To the Unknown Soldier(s)

Probably an essential part of all our childhood are the toy soldiers. Immortalised in Pixar's Toy Story, the simple little green figures are one of the most enduring toys ever made. They turn up all over the place, in boxes of second-hand lego, in the back of drawers, in the street and often, on ebay. As most of them are cheap Hong Kong mouldings, they're unmarked and almost impossible to identify. As a result, mixed lots of 'toy soldiers' crop up on ebay with increasing regularity. It's always a caveat emptor moment, buying such lots, but they're usual cheap, unless a rarity sits on top of the pile!

I picked up a boxful like this recently, as I spotted the little 'gum tanks' from an earlier post in the lot. But when it arrived, I was pleased to find an assortment of green army men rubbing shoulders with cowboys, indians, cavalry, knights and musketeers. Most of the older soldiers had suffered a spectacular array of defenestrations, decollations and various other abuse and one poor knight was reduced to a state reminiscent of the Black Knight in Pythons 'Holy Grail'.

But seeing them, even in their damaged state, reminded me of the afternoons spent lying on the rug, by the fire as a kid, lining up battalions of figures and making tiny wars. Either it was turning the tide of battle WWII style or ensuring the Indians won the west, but whichever figures I chose, it was always good simple fun.

Nowadays, the action figure has replaced the 'toy soldier' and sound chips and articulation are his weapon of choice. But for now, lets just salute the fallen and remember the heyday of the soldier with this small gallery of some of the survivors of the ravages of time and battle.