"British colonial uniforms in the 1840's thru 1850's" Topic

How did they differ from the 1870's? (Zulu War, Boers Wars,etc.)

Do I need to convert or are there dedicated lines in 25mm sized figures?

Gracias,

Glenn

25mm is not a scale. Had to say it…

Check out 1st Corps miniatures for the 8th Cape War. I also use Foundry British for the Sikh Wars. These two ranges mix well and should do the job for you.

As a terrible sweeping generalisation, they look a bit more Napoleonic in the 40s, less in the way of concessions to practicality. Shakos were still being worn in the 1840s, albeit in tropical climes often with some kind of white covering and/or neck flap or what-have-you.

The 1850s see a more practical uniform starting to come in (less in the way of fancy lace and shoulder decoration, clothes of a more loose-fitting cut), and the 'Havelock' is quite prevalent, a cap with a white cover and neck-cloth that has a distinct French Foreign Legion vibe about it. Pith helmets start appearing in greater numbers, too, though they are the odd airpipe sort at first, rather than the familiar Zulu War style.

As these are massive generalisations, there will be lots of little local exceptions, but they generally hold true.

The British or Company figures from Old Glorys Sikh Wars are in regulation uniform and nice figures for OG.
They also have some British figures in thier Maori line in campaign dress but they are not as nice.

British Infantry, Afghanistan, 1842:
picture

British Infantryman in India, 1840s:
picture

Rifleman, India, 1850s:
picture

Highlander, India, 1850s:
picture

Troops in India were issued white uniforms at least by the 1850s (Mutiny style) which were often dyed "khaki" on an ad hoc basis.

Troops serving in non-India hot places at that period would have worn normal service dress with perhaps a shako-cover or neck curtain. Think Crimean War style. There's a very brief exchange with a chap with a padded shako cover in the film Mountains of the Moon.

The Old Glory Maori Wars British figures are actually correct for several of the 'Cape Wars', the head gear seems to be wrong for the New Zealand campaigns – the OG figs Kilmarnock cap is shown in Cape Wars sketches, the troops in New Zealand seem to have worn the 'pork pie' style cap. Troops in both theatres wore dark blue serge 'fatigue dress'

Except for British troops in the earlier Maori wars in the 1840s who seem to have worn the traditional red, usually in the form of the shell jacket.

Figure suggestions, not exhaustive:

First Afghan War and 1st China War: Foundry China War range (OOP) for the infantry and gunners. The Madrassis from the Foundry Mutiny range are useable as are the sepoys from their Sikh War range. With a fair amount of conversion you could get away with the British Legion from Perry's Carlist Wars.

Cape Wars- First Corps.

Sikh Wars. Largely different uniform styles to the above. Shakos and tunics had changed for the British. Foundry have/had a dedicated range. Old Glory do one too and IIRc it's better than their usual 'useful for anglers and folk who cast their own lead shot' type ranges.

Burma 1852. Bits from Foundry's Mutiny range.

Mutiny: Plenty of folk do this period, Foundry, Dixon etc, although not the Perries, so it seems.

That's just scratching the surface btw. If you want even more variety there are pleny of other campaigns and a few other manafacturers. If for example you fancy going forward in time Castaway Arts do a lovely and unique range for the Ashanti War (1870s) Sniders and unique uniforms.

Good start point is to get the Ospreys The British Army on Campaign that cover the periods you are interested in.

GFI/Minifigs has a range for India/NW frontier in that period, in 25mm. Pictures are up on the site under 25mm historicals. minifigs.com

Best
Tom Dye
GFI

Tom,

I must be a dummy, I can't find them at:

link

link

link

gallery.minifigs.com

Gracias,

Glenn

Here's the link to the 25mm Colonials:

link

I think the ones you are after are in the "Indian Mutuny" range. Click on that British Flag. They are the ones with Havelocks.

Tom Dye
GFI

Well, it must be my computer or me because there is only the default picture i.e., the tiny one – enlarge doesn't make them bigger that I can see – the washed out looking one of what looks like a vignette of soldiers, one of whom has a flag.

My screen (a whopping 14 inches diagonal) and my eyes can't make out any details. Thanks anyway, Tom. That must be the picture you are talking about…

Gracias,

Glenn