A Call to Arms - Collectors and their Collections: Jock Gillespie

How long have you been collecting, Jock?

Since I was six years old. I was born in Australia (of Scottish parents). As a three-year-old my parents returned to Scotland where we lived for over seven years. It was whilst in the UK that I became really interested in armies and toy soldiers through primary school in Scotland, learning about the Romans, Britons, Saxons and Normans, and my other cousins who had similar interests. A number of my family members were in WW1 and I became interested in their history (as one had won the Victoria Cross when in the Scots Guards) and was given some family heirlooms—medals, photos and even an Argyll and Sutherland Glengarry which I still have and display to this day. My first toy soldiers included sets of Herald plastic red coated Guards. This interest went further with one of my cousins and I finding a toy soldier shop whilst on holiday in Bournemouth, England in the 1960s where we purchased some Britains’ detail plastic Guards band figures, WW11 British soldiers and a couple of the then Britains’ field guns. My parents decided to return to Australia, leaving most of my toys behind with my cousins.

In Australia, I collected the Airfix 1/72^nd military figure packs and established a group of friends who were interested in playing wargames. As I got older, I moved to WW11 1/72^nd aircraft and1/35^th scale model vehicles and figures. When I got married, I became interested in collecting and painting larger scale 70 to 90mm white metal figures sourced from the UK and Sydney. W Britains figures were very scarce in Perth and about 1990 I found a shop that was selling some, and I just had to have them. I even have the odd military battle print hanging up but restricted in sharing wall space with my wife. I collected the odd figure over the years but got more enthused on a trip to the UK in 2008 when I saw the variety and quality of toy soldiers in the market.

What periods span your collection?

My collection spans the periods from Roman Britain, Hastings, Bosworth, Culloden, Crimean; Anglo Zulu War, Sudan, WW1, WW2 and dare say, I was enticed into the Vietnam War in 2018 when at one of the Peter Nathan Andy Nielsen dinners.

What is your favourite model/period/vehicle?

My keen interest areas are: Anglo Zulu Wars; Battle of Hastings; WW1 Gallipoli and Western Front; WW2 Normandy, and Romans. Currently, I am creating dioramas for Vietnam, Normandy and future Roman life with a few vignettes of the Falklands, Vietnam. I absolutely love the Anglo-Zulu War; Roman; Hastings; and WW2 Normandy periods. King and Country and John Jenkins Designs have produced many fine models, I favour the WW2 German Tiger (4) and Panther tanks(3) especially after building a few in 1/35^th scale.

How do you display you models (diorama/shelf/...)?

I am fortunate to have a very understanding wife (Jill). My collection is displayed in hobby glass display cabinets in my Display Room and now crept into the snug area with another two (one just recent to display Hastings). I am infatuated with miniature dioramas to bring my figures to life, so I take the time to build dioramas using model building materials and accessories from diorama suppliers, such as Last Post Miniatures.

Do you have a model on your wish list you're still looking for but can't find?

I am still waiting on some pieces of WW2 armour for a diorama. I am interested in adding more detail to my current dioramas—figures and accessories that fill in holes or make the story even more interesting (Vietnam, Normandy Hastings, Romans are still a big focus depending on what I need. William the Conqueror on a rearing horse is a must from JJD. Crimean 93^rd Highlanders and 17^th Lancers are quite elusive.

Are there any periods you wish one of the manufacturers would do that aren't covered yet?

After revisiting Roman sites in the UK and more recently Italy, everyday life, like Streets of Hong Kong would be interesting and marry into the military activities.