DISPATCHES
October 2026

Hi Guys,
     Welcome to this month’s edition of ‘DISPATCHES’ and the launch of a carefully selected group of previously-released K&C figures with a whole-new look…
     Here is the story behind them.  As many of you may know the history of toy soldier collecting goes back almost two hundred years and for most of that time both the manufacturing and collecting of these little fighting figures was mainly centred in Europe and North America.
     Over the last two decades a growing number of the collector base has moved to Asia with China being the epicenter of that expansion.  At the same time, this expanding collector base is considerably younger than some those in Europe and elsewhere and… very enthusiastic.
     Here in Hong Kong and at events around Asia I have been fortunate to personally meet many of these newer collectors who have came into this great hobby of ours.
     Already, many of these same collectors have, in a relatively short period, filled up their collections with virtually all of the items released in the last 10-15 years along with those currently still in production.
     Now, many of these same collectors are actively seeking out rare, retired items from long-past releases.
     Fortunately for some they can sometimes find that special piece or set when it is offered up for sale by those K &C dealers who also specialize in buying up collections and reselling.
     Failing that the ‘hunting’ collector will go on ebay and often pay an exorbitant price for what was once a modestly-priced item.
    In recent years many of these ‘newer’ collectors have suggested we should simply re-release some of the most requested pieces in exactly the same format and style as the original figures.
     We gave this proposal a fair hearing before deciding that K&C should adapt and improve any original sculpt with our current approach to more authentic and realistic style of painting and weathering.
     So, now here we are releasing our very first 10 figures of what we are calling, King & Country’s own ‘Heritage Classics’.
     Grouped in five 2-man sets they were originally part of our ‘Battle of The Bulge’ range of German ‘winter’ soldiers with some release dates going back as far as 2005 and 2006.
     We selected these particular German soldiers to add onto our recently- released all-new, Sdk7/1 ‘Flakvierling four-barrelled, anti aircraft flak gun, half track.
     As you will notice, K&C has also transferred these ‘Heritage Classics’ from Western Europe all the way to the frozen Eastern Front hence the red identification bands on their upper left arms.
     There are lots of other subtle differences in these new figures but l’ll let you discover them for yourselves.
      In the meantime, let’s take a closer look.

1.BEING RELEASED THIS MONTH…

BBG134 K&C ‘Heritage Classics’ On Patrol #1 Two infantrymen, one carrying the MP40 Machine Pistol the other with the Gewehr 43 Mauser semi automatic rifle carefully make their way across the snow-covered Russian landscape.
BBG135 K&C ‘HC’ Walking MG 42 Gun Team Another MP40-carrying German soldier backs up his MG42 gunner.  Both men carry additional boxes of ammunition.
BBG136 K&C ‘HC’ Snowshoe Radio Team    This 2-man radio team is fortunate in having been provided with snowshoes to help them move across the snow. The  Radio Operator is carrying the standard German backpack radio (Feldfunksprecher B) complete with head-phones and a throat mike.This same operator carries the Gewehr 43 semi automatic rifle his team mate has an MP40 plus a hand grenade.
BBG137 K&C ‘HC’ On Patrol #2    This next 2-man team also sets out on the patrol with the helmet-wearing soldier also carrying a backpack in addition to his K98 carbine rifle.His team mate meanwhile has taken off his steel helmet and appears more relaxed with his MP40 over his right shoulder.
BBG142 K&C ‘HC’ On Patrol #3 This final pair of snow-camouflaged German soldiers are both carrying back packs and K98 Carbines.The soldier in the lead is also enjoying his pipe while his team mate is much more cautious.

RELEASE DATE: Mid-Late October
 

BBG-S03 ‘Special Combined Gift Set’ Combine all 5 x 2 man sets and you will receive a much better price!

RELEASE DATE: Mid-Late October

B. ‘CAPTURING THE MOMENT’

On December 30, 1941, in the middle of the Second World War, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was in Ottawa, Canada to address the Canadian Parliament on the progress of the conflict.
           After his speech, a brief photo session was arranged by Canada’s own prime minister, Mackenzie King to take several photographs of Churchill himself as well as a double portrait of both prime ministers.
           Canadian / Armenian photographer Yousuf Karsh was chosen to take the photos and told he had just ‘two minutes to perform his task’.
           A few minutes after Churchill completed his speech to thunderous applause he entered a small room in the Parliament building where Karsh had his photo equipment and lights set up ready for the brief ‘sitting’.
           Churchill had just lit up a cigar when Karsh requested the Prime Minister to put down his cigar, as the smoke would interfere with the image.  Churchill bluntly refused and so, just before taking the photo, Karsh quickly moved towards the P.M. and said, “Forgive me, Sir,” while snatching the cigar from his subject’s mouth. Karsh said, “By the time I got back to my camera, Churchill looked so belligerent, he could have devoured me!”  His scowl has been compared to “a fierce glare as if confronting the enemy”.
       Following the taking of the photo Churchill himself stated, “You can even make a roaring lion stand still to be photographed,” thus giving the picture its notable and noteworthy title.
       The resulting image – one of the 20^th century’s most iconic photographic portraits effectively launched  Yousuf Karsh’s long and successful international career.
        The idea behind this unique little two figure set was suggested by one of King &Country’s most ardent young British-born collectors, Aren Berberian who is himself of Armenian descent and whom I first met at last December’s London Show.
        Many thanks Aren!

