"Bengal European Regiment, 1830's." Topic
11 Posts
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Chouan | 13 Jun 2013 12:27 p.m. PST |
Dear all, having looked at or purchased several books on the Bengal and British army of this period, I can't find out whether the Bengal europeans wore coatees like the British infantry, with long tails, or coatess like the Bengal and Madras Native Infantry, with short coat tails. I know it's not really important in the scheme of things, and I could guess, but if anybody knows for sure and can help I'd be very grateful. |
timurilank | 13 Jun 2013 12:46 p.m. PST |
I found the subject equally perplexing, but I would recommend "The Indian Army by Boris Mollo". He covers the number of uniform changes post-Napoleon to pre-Mutiny with tidy tables for all three Presidencies. This is what evolved from that research: link On the right-hand side of the page you will find "List of Articles and Projects", scroll further down to "NEW India" and read the first post in the series. I have linked further references that may be helpful. Cheers, Robert |
enfant perdus | 13 Jun 2013 3:12 p.m. PST |
I would say with near 100% certainty that they would have the long-tailed coatees. While the three Presidencies spent a lot of angst and ink over how to uniform their Native Infantry from the late 18thC through the mid-19thC, for the European Regiments it was essentially a case of following whatever the fashions of HM's Foot happened to be. In both documents and first hand accounts, phrases like "uniformed as per Infantry of the Line" and "indistinct from Crown forces" are encountered, as are specific clothing regulations which are indistinguishable from those of HM. Period illustrations, although scarce, also bear this out. FWIW, I highly recommend Google books for those interested in the period. There are many campaign and regimental histories available to download for free. The former are often written shortly after the fact, and occasionally during! Even the "later" publications are typically end of the 19thC, and it's clear the authors had easy access to relevant documents. These things can be rather stiff reading, but it's worth it when you unearth those elusive gems! |
Chouan | 14 Jun 2013 1:34 a.m. PST |
Thanks very much. I do have a copy of Mollo's book, but the details on the European regiments are very scarce, beyond dates of name and facings changes. The Osprey book on the HEIC Army has a picture of a Madras European of about 1840, but his coat tails are obscured, but the impression I gained was that they were short, but that was just an impression. |
timurilank | 14 Jun 2013 2:12 a.m. PST |
My impression from reading Mollo, the coattails for the HM regiments shortened approaching the First Sikh War. The changes for the European infantry of the HEIC would not be immediate. I have both styles to distinguish the HM troops long stationed in India and those recently deployed. Cheers, |
John Watts | 14 Jun 2013 2:31 a.m. PST |
"In January 1831, a letter from the A.G. No 368 stated the coatee as worn by His Majesty's service should be substituted for the short-skirted coats `as now furnished to the N.C.O.s and men of H.C. European Regiment'." From `Indian Army Uniforms Under the British from the 18th Century to 1947 – Artillery, Engineers and Infantry' by W. Y. Carman |
Chouan | 14 Jun 2013 8:39 a.m. PST |
That settles it then! On the other hand, how long would it take for this regulation to be in force, ie. how long before the men are actually wearing long tails? |
enfant perdus | 14 Jun 2013 10:56 a.m. PST |
as now furnished to the N.C.O.s and men of H.C. European Regiment Which European Regiment, Bombay, Bengal or Madras? Or all three? FWIW, the Bombay Europeans are definitely illustrated in long-tailed coatees in 1825-27, and the Bengal Europeans appear to have worn them in the Bhurtpore Campaign. |
John Watts | 14 Jun 2013 3:50 p.m. PST |
Sorry – I assumed that people would realise that I was referring to the Bengal European Regiment, that being the subject of the thread. |
enfant perdus | 14 Jun 2013 3:55 p.m. PST |
No problem, thanks for clarifying. |
Chouan | 20 Jun 2013 6:11 a.m. PST |
And can I assume that all regiments, European and "Native" had 8 companies? |
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