More details can be found in Revell’s latest newsletter:

Revell and Wargaming.net start co-operation

True-to-original model kits and computer game package

Interesting news for all model builders and online gamer: we just have signed an extensive co-operation with the games developer and publisher Wargaming.net regarding the award winning computer game “World of Tanks”. “World of Tanks” is a massively multiplayer online game that is dedicated to the tanks of the mid twentieth century. With “World of Tanks” Wargaming.net introduced an MMO action game to the market which is not only limited to this genre. Neither stereotypes are perpetrated nor are groupings forced, this game offers the player a mixture of the most diverse game categories: role-plays, simulation, action, shooter and strategy.

Many of the tanks that can be deployed in the battles can also be found in our plastic model kit range. Within the framework of this marketing co-operation our model tank kits shall also come with a DVD of a premium tank that is quite valuable for deployment in “World of Tanks”. This premium tank can only be bought together with a Revell product.

Thorsten Koss, member of our management, is pleased about the co-operation with the games publisher. “The realistic battle simulations and our true-to-original model kits fit very well together so that we can offer fans a very attractive package and retail receives additional sales support.”

Some more details over at Massively and IGN.

More info on this can be found on the BBC News Website.

A little after noon, Japan standard time on August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito’s announcement of Japan’s acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration was broadcast to the Japanese people over the radio. Earlier the same day, the Japanese government had advised the Allies of the surrender by sending a cable to U.S. President Harry S Truman via the Swiss diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C.

The assault was conducted in two phases: an airborne assault landing of 24,000 British, American, Canadian and Free French airborne troops shortly after midnight, and an amphibious landing of Allied infantry and armoured divisions on the coast of France commencing at 6:30 AM. There were also decoy operations mounted under the codenames Operation Glimmer and Operation Taxable to distract the German forces from the real landing areas.

Greenham Common Airbase near Newbury was one of the many departure locations for the airborne assault.

Many of the troops were able to embark directly from Dunkirk Harbour onto 42 British destroyers and other large ships, while others had to wade from the beaches toward the ships, waiting for hours to board, shoulder-deep in water. Others were ferried from the beaches to the larger ships, and thousands were carried back to England by the 700 or so merchant marine boats, fishing boats, pleasure craft and Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats quickly assembled for the evacuation. The smallest of these was the 15-foot fishing boat Tamzine, now on display at the Imperial War Museum.

The BBC has an audio slide-show of the rescue and a detailed history is available at Wikipedia. Further news on this year’s events can be found on the BBC here.

The eBay sellers have also provided a transport and installation video of a previously sold Sea Harrier:

Please bear in mind that there is a dress code enforced within the Royal British Legion organisation, and Newbury Scale Model Club asks all of its members and visitors to comply with this rule. Casual dress is OK, however track suits, lounging suits and shorts are not allowed.

According to the London Gazette from 24th July 1945, on the 12th and 13th of May of the same year “at Taungdaw, Burma, Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung was manning the most forward post of his platoon which bore the brunt of an attack by at least 200 of the Japanese enemy. Twice he hurled back grenades which had fallen on his trench, but the third exploded in his right hand, blowing off his fingers, shattering his arm and severely wounding him in the face, body and right leg. His two comrades were also badly wounded but the rifleman, now alone and disregarding his wounds, loaded and fired his rifle with his left hand for four hours, calmly waiting for each attack which he met with fire at point blank range. Afterwards, when the casualties were counted, it is reported that there were 31 dead Japanese around his position which he had killed, with only one arm.”

Gurung was invested with the Victoria Cross by Lord Louis Mountbatten at a parade at the Red Fort in Delhi on December 19th 1945. The citation declared: “This Rifleman, by his magnificent example, so inspired his comrades to resist the enemy to the last that, although surrounded and cut off for three days and two nights, they held and smashed every attack. His outstanding gallantry and extreme devotion to duty, in the face of almost overwhelming odds, were the main factors in the defeat of the enemy.”

The surviving soldiers in his platoon reported that they heard him shouting “come and fight a Gurkha!” Gurung later said: “I had to fight because there was no other way. I felt I was going to die anyway, so I might as well die standing on my feet. All I knew was that I had to go on and hold them back. I am glad that helped the other soldiers in my platoon, but they would have all done the same thing.”

The term “hero” is bandied about a lot these days, but this gentleman is the epitome of what a true hero is. May he rest in peace.

More information can be found in his Daily Telegraphy Obituary, The Daily Mail and on Wikipedia.