Formed from the Western Desert Force in 1941, the British 8th Army comprised men from across the British Commonwealth - British, New Zealanders, Australians, Indians and South Africans. Following early successes against the Italians in North Africa, the 8th Army suddenly faced a new, more deadly foe - the Deutsches Afrika Korps led by their mercurial commander, Erwin Rommel. Thus began a series of operations with Allied and Axis forces being pushed back hundreds of miles only to regain that territory and more with battles at El Alamein, Tobruk and Beda Fomm becoming legendary. With the Allied victory in North Africa the fighting soon encompassed Tunisia and then the very heartland of Italy itself.

Struggling against the oppressive daytime heat, choking dust and freezing cold nights in addition to battling their German and Italian opponents the 8th Army become more popularly known as the 'Desert Rats' - a nickname adopted from the 7th Armoured Division, a key component of the Western Desert force.

This boxed set contains a multitude of parts and options allowing you to field soldiers as diverse as British, Sikh, Punjabi, Mosselman or Scottish. Just the job to tackle Rommel's Afrika Korps or Mussolini's Italians!

British 8th Army contains:

Enough plastic components to make 30 British Commonwealth miniatures. Includes a host of options to allow for different weapon configurations and command models.

Equipment included: Lee Enfield rifle, Thompson submachine gun, Bren gun LMG, Boys anti-tank rifle, Webley pistol and 2-inch mortar.

Plastic bases.

Construction leaflet.

Optional Indian (Sikh, Punjabi and Yusufzai) and Scottish Highlander heads.

Models supplied unassembled and unpainted