War games draw 4500

Press, 28 August 1978, Page 6

War games draw 4500

More than 4500 Christchurch people Watched on Saturday and yesterday as cavalry and infantry under Napoleon’s banners routed an English landing force. The Ferrymead Military Section’s “Model Expo ’78,” at the Town Hall, had French and English troops only centimetres high, manouvred by war-game enthusiasts across a table-top landscape. But the fortunes of war ebbed and flowed as entire regiments fought valiantly or were

wiped out, according to the whims of those hovering anxiously above the chaotic scene.

On an adjacent table. American troops probed across a rumpled green table-cloth towards their German-held objective. When night fell on the second day of the offensive, they were only 500 scale-metres from the enemy stronghold, and were declared the winners.

The “generals” controlling this game did not see the actual scene throughout the

battle. They were closeted in another room. Their battleorders were dictated through teleprinters, and reports of tank movements and infantry thrusts relayed to them in the same way.

Nearby were displayed the hundreds of entries in the modelling competition, classified into 21 different categories.

Tanks, armoured cars, halftracks, and troop carriers littered tables under the heading “Military vehicles.” Nearby were huge 852 bombers,

or tiny fighters side by side with ancient passenger planes under the titles: “Aircraft — Military,” and “Aircraft — Historical.”

Formula racing cars lay sleek alongside intricatelydetailed vintage cars, and fuilrigged clipper ships heeled near model cannon. The number of different models was exceeded only by the number of enthusiastic onlookers, adults outnumbering children. The over-all winner was L. G. Taylor, who took the Ferrymead Cup for best model, with his Cutty Sark. J. McCullough won the Doug Lee Endeavour Cup for the best attempt by a junior (under 12) with his World War II diorama. A competition for the model best liked by the public was won by R. Spyker with his model of a Kenworth truck.

The event was organised to raise funds to assist the establishment of a military museum at Ferrymead Historic Park. Proceeds will be put towards the re-erection of a former Army diningroom block, which was moved in sections from Bumham Camp last year. It will even= tually house the museum.