Dispatches

DISPATCHES
June 2026

Hi Guys,
     Welcome to the month of June and a great selection of figures that bring together four very different series of King & Country 1:30 scale miniatures.
     Appropriately enough for the month of June let’s begin with the story behind what we are calling ‘The GOLD BEACH Collection’…
    Back in early 2025, I was contacted by the former BBC journalist and Royal Correspondent, Nicholas Witchell who was visiting Hong Kong and had discovered our K&C shop in Pacific Place. There Nick had seen some of our D.Day figures and fighting vehicles and been impressed by them.
     During a brief phone conversation he told me about ‘The British Normandy Memorial’ and the amazing story behind its creation and how King & Country might be able to help support it.
     We then arranged a longer meeting up at K&C Head Office and I heard the whole story and here it is…
    June 6, 1944 remains one of the best known and most important dates in world history.
     On that date, some 60,000 thousand British soldiers and marines came ashore on the two British beaches – ‘GOLD’ and ‘SWORD’ on the Normandy Coast.
     They, alongwith their American, Canadian and other Allies on three more beaches were part of the greatest invasion force in history that began the liberation of German – occupied Western Europe.
     Among all of the countries who took part in this mighty task Britain was the slowest to build a national memorial to all those Britons who gave their lives in Normandy during that summer of 1944.
     By the summer of 2015, a year after the 70^th Anniversary of D.Day, Mr. George Betts, himself a D.Day veteran began pressing, with other British veterans, for Britain to build its own national memorial in Normandy. It was then he met BBC broadcaster Nicholas Witchell.
     Nick resolved to try and do something about it and helped set up the Normandy Memorial Trust bringing together other key players including a noted British architect.
     Just over a year later, the group found the perfect site for the memorial, on farmland just above ‘GOLD BEACH’. In the following years backing and support was secured from both the British and French governments with the land being purchased and the memorial itself being designed. The site was then jointly inaugurated by the British Prime Minister and French president in 2019.
     Construction work now began with the Memorial being formally opened by the then Prince of Wales, now His Majesty King Charles Ⅲ on June 6, 2021.

THE WINSTON CHURCHILL CENTRE
     Nearby the Memorial can be found the WINSTON CHURCHILL CENTRE where visitors can purchase a small select group of special mementoes that help fund the ongoing upkeep of this unique and memorable tribute to the British men and some women who gave so much to liberate Europe.

KING & COUNTRY’S ‘GOLD BEACH’ COLLECTION
     When Nicholas Witchell and myself met up in Hong Kong Nick told me how much he liked our own British D.Day ‘Tommies’ however he also noticed that all their regimental shoulder titles and divisional patches were of troops that landed on ‘SWORD’ Beach on June 6, 1944. He asked whether we could produce a small selection representing some of those soldiers who landed on ‘GOLD’ Beach where the Memorial is located.
     I happily agreed with this suggestion and began my own research into finding a suitable regiment and division to ‘miniaturise’.
     Fortunately, for all of us, we chose men from the 69^th Infantry Brigade of the 50^th (Northumbrian) Division. Not only that but the Infantry regiment we decided on was the 6^th Battalion of ‘The Green Howards’ in whose ranks was the only Victoria Cross winner of the entire D.Day Operation… Company Sgt. Major Stanley Hollis of that same regiment.
     And so, without further ado, here are our special D.Day ‘Tommies’ in action on ‘GOLD’ Beach itself courtesy of and with the support of The British Normandy Memorial.