DD407 “Churchill & The Roaring Lion”         Britain’s greatest Prime Minister stands scowling and glaring while photographer Yousuf Karsh calmly takes his iconic portrait.  This set also comes with the camera on its tripod and the 3 x dimensional room setting modelled on the actual room in Ottawa, Canada.

RELEASE DATE: Mid-Late October
 

C. “SAM BROWNE’S CAVALRY”

One of the most famous mounted regiments in Britain’s Indian Army was the 22^nd Sam Browne’s Cavalry (Frontier Force) first raised in 1849 at Lahore by Lieutenant Samuel J. Browne as the 2^nd Punjab Irregular Cavalry.  It was one of 5 regiments of cavalry specifically raised to police and patrol the often rebellious North West Frontier of India.
           Over the next decades, the regiment saw plenty of action on the Frontier and during the great mutiny of 1857 where it also took part in the successful ‘Siege of Dehli’ and ‘The Relief of Lucknow’ as well as other battles and campaigns.
            In one of these actions the regiment’s own commander by now, Captain Sam Browne won the Victoria Cross.
            Following the Mutiny the regiment fought in the Second Anglo-Afghan War from 1878-1880 with the Kandahar Field Force and many other battles and skirmishes all over the North West Frontier.
        In 1904 it was officially renamed as ‘Sam Browne’s Cavalry’ in honour of its legendary founder.
        Following the First World War the number of Indian Cavalry Regiments was reduced from 35 to 21.  This resulted in the amalgamation of the old 22^nd Sam Browne’s Cavalry with the 25^th Cavalry (Frontier Force) to become the new 12^th Cavalry.
        On the partition of India in 1947 the regiment was transferred to the new Pakistan Army.
        Our King & Country mounted warriors are uniformed as they would have appeared on parade in the years before 1914.

SOE035“Sam Browne’s Cavalry Risaldar” Mounted on a fine chestnut mare this middle ranking junior commissioned officer leads his troop of cavalry onto the parade ground.
SOE036 “S.B.C. Sowar w/Lance” A Sowar is a historical military rank for a horse-mounted cavalry trooper.This title was a combination of Persian and Urdu meaning ‘Rider’.
SOE038“S.B.C. Mounted Lance Daffadar Bugler” This was a specialist role.A cavalryman responsible for signaling commands, routines and sometimes ceremonial music with his bugle. The above rank is still used today by the cavalry and armoured corps of both the Indian and Pakistani armies.
SOE041 “S.B.C. Dismounted Risaldar-Major” Risaldar-Major was the senior military rank historically used by local officers in the British Indian Army specifically for the Cavalry. Following that tradition it can still be found in the modern armies of both India and Pakistan.
SOE042 “S.B.C. Dismounted Sowar w/Lance” Standing smartly at attention this trooper hold his cavalry lance with the red and white, swallow-tail pennant by his right side while his curved Indian Army cavalry sabre rests on his left hip.

RELEASE DATE: Mid October

D. ‘FIGHTING TO PROTECT THE EMPEROR’

Ancient Rome’s Praetorian Guard was an elite imperial bodyguard unit
       established by the Emperor Augustus in 27B.C. to protect the Emperor and his family while at the same time maintaining law and order in the city itself.
           The title of ‘Praetorian Guard’ was derived from the Latin world ‘praetorium’, describing the tent occupied by a Roman general (imperator) where carefully chosen soldiers guarded the senior officer’s headquarters.
            It was Augustus who formalized these soldiers into a permanent standing unit of nine cohorts, later expanded to 10 and numbering almost 5,000 men (approx. the same size as a regular Roman Legion).
                   This Praetorian Guard had a distinctly different  appearance to regular
       Roman soldiers.  They wore superior quality armour based on the standard ‘Lorica Segmentate’ and received substantially higher pay and much better living conditions than the regular Roman Legions.
            In addition, they were permitted to wear the noble colour of the Emperor himself, purple being seen as a reflection of their personal loyalty to him and their public prestige.
                  Beyond protecting the Emperor and his family the Guard acted as a‘secret police’ while also providing security as ‘crowd handlers’ at the huge games held in the city throughout the year.
    One of their additional public duties was to serve as emergency firefighters when called upon.
    This first (of several) batches of fighting Praetorian Guard comes in the form of ‘Archers’ in four different action poses.
     Are they already fighting to defend the Emperor or… simply practicing their archery skills at their barracks at the fortified ‘Castra Praetoria’ located on the outskirts of the city… you decide.

