The Armenian Rebellion at Van

 This book covers the Armenian rebellion and the events of the First World War in the Turkish region of Van. Built out from the old city and the country's largest lake, the region bordered Iran (occupied by Russia at the time) to the east and Russia to the north. This book by Justin McCarthy and others uses Ottoman records to present a different view of the events from mainstream historical narratives. Van was only one of six vilayets that had substantial Armenian populations, and while linked, this book does not address the wider, and much contested, Armenian genocide.

The book describes the region, setting out its history, demographics, and the often rather loose Ottoman control. Kurdish tribes exerted significant control over their areas in the region, and the borders with Iran and Russia could never be properly policed by the limited Ottoman military based there. It was a tough posting: pay was often late, and in 1904 they rioted because they hadn't been given enough to eat. Disease was another risk, with several typhoid outbreaks in the army. Ammunition was always low. The Ottomans created irregular cavalry from the Kurdish tribes called the Hamidiye. Loosely based on the Cossack model, although with even less discipline, they always put tribal loyalty above the Ottoman state.

The Armenians were a minority in Van and had formed several revolutionary parties. They had plenty to revolt about, not least taxation and the violence against them. Their plan was to create a rebellion that would bring outside assistance. They sought diplomacy from Western nations and threatened Russian military intervention. Weapons could easily be imported from over the border

Armenians and Kurds had previously rebelled, following the Ottoman defeat by the Russians in the 1877-78 War. In 1896, a major rebellion occurred when Western intervention in Ottoman territory was possible, and it was stopped only because the powers disagreed over the spoils. The plan was to hold Van until the Russians intervened, but they didn't, and the rebellion was crushed. The Russians had mixed views on Armenian rebellions, as they certainly didn't want an independent Armenia on their territory or to encourage revolutionary activity. 

The region continued to be poorly governed, with famine, Kurdish raids from Iran, and high taxation levels. The Balkan Wars again highlighted Ottoman weakness and raised hopes of Russian intervention or a diplomatic solution. However, WW1 ended those hopes. The Russians prioritised the war against Germany and Austria, leaving limited forces to invade Turkey from the Caucasus. The occupation of Iran gave the Russians easier access, and the 70,000 Ottoman troops should have been able to defend the region. However, Enver Pasha believed an offensive was the right tactic, brought the Ottoman forces up to 95,000, and launched an attack. This was the Sarikamish campaign, which sent poorly equipped Ottoman forces over high mountain passes in summer uniforms. 75,000 men were lost, along with all the artillery. 

Russian troops in the Sarikamish campaign

This left the region weakly defended, and the Armenian rebellion began. There seems to be little doubt that this was well planned and that the Ottomans were aware. They responded in typical fashion, killing the Armenian leaders along with attempts to conscript young men, leaving Armenian villages undefended. Who did what, and in what order, is contested, but the outcome was death and destruction for civilians, Muslim and Christian. The Ottoman military struggled to defend the border and put down the rebellion, which was widespread across the region. It made it easier for the russian invasion to succeed in capturing the region. The war flowed back and forth, with civilians retreating with the troops for fear of reprisals by both sides. The Russians were in no rush to allow Armenians back into the region, as they had their own plans to occupy it with other settlers. Half of the Armenians in Van died during the war, and slightly more Muslims also lost their lives.

The Ottomans did not control the region at the end of the war, but the territory was recovered during the Turkish War of Independence. Deportations of Armenians had begun long before that in other parts of Turkey, with killings and deaths arising from the forced marches. Whether that was a genocide remains a contested issue to this day.

The author's conclusion that the Armenians in Van would have been better off with the Ottomans than rebelling assumes they believed they had any option, given previous massacres. Others strongly disagree with the views in this book. Relying on the Russians to enable an independent Armenia was certainly naive. The Ottoman army never had enough troops to defend the region and suppress a rebellion, and Enver Pasha's offensive made the situation far worse. In the end, it was the civilians of all religions who paid the price of the conflict.

The military aspects of this obscure conflict during WW1 gets little attention. We gave it a go in this week's midweek game, using Bloody Big Battles rules in 15mm. The Ottomans were defending one of the passes into the region, and the Russians had to break through. They did, but it was a close fight.