1. BEING RELEASED IN JUNE 2026…

A. The ‘GOLD’ Beach Collection

DD410 *‘Gold Beach Bren Gunner’* Firing from the hip this soldier provides ‘covering-fire’ for his mates as they advance towards the enemy.
DD411 *‘Gold Beach Advancing Rifleman’* Moving rapidly forward this ‘Green Howard’ holds his No. 4 Mark 1 Lee Enfield rifle ready at a moments notice to take a ‘snap shot’.
DD412 *‘Gold Beach Kneeling Rifleman’* Crouching down to make as small a target as possible this ‘Tommy’ prepares to move out.
DD413 *‘Gold Beach Kneeling Ready Rifleman’* Even while under cover a soldier has always to be ready to move at a moment’s notice.
DD414 ‘Gold Beach Running, Firing Rifleman’ Despite being under enemy fire this soldier takes careful aim as he moves forward.
DD415 ‘Gold Beach Grenadier’ Every British infantryman on D.Day landed with 50 rounds of .303 ammunition plus 2 spare Bren Gun 30 Round magazines. In addition to all of that most British Infantry also carried at least *2 x Mills bombs* (Grenades). Our ‘Tommy’ here is about to get rid of one of them!
DD416 ‘Gold Beach Medic w/Stretcher’ During WW2, British Army Medics were primarily drawn from *The Royal Army Medical Corps* (RAMC). They provided frontline medical triage, emergency first aid and organized casualty evacuation often under intense enemy fire. In addition, they would often act as stretcher bearers alongside individual battalion infantrymen assigned to these duties. Medics rarely, if ever, carried weapons. They were classed, under the Geneva Convention as ‘Non-Combatants’ and could only carry weapons, such as a revolver, for strictly limited self-defense or to defend wounded patients. This particular stretcher-bearing Medic is also a full corporal.
DD417 ‘Gold Beach Radioman’ This ‘Green Howard’ Signaller is carrying the British standard *Wireless Set No. 18, a High Frequency (HF) portable, man -pack radio transceiver used by the British Forces during WW2. It had an effective range of up to 10 miles. In addition this soldier is also carrying his standard No. 4 Mk. 1 Rifle* with the ‘pig-sticker’ bayonet attached.
DD418 ‘Gold Beach Company Sgt. Major Stanley Hollis V.C.’ *CSM Stan. Hollis* (1912-1972) was the only British serviceman to be awarded Britain’s highest millitary honour for his actions on D.Day, June 6, 1944. Stan enlisted in the Territorial Army in 1939 and joined *‘The Green Howards’* who were sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) in 1940. He was promoted from Lance Corporal to Sergeant during the Dunkirk evacuation. He was then sent to North Africa as part of the British Eighth Army where he was once again promoted to Company Sergeant Major (C.S.M.) just before the invasion of Sicily in 1943. On D.Day in Normandy he landed on ‘Gold Beach’ with the 6^th Btn. of the Green Howards. After landing and moving inland he attacked one German pillbox capturing all but 5 of the defenders. He then assaulted, on his own, a second pillbox taking another 26 prisoners. He next cleared a neighbouring enemy trench. Later that same day, he led an unsuccessful attack on a strong German artillery position fortified by multiple MG42 machine guns. All of this in just one day! In September 1944 he was wounded in action and evacuated back to the U.K. where he was decorated by King George Ⅵ on October 10, 1944. Part of his V.C. citation read, “Wherever fighting was heaviest, C.S. M. Hollis appeared and in the course of a magnificent day’s work, he displayed the utmost gallantry. It was largely through his heroism and resource that his company’s objectives were gained and casualties were not heavier. By his own bravery he saved the lives of many of his men.” K&C’s miniature of *C.S.M. Hollis* is our tribute to a very brave man and a fine British soldier.

AVAILABLE: Mid-Late June

ADDITIONAl INFO:
The British Normandy Memorial D.Day Sculpture
One of the centerpieces of the British Normandy Memorial and standing in its forecourt are three larger than life-size advancing British infantrymen who appear as if they have just come off a landing craft and are running up the beach towards their objective.
A rifleman, a Bren gunner and a non-commissioned officer (NCO) form the trio and have served as the inspiration for an additional 3-man K&C set which will be available in a few month’s time. Watch out for them!

B. From the beaches of Normandy…
To The Streets of Old Hong Kong.

And now for something completely different… A humble tailor’s shop in a crowded backstreet in an old part of Hong Kong and two little sets of figures and accessories that tell a very different (and more peaceful) story...

HK305 ‘The Tailor’s Shop Set #1’ A highly-skilled and very experienced tailor makes a slight adjustment to this young lady’s colourful and decorative ‘Cheongsam’. In the background is the wooden cloth cabinet containing bolts of many different patterns, colours and textures.
HK306 ‘The Tailor’s Shop Set #2’ The tailor’s young assistant leans on the shop table observing his master at work or perhaps admiring the young lady… On the table cum workbench is a ‘Singer Sewing Machine’ and more bolts of cloth for the customer to look at.

AVAILABLE: Early June

C. MORE SANTA ANNA’S ARMY ON THE ATTACK!

Early Morning March 6,1836
     In the predawn cold, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna silently launches four columns of his infantry soldiers towards the battered walls of The Alamo and its exhausted defenders.

     All is quiet as the Mexican ‘soldados’ move forward until the first faint rose tint of light in the east announces the coming of the new day.
     Suddenly, one ‘soldado’ can restrain himself no longer and at about 5:00am suddenly cries out, “Viva Santa Anna! Viva la Republica! Viva Mexico!”
     All around him his comrades take up the battle cries as they rush towards the old beleaguered mission. The final battle has begun… And here are five more of Santa Anna’s Army who want to join the fight…

RTA132 ‘S.A.A. Soldier Reaching For His Shako’ In the heat of battle it’s easy lose your Shako or even have it shot off your head. While still keeping his eyes on the enemy this ‘soldado’ reaches down to pick up his headgear.
RTA133 ‘S.A.A. Soldier Charging Forward’ With his musket and bayonet at the ‘high port’ this man also rushes towards the Alamo’s walls.
RTA138 ‘Mexican Army Flagbearer’ Proudly clutching his Mexican Flag this young officer bravely makes himself a target for the Alamo marksmen defending the old mission.
RTA142 ‘S.A.A. Soldier Advancing Firing’ In the chaos and excitement of the battle this infantryman fires a shot at the enemy while not even noticing his shako has just been shot off his head!
RTA145 ‘S.A.A. Soldier Running Forward’ The classic charging pose with the threat of cold steel and no quarter for the enemy.