ROM098 “Praetorian Archer Preparing To Fire” Moving forward, the Archer studies the target, calculating the distance and his aiming point as he is about to fire.
ROM099 “Praetorian Archer Letting Loose”        In this case, the Archer has been aiming high and already ‘loosed’ his arrow.
ROM100 “Praetorian Archer Reaching For An Arrow”       Having already fired one arrow, this Archer, reaches for a fresh one from his quiver.
ROM101“Praetorian Archer Aiming High      This Archer is either aiming upwards at an enemy above him on a wall or on the upper levels of a house.  He could also be trying to provide ‘plunging-fire’ on an enemy some distance away.

AVAILABLE: Mid October
 

E. ‘ON THE STREETS OF OLD HONG KONG’

    What is a ‘DISPATCHES’ without a little nod to King & Country’s home city.Here are a few useful additions to a typical late 19^th. Century Hong Kong street scene…

HK313(G/M) “The Letter Writer Set”            A mother and her young son sit alongside one of many professional letter writers who could be found on any Hong Kong street in those days when illiteracy was not unknown in many hard-working families.  A large number of these poorer households still had older relatives in mainland China with whom they still had regular contact with.        As Hong Kong itself prospered and free education was expanded illiteracy began to dramatically decline however even until the late 1930s some professional letter writers still plied their trade on the ‘Streets of Old Hong Kong’.

AVAILABLE: Mid October

F. ‘The Castle Façade Backdrop’ (Newly Amended)

SP134 ‘The Castle Façade Backdrop’ (Newly Amended)    This three-part façade medieval backdrop has been warmly-welcomed by many K&C collectors with limited shelf space when we first released it in 2025. This new version has been subtly amended to include some more battlefield damage to its ramparts as well as its heavy wooden door. Take a closer look and see for yourself the subtle differences.So, whether you want to extend your existing Castle backdrop or just pick up one of these new editions of the Medieval Castle backdrop.  We leave that choice to you.

AVAILABLE: Early October

G. ‘SANTA COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR’

   That’s certainly true for King & Country when, for the last 26 years, each Festive Season we have released an original little ‘Santa Set’ to help celebrate our favourite time of the year, and this year is certainly no exception…


 

XM026“Santa & His Reindeers” This year’s offering shows good old Santa spending some time with a pair of his favourite reindeers a few days before they are all ready to depart for their global journey on Christmas Eve 2026. As a special treat Santa has brought along a basket full of fresh mushrooms for these two reindeer to enjoy.It was while researching ‘Santa’s Reindeer’ that I discovered that mushrooms are indeed one of the reindeers’ favouite foods. And there you have it, a great little scene to add to your very own Collection or the perfect excuse to begin your own brand-new Christmas Collection!

XM-S01 “The Christmas Combo” (XM026 + XM019-02) Now, if you are deciding to start your very own K&C ‘Christmas Collection’ why not pick up this great value-added combination set that brings together our newest ‘Santa & His Reindeers’ set with one of our ‘Santa’s Cottage’ buildings from a few years back. We still have a small number of these colourful little ‘Christmas Cottages’ available and they make the perfect setting for any of our Christmas Sets. Plus, we’re offering the two sets together at an even better price.  Pick them up and you certainly won’t be disappointed on Christmas morning!

AVAILABLE: Mid October

2.BEING RETIRED… 

And that my friends is that for this month but before I go take a very close look at what’s on our retirement list…
     You’ll find many great figures from some very popular K&C series…
     In the meantime, all the best and happy collecting

AE087 Tutankhamun's Monument
CE089 The Young Queen Elizabeth II
RH001 Robin Hood
RH002 Will Scarlett
RH003 Friar Tuck
RH004 Little John
RH007 Maid Marian
RH029 The High Sheriff of Nottingham
SP111 K&C's Palm Trees
TR013 Queen Elizabeth II in State Attire
TRW035(P) Crazy Horse
TRW037(P) Rain-In-The-Face
TRW047(P) Running Buffalo
TRW057(P) Spotted Tail
TRW059(P) Bloody Lance
TRW061(P) Little Wolf
TRW157 Breech Cloth
TRW162 Kicking Bear
TRW164 Yellow Knife
TRW166 Die Longknife!
TRW168 American Flag
TRW174 White Eagle
TRW175 Bloody Lance
VN032 The Vietnam Walls Set