs more mustache. ;)

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    1. You're right but I couldn't bring myself to do it!

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  36. Excellent work Fran! A great book and a fairly decent movie. Too bad his son is such a crap writer...

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    1. Yup, Michael Shaara's son, Jeff, has written several novels based on the American Civil War. He really shouldn't have.

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  37. Nice figure and interesting story, can't help wonder why a British officer was observing such matters...?

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    1. Seemingly a whim and unconnected with the British government.

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  38. I remember when you mentioned him in an earlier post. Was looking forward to it and now I'm happy to see the old boy get some paint. Nice job Fran!

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  39. The portion of his trip in the North was also interesting as he witnessed the draft riots in New York.

    I think in this case history is better served by the movie version than an odd fellow in a cowboy hat.

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  40. Great work on Lt Col Fremantle Fran. Good pick from Ray too!

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  41. He looks a bit like my drill instructor.

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