16mm models and First World War Railways

Strangely enough, modelling wartime railways can be a beautiful activity.

Recently, I wrote about the military modellers’ society and how we wished them all well at their latest open meeting (June 1^st). Just this month, we have been reading about the 4mm scale railway built by Callum Willcox (British Railway Modelling June 2019 pp 66 to 71). The layout is set in the Amiens area in July 1918 ie during the First World War. The author remarks ‘I always knew that recreating a scene set in such an iconic yet awful point in history was going to be a challenge’

In August 1914, German troops march on to the esplanade of the Gare du Nord in Amiens, northern France. Picture from Illustration magazine collection MD Wright

The city was indeed an icon of the struggle. There were three battles of Amiens.

In late summer 1914, the high tide of the Schlieffen assault on northern France brought troops to the city. They arrived on August 31^st and took a few hostages to ensure good behaviour. As the tide withdrew, so did the troops. On September 9^th, they marched out again.

In September 1914, German troops march out of Amiens, Picture Illustration magazine, collection MD Wright

Roughly 500 miles of Western Front were set up, running through the Upper Somme valley. There was a Battle of the Somme in 1916, another tragic affair.

The second battle for Amiens took place in March/April 1918. The German Spring offensive was aimed at the weakest part of the Front, where the French had just withdrawn to be relieved by a novice British force. On March 21st, a total of 14 British divisions were attacked by 47 German ones. The defenders, thinly spread along the Front were no match for a vast and concentrated German force, led by storm-troopers armed with flame-throwers.

The Germans advanced, probing for weakness. Philippe Pétain, alive to the danger, rushed in French reinforcements from the south. The Germans turned their attack towards Amiens. As an important transport node, it must have been on their list anyway. The assault was stopped, heroically, at Villers-Bretonneux, less than 10 miles from Amiens centre. Honours must go to the Australians who took over a rag-tag band of gunners, signallers, engineers and the catering corps who had retreated from the rout. On the 26^th March, they faced down the Germans at the small village of Proyart just east of Villers-Bretoneux. This gave reinforcements, especially the French time  to dig in at Villers itself. A last furious wave broke on the area on April 4. Soon after, Amiens was considered out of danger and the German attacks turned elsewhere.

Here come the horses! In March 1918, the British hastily set up their defences. In a few minutes, they will have to be on the move again. From Illustration magazine collection MD Wright

Gradually, German offensives petered out and the Allies gained the initiative. The Third Battle of Amiens, July/August 1918, has also been called the Second Battle of the Marne. (The Marne, a tributary of the Seine is rather to the south).

The Germans were now on the back foot. The 78 fresh divisions which Ludendorf commanded at the start of his Spring Offensive had been whittled down to 31. This is according to French figures and is probably an exaggeration; the Germans, too, were flexible in their counting. But it does show that casualties and prisoners were numerous. The mighty American Expeditionary Force, grouped well to the south had swung into action. The French  and the British, to the north around Amiens sensed their opportunity and started their advance.

This fine 16mm model set in summer 1918 shows four examples of the Simplex locotractor, open, weather-protected and armoured - built by the late Henry Holdsworth. To the left is a Wrightscale Baldwin 50h.p. locotractor, as used by the French Army. Photo courtesy Jim Hawkesworth

On July 18^th, the French attacked. In one day, they gained 150 square kilometres of territory and 12,000 prisoners. The British joined in and the Second Battle of the Marne/Third Battle of Amiens was under way.

French official sources grudgingly admit that, after the reverses of the first day, the Germans put up a good fight. There are various possible reasons. To their High Command, defeat was unthinkable because they knew that their bankers would withdraw financial support and the victors would demand crushing reparations. (They were quite correct ). It was simple for the German soldier. He had the choice of sticking with his comrades and facing known evils - or of risking the punishment for desertion. We are justly indignant about the free use of firing squads on the Allied side. It is fairly certain that something similar went on for the Germans. Being taken prisoner was possibly another matter and there were many.

In July 1918, the French are on the offensive. Their tank is pulling a captured German gun. Photo from Illustration magazine, collection MD Wright

Throughout 1914-18, armies on both sides relied on portable 60cm railways to supply them. The French had a head start thanks to Prosper Péchot, then a Captain in the French artillerie. His système Péchot was adopted in 1888. 560 kilometres of 60cm track, 50 locomotives and about 200 wagons in all were ordered – unfortunately, the Army then rested on its laurels. The Germans, who knew a good thing when they saw it, adopted 60cm gauge and spent the years between 1890 and 1914 improving it and training their pioniere – railway troops. The British, never ones to ape a mere foreigner, started the war with about two miles of portable track – 2’6” gauge (about 63cm). In 1916, embarrassed by failures at the Battle of the Somme, they initiated the War Department Light Railways, running on 60cm track.

This close-up of the French soldiers in the photo from Illustration shows a narrow-gauge railway track in the grass. Collection MD Wright

The complete story told in Sarah Wright’s 'Colonel Péchot: Tracks to the trenches.

Two WDLR Class E wagons, a covered wagon plus a WDLR Class F in the foreground, all in 16mm gauge. These were built by Henry Holdsworth using Wrightscale bogies. Photo Jim Hawkesworth

Should this tragedy be a subject for the railway modeller? Yes, I believe. Yes again!

This Wrightscale Péchot wagon is clearly the design inspiration for the WD F-class in the picture above

Sometimes, there is a need to keep issues before the public. Although conflict is not constructive on its own, it creates an opportunity for debate, discussion and exploring new approaches. We can open our hearts. A situation which we’d rather avoid can be a chance for reflection, for the modeller and spectator. Why do we resort to violence to settle our differences? Why do we fight instead of using words! Why oh WHY!

The various Battle of Amiens provide opportunities for thought, scenarios for reflection and, dare I suggest, a chance to use some very cute rolling stock.

A captured German 0-8-0 Brigadelok with tender is being used alongside WDLR rolling stock - Class D and covered wagon. The wagons were built by Henry Holdsworth using Wrightscale bogies. Photo Jim Hawkesworth

Contemporary with the First Battle of Amiens are, firstly, on the French side, the locomotives and rolling stock of the système Péchot. There are also the D-loks used by the Germans. During the Battle of the Somme, War Department Light Railway locomotives and wagons appeared. During the Second Battle of Amiens, much WDLR material was destroyed to stop it falling into enemy hands. During the Third Battle, captured locomotives and wagons were used by both sides, along with their own. This makes for interesting modelling, both in 16mm scale and others, such as 4mm.