The Russians worked around both flanks, leaving the Ottoman centre too weak to hold the pass.

Ayr International Air Show 2026

 The Ayr International Air Show is our largest local event of the year, drawing more than 200,000 people to attend the seashore events and aircraft displays. Ayr is a fair-sized town, but those numbers put incredible pressure on car parking and public transport. Plenty of complaints came from car drivers who didn't arrive early, and traffic leaving the town from the park-and-ride sites was apparently difficult. I went by train, just a few stops down the line and got there without a problem mid-afternoon and away in a reasonable time. ScotRail added extra services and used full-length trains.

The seafront has static displays, including all the local military units. Plus a large collection of eating options and circus rides. They ensure that not everyone leaves at the end of the displays.

Air show schedules are always a challenge, given the distances some of the aircraft travel and the weather. Ayr is a popular show because Prestwick Airport is nearby for landing and refuelling. The weather was dry, but a bit windy and cloudy. The constant schedule changes are annoying, and I missed the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which arrived well ahead of the planned schedule.

Nonetheless, there was a good spread of aircraft types, and this is one of those rare days when my proper camera gets a run-out. The Red Arrows are always the high point, but the Navy Wings and the tornado are also well worth seeing. Even if my ears haven't quite recovered from the Tornado engine noise!

The C-130s from the Canadian Air Force are regular visitors to Prestwick. And regularly interrupt my golf!

Wingwalking. Not for me thanks!

Irish Air Corps display team.

Navy Wings

Seaplane, which again flies around Scotland. Just a splash for the air show given the winds and sea state.

The Red Arrows Hawk aircraft are now 40 years old. They are to be replaced.

Not the greatest picture, as I was on my way out, and it shifts a bit. But an impressive display

Always a quality day out.

Moghul: Brothers at War

 My bedtime reading has been the second book in Alex Rutherford's series on the Moghul (Mughal) emperors. This one covers the second emperor, Humayun. He was born in 1508 and succeeded his father (Babur) in 1530.

Humayun succeeded Babur as emperor at about 22, when the newly conquered territories were still politically fragile. He faced opposition from his three brothers, particularly Kamran Mirza (just months younger, by a different mother), as well as powerful Afghan rulers. Much of the book is taken up with these struggles, balancing the dying pleas of his father not to kill off his brothers with their continuous disloyalty. 

His most formidable opponent was Sher Shah Suri, an exceptionally capable military and administrative leader. Humayun suffered major defeats against Sher Shah, especially at the Battle of Chausa (1539) and the Battle of Kannauj (1540). He was forced to flee India and spent roughly 15 years in exile. He eventually sought refuge at the court of the Safavid ruler Shah Tahmasp I of Persia. Persian support, paid for by gifting the Koh-i-Nur diamond, helped him rebuild his military position, although, as with his father, this caused religious difficulties between the two strands of Islamic thought. The Safavid dynasty made Shia Islam the state religion of Persia in 1501. The Mughals were Sunni.

After Sher Shah Suri's death in 1545 and the subsequent weakening of the Sur dynasty through civil wars, Humayun gradually regained territory. He also finally resolved the struggles with his brothers. In 1555, he defeated the Sur rulers and re-established Mughal rule in Delhi and Agra. Humayun's restored reign was short. In January 1556, he fell down the stairs of his library at Purana Qila in Delhi and died from his injuries at the age of 47. The initial empire had been recovered, but it would be his son, Akbar, who would expand it.

I love this period and have a large 28mm army that I built for a series of display games. Rutherford writes really well, sticking closely to the historical timeline while inventing some people and events. This is historical fiction, and the fictional bits add to the tension. 

A couple of pictures from our game at the club a couple of weeks ago, using Scourge of Princes, which needs a few rule tweaks for wars in Asia.

Battle of Newburn Ford 1640

 Scourge of Princes by Sam Mustafa is our current favourite rule set. I was thinking about the next game when I saw a posting about the anniversary of this battle on 28 August. As it happens, I was staying nearby on Saturday night, so I decided to take a look first thing on Sunday morning, en route to the Sunderland v Fulham game.

