WWI British and Commonwealth

[fred.]

Hi Chaps

I am reading about the battle of Neuve Chappelle at the minute - and it is making me think that I need more diversity in my early War WWI British forces, which currently are all chaps in caps.

There were various Scots and Indian battalions involved, so how best to represent these with Pendraken figures (either current or upcoming)

BP15 Highlanders - I assume these are in kilts, what headgear are they in?

BP16, 17,  18 and 19 Indian Lancers, Infantry, Lewis gunners, and Vickers - are these in turbans?
There is also ME23 Indian foot in turban - but what uniform are these in?

What proportion of Indian units were in turbans?

For Gurkas - who seem to have been wearing bush hats with the brim folded up on 1 side
Would ME2 Australian infantry work?

Thanks

[Fenton]

As far as I am aware all Indian troops wore the  pagri whether they were Sikh or not up until the introduction of the steel helmet

On an interesting side note when Indian troops were issued with steel helmets the Sikh troops refused to wear them instead of the Pagri. This annoyed the British Army until a compromise was reached where the Sikh troops would be issued with the helmet then they would lose them by accident ,nobody would ask any questions and everyone was happy

[fred.]

As far as I am aware all Indian troops wore the  pagri whether they were Sikh or not up until the introduction of the steel helmet

Thanks, I hadn't realised that, I think I was associating turbans with Sikhs.

[fred.]

Little bump, to attract the attention of our evening callers...

Any thoughts about Aussies as Gurkhas?

[realthing]

BP15 Highlanders[/b] - I assume these are in kilts, what headgear are they in?

They are indeed in kilts. In this scale, the headgear could probably pass for either a balmoral bonnet or a TOS (it features a bobble); it's definitely NOT a glengarry. Not sure about the new releases; hopefully some 1914 Highland infantry will be included.

[fred.]

Thanks, that helps.

When I get round to this (I have a small mountain of late war british first) I'll probably get a few sample Aussie figures to see what might work as a Gurkha battalion.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Hello fred 12df

I haven't been able to get any pictures of the Australian infantry but I did find these of the dismounted Light Horse:-




These, with a bandolier, may be closer.


(I suspect that this picture is reversed)

I'm assuming that the Australian infantry may be in shorts. Of course you may find yourself adding kukris and cutting away lots of emu plumes

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

[fred.]

Ta GoM

They look a good fit. I only need a battalion or two, so 12 or 24 figures, so a bit of light conversion is possible.

[fsn]

(I suspect that this picture is reversed)

You mean, we should be seeing their backs?

[Hertsblue]

You mean, we should be seeing their backs?

You're the sort of person who thinks "recycling" means peddling backwards, aren't you?

[fsn]

It doesn't? 

[kustenjaeger]

Greetings

Have you got a copy of 'Sepoys in the Trenches' covering the Indian Corps in France?  It's only £1.99 on kindle. 

Though I haven't read it all yet it refers to all Indian troops using a turban (different styles) except the Gurkhas and Garwhalis who wore the slouch hat (turned up on opposite sides). 

Regards

Edward

[Fenton]

Have you seen this at all

http://www.cwgc.org/foreverindia/context/indian-army-in-1914.php

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

A good find and a sobering read.
Thank you.

[kustenjaeger]

Greetings

Have you seen this at all

http://www.cwgc.org/foreverindia/context/indian-army-in-1914.php

While it is of course true that the Indian Army of 1914 was designed to fight in colonial operations and the Indian Corps in France suffered from numerous issues, the problem with this page is that some of the implications are wrong:
(a) machineguns - all British battalions only had 2 MG per battalion in 1914 (as did almost every other power)
(b) there were virtually no grenades in the British Army in August 1914 either (there was a 1908 pattern monstrosity that was apparently designed for engineer use and even in November 1914 was allegedly only being supplied at 70 per week)
(c) Not sure what the point is on searchlights
(d) lack of mechanisation - British mechanisation was pretty limited as well
(e) the point about clothing is correct - the Indian Corps arrived in Indian winter gear but this proved to be wildly inadequate (later fixed)

As mentioned on a linked page, bigger problems were officer reinforcements in the face of heavy casualties (12 British officers per battalion and troops were used to officers who spoke their own language), other rank reinforcements (reserve system was wholly inadequate).

Regards

Edward

Edward