All,
You've seen all my British forces, so let's go with some "Commonwealth" troops ;) I was reading up on some of old Joe Legan's batreps from his "Platoon Forward" website and I really got engrossed in having an Indian platoon. My cliche'd concept was going to be a spoiled, white British officer missed the Fall of France and is absolutely dying to get into the action, couldn't be happier when he receives orders to the Middle East, but gets assigned to command a platoon of Indian soldiers. He pisses and moans at first, but once they get into action it changes his opinion of them. They fight the Italians and then the Germans, all the way through Tunisia, then hit up Sicily (need to confirm Indian units saw action in Sicily) and Italy, then get pulled out and sent to the Far East to fight for their homeland (Kohima/Imphal) against the Japanese. So, nothing to do but buy another box of 8th Army troops and build a platoon of Indians. Had some spare duded left over and decided to make me a few Australians in bush hats, too.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9D9VABcdF00pIMSfe7j8a19nWUUiWt5apJKjctTup85vZaf1tATR1DLKX6aejdXGSWD6yWmq1YcgtEyAZBvu6LvH4hXJG0idpxKil3dAqL3CarWGoUoGHmoQA9Qk4aSPwsW5Gjin6K_SSy_IzkuKqaO70K6IlTqEhFMauwAULtkVJLJfIxZ75APDuKqo/s4032/IMG_1183.jpeg)
The Platoon Sergeant and the Lieutenant's batman.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLqTeVzFRgfAPFlG6-Tv0NLDtIob1c48L1whUMT0qqv133Hskd-POv4VQTbTSv6T3Au9qE_i8CGCNMQlthTF_ZeFc6R-pI3pBPgOlNqvEORt-XR3LV0mlzI8tqUQoYEESPtoy46OPiXU6nraqfvHZIHz0RII5Ssc2rXrGRIVTPRPIeOPaE6KFqL6Q2DU/s4032/IMG_1190.jpeg)
A Bren team.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mt_bawVM73ihRAffrmL9xm7uiGsvl4sHBvGOMUtroCk3y-IMmT3gJ7obHJucDygEMdECcF_WIMOmjPaQ2-LD4H8hKG8-YAxOYR1cOyF-5qMKsRydhXHdIImDt5YGFGPnkCKsnlCG26ZhBtzrtt22ETb2QSjW849dDFvc1FS5U6wwAAUtlcgUIKGPuEw/s4032/IMG_1199.jpeg)
An Indian soldier, rifle levelled at the enemy.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BMu947fyi_ntv_OUabQ843iGqgE1QfdFP7W7y6ikYz50IjmXE4yTI0sOIMBfloZzSDmAo7QlvQDAy6ggjw4mXzs6jbSfbKI40ZlZrGybpTYJBgqIBhyiQ0GrisO_ifO63rzwns7b4MlTLpQFn17q0jCyf-OmE_skgJr026RQlAstDpyO_aBEvRsFxQA/s4032/IMG_1200.jpeg)
Another, firing from the off-hand position.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOdzb9Essf9ZhbwOKBDoCNEzMSXOB6cijmaCSnMrs0Td8d4oMOwyL2cw46dSQ0SOph2FfE7-E1fFGMLzjKWQSIO0Rq17BSLm7UKEyVZlQ3adwq_oIK4t6D4fn7n0iaYH86qwC0Qzot8o5w6D6R2qQ2mBwnCVIDtH8veD1XChZRm3s_fQnKTlr3TKWTSc/s4032/IMG_1211.jpeg)
And a pair of Aussies, with Bren and Tommy Gun.
To see a bunch more photos, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2025/06/28mm-wwii-indians-and-few-australians.html
So, I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out, a pretty cool little project that I'm proud of and really looking forward to getting into the fight.
V/R,
Jack
You really are on a roll with these figures Jack!
The elites have arrived, absolutely superb
More! Even more! You really are on a 28mm roll, Jack.
Do hope you get some games in soon, and enjoy 28mm WWII skirmish gaming!
I don't recall photos of Sikhs too well, but don't think I recall their turbans being pale compared to uniforms. Having just had a quick google, it's fairly mixed, but there seem to be very few examples where the turbans is lighter than a pale uniform.
Current photos have some very natty dark blue turbans - but don't think this was a WWII combat thing.
Thanks fellas, I appreciate the support!
Fred - "I don't recall photos of Sikhs too well, but don't think I recall their turbans being pale compared to uniforms."
I agree, from my blogpost:
"On an admin note, I do wish I had these guys in long pants. And I know the headgear is not supposed to be white, but I wanted them to stand out, and my apologies to everyone, but if I'm not able to find suitable models in 28mm then these guys are going to have to stand in as Arab Legion troops when I get back to my "Sword of Gideon" fights."
Most commonly it seems the headgear was actually the same color as the standard battle dress uniform, then fading over time. I actually painted several of them up like that, but then realized it absolutely would not work for Arab Legion (one could argue it still doesn't, these turban ms are much different to keffiyehs, but I haven't been able to find any figures).
V/R,
Jack
Fair enough - I hadn't read the blog for these chaps!
No problem.
V/R,
Jack