Tactic Collection

Harold Larwood Bowling, 1933
Photograph of the English bowler, Harold Larwood, in action during the MCC tour of Australia, 1933. During that tour, D.R

Teasing Tirpitz, or luring a U boat to Dover, Heath Robinson
A battered British plane suspends a tiny toy boat on a string, fooling a German U boat into pursuing it all the way to Dover. Another mischievous war tactic dreamed up by William Heath Robinson

M. C. C. Cricket tour in Australia
Fingleton batting for New South Wales, hit by a rising ball from Voce. Bradman supports him; the Nawab of Pataudi is picking up his bat, while Ames and Jardine are walking across

A French trooper releasing a pigeon with a message for headquarters during WWI, from The War Illustrated Album Deluxe
3502684 A French trooper releasing a pigeon with a message for headquarters during WWI, from The War Illustrated Album Deluxe

Gallic Wars - Titus Labienus hatches a trap
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Titus Labienus hatches a trap to get the Treveri to cross the river before his troops, attacking them later. Engraving

Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Ambiorix, leader of the Eburons tribe, joins the Hainaut and Namur tribes, attacks the camp of Quintus Tullius Cicero and sets fire to it. Engraving

Quintus Titurius Sabinus and Arunculcius Cotta are attacked
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Quintus Titurius Sabinus and Arunculcius Cotta, attacked by Ambiorix, forming their troops in a circle. Engraving

Caesar disembarked in Britain (54 BC), placing his ships on dry ground within his camp. Engraving. Commentaires de Cesar, avec des notes historiques

Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Caesar attacks the Germanic camp
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Caesar led his troops across the Rhine in 55 BC for a punitive expedition against the Germanic tribes

Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Battle of the Sambre (July 57 BC)
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Caesar's campaign against the Belgae in 57 B.C. Battle of the Sambre (July 57 BC). Confrontation between Julius Caesar's legions

Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). The battle of the Aisne (57 BC)
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Caesar's campaign against the Belgae in 57 BC. The battle of the Aisne (57 BC). The Belgic tribes cross the Aisne River through the right

Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Battle of Vosges (58 BC)
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). First campaign against the Germanic tribes (58 BC). Battle of Vosges (58 BC). Combat between the Germanic tribe of the Suebi under the command of Ariovistus against six

Gallic Wars - Ariovistus, Suebi leader, deploys his cavalry
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). First campaign against the Germanic tribes (58 BC). Ariovistus, the Suebi leader, deploys his cavalry

Campaign against the Helvetii (58 BC). Defeat of the Helvetii and pursuit of Caesar. Engraving. Commentaires de Cesar, avec des notes historiques, critiques et militaires by Count Turpin de Crisse

Caesar's position to receive the Helvetii
Campaign against the Helvetii (58 BC). Caesar's position to receive the Helvetii advancing towards him. Engraving. Commentaires de Cesar, avec des notes historiques

Defeat of a quarter of the Swiss in the Saone pass
Campaign against the Helvetii (58 BC). Defeat of a quarter of the Helvetii in the Saone pass. Engraving. Commentaires de Cesar, avec des notes historiques, critiques et militaires

Gallic Wars. The Helvetii's attempt to cross the Rhine
Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC). Campaign against the Helvetii (58 BC). The Helvetii's attempt to cross the Rhine and Caesar's entrenchments. Engraving

Frontispiece from The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, 1540 (litho)
GIA884141 Frontispiece from The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, 1540 (litho) by Italian School, (16th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Card Game, (oil on canvas)
1197602 The Card Game, (oil on canvas) by Bellei, Gaetano (1857-1922); 66x106.7 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; Italian, out of copyright

Men against Breastplates (Colour Litho)
2783976 Men against Breastplates (Colour Litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Men against armor)

WW2 era - Comic Postcard - In Convoy
The Caption is In Convoy. The convoy system for the merchant ships bringing in vital supples was introduced to counter the German U Boat attacks

How Chinese Maninkins on a wall save a town, illustration from
IL314821 How Chinese Maninkins on a wall save a town, illustration from Hutchinsons History of the Nations, c.1920 (litho) by Wright, Henry Charles Seppings (1850-1937); Private Collection; English

Souvernirs des Grandes Manoeuvres, 1879 (oil on canvas)
615715 Souvernirs des Grandes Manoeuvres, 1879 (oil on canvas) by Detaille, Jean-Baptiste Edouard (1848-1912); 80.6x130.8 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; French, out of copyright

Night falling in Hochkirch, August 1758 (colour litho)
STC429776 Night falling in Hochkirch, August 1758 (colour litho) by Rochling, Carl (1855-1920); Private Collection; (add.info.: the armies of Frederick the Great (1712-86) King of Prussia

The stratagems of the vanquished, the Austrians try to stop with flames our offensive on the lsonzo (colour litho)
2815802 The stratagems of the vanquished, the Austrians try to stop with flames our offensive on the lsonzo (colour litho) by Beltrame

The Reds continue their barbaric tactic of destroying cities rather than abandoning them to the nationals (colour litho)
2783706 The Reds continue their barbaric tactic of destroying cities rather than abandoning them to the nationals (colour litho) by Beltrame