AVAILABLE: Early June

SPECIAL NOTE: Take a closer look at this large Alamo scene with this release and see how many other upcoming figures you can pick out from the midst of the battle.

D. SEKIGAHARA REINFORCEMENTS

     As most of you will remember this past April, we released the first batch of our major new series ‘SAMURAI WARS’ based around the Battle of Sekigahara which took place on October 21, 1600 in what is now Central Japan.
     This battle was fought by the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu against a combined coalition army led by Ishida Mitsunari.
     Despite involving approx. 160,000 Samurai and Ashigaru warriors the engagement was incredibly fast and brutal. For more than 6 hours from 8:00 in the morning until the afternoon the battle raged leaving more than 40,000 dead and many thousands more wounded.
     Just after 2:00pm, Tokugawa leysasu, the leader of The Eastern Army, declared total victory. This incredibly brief but bloody engagement reshaped Japan and led to Tokugawa himself being named ‘Shogun’. It also paved the way for over 250 years of peace and stability under the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate for the whole country.
     Here now are 5 additional Ashigaru warriors to join the ranks of the ‘Western Army”.

SW002 ‘Ashigaru Archer Making Ready’ (Western Army) This standing ready archer is carrying a small, rectangular flag on his back called a *‘Sashimono’. Primarily used during the ‘Sengoku Period’* (15^th-17th Centuries), they served as crucial military identification on chaotic battlefields. These small flags usually displayed a ‘clan’ symbol or specific colours to distinguish different units enabling commanders to identify who was who amidst the chaos.
SW005 ‘Ashigaru Archer Taking Aim’ (Western Army) This other archer is picking out a likely target for his arrow. Like the previous figure this Ashigaru also carries the *‘Sashimono’* small banner held stiffly by a pole inserted into a lacquered wooden holder on the back of his armour called an *‘Ukezusu’*.
SW007 ‘Ashigaru Arquebusier Kneeling Firing’ (Western Army) Another useful addition to the ranks of the matchlock-firing Arquebusiers.
SW009 ‘Ashigaru Arquebusier w/Sashimonu Banner’ In general, fewer Ashigaru Arquebusiers carried the small ‘Sashimono’ banners as it was believed they might hamper the loading and firing of the cumbersome matchlock weapons. However, their commanders would assert the necessity that at least some archebusiers must ‘fly the flag’ so their positions on the battlefield could be seen from a distance.
SW013 ‘Ashigaru Arquebusier Preparing To Fire’ These conscripted peasant infantry utilized the *‘Tanegashimu’* Japanese-style matchlock weapons to revolutionize warfare in Feudal Japan allowing lower-class levies to be formed into devastating volley-fire formations that could destroy and decimate even the bravest Samurai warriors.

AVAILABLE: Mid June

SNEAK PREVIEW:
While, so far in this major new Japanese series we have concentrated on the great mass of the rank and file of the ‘Ashigaru’. K&C are also not forgetting their magnificent Samurai superiors who led them into battle. Here are just a few of our upcoming Samurai that are ‘in the works’ for release in the coming months…

E. GUARD DUTY… GUARD BOX

It’s been quite a while since we produced a Guard Box especially a German one and so we decided to remedy the situation.

LAH269 ‘The German Guard Box’
     This was a typical wood-constructed Guard Box found all over Western Europe particularly in France and Germany and dated back to the Napoleonic era.
     This particular one is finished in a 3-colour, matt-painted scheme of red, black and white diagonal stripes with the interior of the box left its natural wood colouring.
     As can be seen in our photographs a wide range of different German Guard figures can be utilized with this great accessory.

AVAILABLE: Mid June

2. BEING RETIRED THIS MONTH…

And there you have it for the month of June… I do hope there’s something for you but before I go… Check out these retirements…

CE041 Royal Marine Officer w/Sword
CE042 Royal Marine Officer w/Queen's Colour
CE043 Royal Marine Bugler
CE044 Royal Marine Drum Major
CE045 Royal Marine Sergeant
CE046 Royal Marine Marching
CE047 Royal Marine Sergeant Presenting Arms
CE048 Royal Marine Present Arms
CE049 Royal Marine Drummer / Bugler
CE059 Royal Marine Officer w/40 Commando Colour
CE063 The Royal Marine Drum & Bugle Corp
CE066 Royal Marine Colour Sergeant
CE-S01 Complete Commando Colour Party
CE053 Life Guards "Farrier"
CE075 The Life Guards Drum Horse 'HERCULES'
WoD053 Life Guards Non Commissioned Officer