The Battle of Newburn Ford took place on 28 August 1640 during the Second Bishops’ War, part of the wider conflict between King Charles I of England and his Scottish Covenanter opponents. Charles had attempted to impose religious changes on Scotland, provoking resistance from the Scottish Covenanters. After the failure of the First Bishops’ War, Charles raised another English army in 1640. The Scottish army, commanded by Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven, supported by Montrose (who at this time was a Covenanter), crossed the River Tweed and invaded northern England. An English force under Lord Conway was sent to stop them at Newburn Ford, near Newcastle. Leslie and Montrose were seeking to bypass the stronger defences north of Newcastle.

The English position was strategically important because the River Tyne provided a natural defensive barrier. Conway placed his troops and artillery on the southern bank, expecting the river crossing to be difficult.

However, the Scottish army was substantially better organised and experienced. On 28 August, after a failed cavalry attack, the Scottish artillery bombarded the English positions while Scottish infantry crossed the Tyne at the ford. The English troops resisted initially, but pressure from Scottish artillery and infantry caused their position to collapse. Conway's army retreated in different directions, abandoning Newcastle to the Scots. George Monck (later a key player in the Restoration) was one of the English commanders, and he did at least keep some discipline.

While the battle itself was relatively small, its consequences were enormous. The Scots gained control of Newcastle, an important centre for England's coal trade. This worsened Charles's cash shortage and exposed his weak military position. So, Charles was forced to negotiate with the Covenanters, and the Treaty of Ripon required England to pay the Scottish army to occupy parts of northern England. To raise the necessary money, Charles was compelled to recall the English Parliament, which became the Long Parliament. A step on the road to the English Civil War of 1642–1651.

The River Tyne at Newburn today is obviously deeper than it was in 1640. I can't say I tried to ford it where the bridge is today, but I wouldn't recommend it!

This is the view from the English side south of the river. You can see the high ground behind, where the Scottish artillery would have been.

This is the Scottish side.

There is a battleboard on the English side. I'm not sure if the mud is wear and tear or an English nationalist!

We didn't need to tweak the rules to play this fairly unusual game. We did allow the Scottish artillery to fire overhead, with an 8" gap requirement. I understand why Sam decided against overhead fire from high ground, presumably because of the accuracy issue at the time. However, the Scots did it here. The movement rules are a bit unusual: there is no distance penalty for moving through difficult ground. Foot and cavalry moving at full pace over a ford didn't feel right. However, it does require two movement points, and you can't shoot from water, so it worked out fine. 

The Scots had a four-to-one advantage in the historical battle. We gave them two-to-one, for playability. It was a tough task getting across the river under fire, but the Scots managed it and eventually won through. 

So, an interesting, little-known clash with broader consequences. And an interesting game, with an excellent set of rules.

Alnwick Castle

 Alnwick Castle is on the Northumberland coast north of Newcastle. I have been there several times, but we always seem to arrive in the late afternoon, so I hadn't been around it before today.

The first castle was built just after the Conquest in 1096 and was captured by the Scots under David I. But it was strengthened when the Percy family took it in 1305, turning Alnwick into a major fortress along the Anglo-Scottish border. The family still lives there; the Duke of Northumberland today, and it is the second-largest lived-in castle in England. Not that they are living in a medieval castle. The interior was modernised in the 19th century. The state rooms are superb (sadly no photos allowed), with a fine collection of paintings and a library with 15,000 books. I like to point this out to my wife!

If it looks familiar, it was a filming location for Harry Potter. I fell asleep during two films when taking my daughter, so I don't remember!

Inside the castle is a small regimental museum of the Northumberland Fusiliers.

And I can usually find a Balkan link in the museums I visit. In this case, there is a 76mm field gun outside, captured from the Bosnian Croats when the regiment was on peacekeeping duties.

The castle has another small room dedicated to the Percy Volunteers, a militia regiment raised to defend the coast during the Napoleonic Wars. Green jackets as well.

The castle also has a gun terrace with artillery.

A very fine castle to visit, with lots of activities. I passed on the Quidditch, but was tempted by the archery. There was also a medieval camp.

