"Redcoats at Talana Hill " Topic
5 Posts
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| BullDog69 | 28 Oct 2012 10:45 p.m. PST |
OK – I know we've been over the last battle where red was worn a million times, but just a quick one: does any one have ANY evidence which suggests that the British infantry wore red at the Battle of Talana Hill in 1899? I was on a Battlefield Tour in Natal this weekend, and the tour-guide assured us that the Penn Symons' command was 'the British peace-keeping force in the ZAR' and that they fought in red. I pointed out that this was – to my understanding – not the case and that the last battle red had been worn by British infantry was at Gennis in 1885 (though apparently a maxim battery attached to the Egyptians wore their red coats at Omdurman). He flatly dismissed this, and said that they had not been issued with khaki. I pointed out that the men involved (Yule's 8th Brigade) were also involved in the Siege of Ladysmith, so therefore is he saying they also wore red there? I did not want to ruin everyone's trip, so did not argue the point, but I have never seen any reference whatsoever to British troops wearing red at Talana, so wondered if anyone else had any ideas what he might be talking about? |
| 6sided | 29 Oct 2012 1:35 a.m. PST |
Never read that before anywhere. Sounds like tosh to me. Jaz
6sided.net |
| BullDog69 | 29 Oct 2012 1:58 a.m. PST |
6sided Yes – I emailed eminent Natal historian, Ken Gillings, this morning and he described the claim as another four letter word. |
| Schlesien | 29 Oct 2012 6:45 a.m. PST |
BullDog did you get to the Talana Hill battlefield? |
| BullDog69 | 29 Oct 2012 7:15 a.m. PST |
Not this time, but I have walked it previously a couple of years ago. |
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