Stratagem of Lord Fauconberg at Towton, 29 March 1461, from A Chronicle of England BC 55
984783 Stratagem of Lord Fauconberg at Towton, 29 March 1461, from A Chronicle of England BC 55 to AD 1485, pub. London, 1863 (colour litho) by Doyle

A Surprise Attack, 1888 (oil on panel)
615716 A Surprise Attack, 1888 (oil on panel) by Berne-Bellecour, Etienne Prosper (1838-1910); 50.5x73 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; French, out of copyright

In the Trenches, 1917 (oil on canvas)
657630 In the Trenches, 1917 (oil on canvas) by Nevinson, Christopher Richard Wynne (1889-1946); Private Collection; (add.info.: In the Trenches. Christopher Richard Wynne Nevinson (1889-1946)

Neolithic mammoth hunt
Men hunting mammoth by ambushing them in a canyon and aiming heavy rocks at them during the Neolithic era (Stone Age). Date: circa 3000 BC

Sack Golden Horn Storming Constantinople Venetians
The sack of Constantinople by crusaders and Venetians during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. A strong north wind helped the Venetian ships near the Golden Horn to come close to the city wall

Aa A Strong German Force Advanced Upon Antwerp, Belgium During Wwi, The Belgians Opened The Dykes And Flooded The Country, Throwing The Enemy Into Confusion And Causing Them Great Losses

Malaysia, Octopus Cyanea Diguising Itself As A Part Of The Coral Reef

Hawaii, Octopus Cyanea Diguising Itself As A Part Of The Coral Reef

Launching Draughts by Heath Robinson
Another genius German tactic, depicted by Heath Robinson. Here, the Germans are blowing with the intention of starting an awful chill in the British trenches

Bill Voce, Nottinghamshire and England Cricketer
Photograph of the English cricketer, Bill Voce, in action during the MCC tour of Australia, 1933. During that tour, D.R. Jardine, the MCC Captain

Long Jock by William Heath Robinson
Canny Kiltie Camouflage. A mischievous pair of Highland soldiers terrify a German soldier into imagining he really will have to tackle some great Scots

Onion-whittling by Heath Robinson
More underhand ideas from the Germans to defeat their British foe imagined by William Heath Robinson cartoon. The Germans utilise biological weapons; row of onions

Battleship v. submarine by G. H. Davis
Battleship versus submarine: Sir Percy Scotts views on the position of the capital ship illustrated in a series of special Sphere diagrams. Top: the fleet bottled up in a harbour by submarines

Russian Royalty Considering Military Manoeuvres
The Commander in Chief of the Russian Armies: Grand Duke Nikolay Nikolayevich Romanov of Russia (18561929) weighing up his options with Tsar Nicholas II. Date: circa 1910

Fortification, from The Gentlemans Recreation published by Richard Blome
XJF483383 Fortification, from The Gentlemans Recreation published by Richard Blome, 1686 (engraving) by English School, (17th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The scenography of a town and castle with all the usual outworks and the manner of
XJF483368 The scenography of a town and castle with all the usual outworks and the manner of carrying out a siege, from The Gentlemans Recreation published by Richard Blome

A collection of maneouvre plans of Louis IX of Hesse-Darmstadt (coloured engraving)
XPH365280 A collection of maneouvre plans of Louis IX of Hesse-Darmstadt (coloured engraving) by German School, (18th century); Hessisches Landes & Hochschulbibliothek, Darmstadt

Bridge of Thorigny-sur-Marne - destroyed by French Engineers
Iron Bridge of Thorigny-sur-Marne, France - destroyed by French Engineers during World War One. Date: circa 1919

Easter Customs - Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic there are many customs tied up with the Easter weekend. One such custom is illustrated on this postcard

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"Tactical Brilliance: Unveiling the Art of Strategy Throughout History" From the cricket fields to ancient battlefields, tactics have played a pivotal role in shaping outcomes. In 1933, Harold Larwood's bowling tactics left batsmen bewildered and England triumphant. Meanwhile, Heath Robinson's ingenious plan of "Teasing Tirpitz" or luring a U-boat to Dover showcased his tactical genius. The Gallic Wars were rife with strategic maneuvers. Titus Labienus hatched a trap that caught the enemy off guard while Ambiorix, leader of the Eburons tribe, employed cunning tactics against Quintus Titurius Sabinus and Arunculcius Cotta. Caesar himself displayed tactical brilliance during his conquests. Disembarking in Britain in 54 BC was just one example of his audacious plans. Caesar also attacked Germanic camps and emerged victorious at battles like Sambre, Aisne, and Vosges. Ariovistus, leader of the Suebi tribe during the Gallic Wars, demonstrated his prowess by deploying cavalry strategically on the battlefield. Throughout history, these examples highlight how effective they can turn tides in any situation – be it sports or warfare. The ability to outsmart opponents has always been crucial for success. These stories serve as reminders that strategy is not limited to boardrooms; it permeates every aspect of human endeavor where victory lies within reach for those who masterfully employ their wits and skills.