The town has an excellent second-hand book store, Bartters Books, in the old station. 

I am staying over near Newcastle tonight, before the football in Sunderland tomorrow, so I stopped off for some tea in Warkworth (another Percy castle), which I have been around. A decent game of cricket was going on just in front.

I am planning a return visit to the Sunderland Air Museum before the game tomorrow afternoon, and a battlefield visit, which I am planning for next week's midweek Scourge of Princes game. The Battle of Newburn Ford was fought in 1640 during the Second Bishops' War. The anniversary was yesterday. It was a rather uneven struggle and a rare Scots victory during the various wars of the period. The Scots even captured Newcastle afterwards.

Arctic Airmen

 Given the thousands of books written about the Second World War, you might think there is nothing new to write about. However, I picked this up at a second-hand bookshop in Sedburgh last month. It is written by a navigator (Ernest Schofield) who flew Catalina flying-boat missions to Spitsbergen and North Russia. 

The Arctic was never an obvious interest to the RAF until Russia joined the war and the northern sea routes became important. Recce flights were challenging until the Catalina flying-boat became available. Nine RAF Coastal Command squadrons and 12 additional overseas squadrons used the aircraft for maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, and rescue missions, totalling over 600 aircraft. 

Bases in the Arctic were even more challenging. However, Norway has developed Spitsbergen as a coal mine and had workers used to operating there. The Germans also wanted to operate there, mainly for weather stations. This book covers how the Coastal Command undertook the recce missions and supported the base.

They flew from Sullom Voe, today a bustling oil rig depot, but it was pretty bleak in 1942. Maps were limited, and the pilots had to get naval charts while keeping the missions secret. Navigation over ice flows and the magnetic conditions near the North Pole added to the challenges. Fuel range was at its maximum, and there would be no rescue boats if it went wrong.

The landing at Spitsbergen did not start well. The two ships with their 80 minimally trained Norwegian soldiers were spotted by a Ju88, which brought four Focke-Wulf Kondors down on them, sinking them both. About 60 survived, though they lost much of their equipment and radios. Landing the Catalina on water with ice flows was tricky, and bringing in vital supplies was difficult, as they communicated with Aldis lamps. The Norwegians created two bases, and a small German base was within range, although it was not equipped for offensive operations, which were left to the Luftwaffe. The Germans lost aircraft trying to land at their base.

The book also covers support for the Russian convoys, including operating from North Russia at a Russian Naval Air Service base at Lake Lakhta. Another pretty bleak posting. They did spot one U-boat, but it managed to crash-dive, and the Catalinas weren't equipped with depth charges anyway. The plane was badly damaged in an attack by a Ju-88, and the plane's captain was killed.

I'm not usually a great fan of aerial warfare books, but this is well written and is an interesting story of combat operations in some of the remotest parts of the world.

Spanish galleons

 A rare treat this week in terms of museums, when the Galeón Andalucía visited the Port of Ayr. This replica Spanish galleon, run by the not-for-profit organisation Nao Victoria Foundation, was built in 2009 and is manned by Spanish Navy cadets.

The Spanish galleon was a large sailing ship used by Spain during the 17th century for trade, exploration, and warfare. Built mainly from strong oak, galleons had several masts, large square sails, and high raised decks at the front and back. They were designed to carry valuable cargo such as gold, silver, spices, and other goods between Spain and its colonies. Galleons were also heavily armed to protect themselves from pirates and enemy ships. These ships played an important role in the Spanish Empire and were a key part of Spain’s naval power during the 17th century.

The ship carries a fine collection of cannons, with an explanation of the different types and the cannonballs they fired.

I was surprised by how many crew and passengers it could hold. It could hold 150 people, including 60 crew, along with animals and food to feed them. That averages 1.5 m² per person. That's pretty crowded, unless you were the captain who had decent quarters.

The ship is an excellent floating museum and has received good reviews from everyone who has visited. I didn't think I had used galleons on the wargames table, but then I remembered a box I recently moved that has some rather battered small-scale galleon models. I can't remember why I got them, but I suspect it was back in DBR days when you had smaller-scale ships on the table.