Captain , 5th Batt. Cameron Highlanders , Tunisia , March 1943.
A very straightforward figure of an Infantry officer of the famous 51st Highland Division, based on a Mike Chappell plate , itself based on a photograph .
The 51st served in the 8th Army for a long period , and after the Axis retreat westward after the victory at Alamein , were part of the pursuit from the
east into Tunisia .
The Axis forces stood to fight on the old French Mareth Line, which was fronted by the Wadi Zigzaou , where this Battalion distinguished themselves , being
granted a Battle honour for the engagement.
This Captain wears his khaki drill shirt , with a spotty silk cravat . The Battledress is entirely conventional , as is the Officer's pattern webbing.
The Insignia are the 51st HD sign , the patch of Cameron tartan worn instead of shoulder titles, and the red Infantry arm-of-service strip .
The 5th were a Territorial battalion , and I've imagined him as a fairly mature officer : in fact I had made this head before I found this destiny for it ( No.37 , if anyone's interested ).
He's carrying an old Webley Mark VI of Great War vintage : whilst he didn't serve in that conflict , his father passed it on to him. Although these .455" pistols were not the standard issue , the ammunition was still available , and a fair number were still carried by older officers.
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Everything is DML or scratchbuilt , apart from the DiD pistol .
The shirt is the " Reggie " version ; the mapcase is an improved version of the one that came with "Wes Worthy".
The scarf was cut from a nameless garment bought in a charity shop.
The Tam is made from some pale khaki polysuede : officer's versions were normally of this paler shade , a tradition started in the Great War.
Thanks to Rob for the HD flash .
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