"Sorry to bring this up again... " Topic

… as I am sure it has been done to death previously.

But I had long believed that the Battle of Gennis (1885) was the last time the British infantry wore scarlet in action.

But the other day, I read an article by a very well-read and learned gentleman (the curator of a military museum, no less) in which he claimed that the final date was in 1888, in Zululand.

Is this indeed the case?

And was that 'in action'? What battle took place in Zululand in 1888?

Again, apologies for dragging this up again, and I am also aware of the caveat regarding the gunners of a Maxim battery who wore red in the Sudan in 1898.

British troops were deployed in Zululand at that time in response to the Zulu Civil War. Was not really a British regular army affair on the ground. The 6th Inniskilling Dragoons engaged Zulus at Ceza Mountain with two dragons killed and a British officer was later killed at Hlopekhulu.
I have seen reference to mounted infantry wearing red frocks in 1884, but later going to blue. The dragoons would have been blue. The British officer killed may having been wearing red. The only reference to red uniforms at this time I think is in '' Atlas Of The Later Zulu Wars '' by John Laband.
Infantry could very well have been sporting red at the time, but the in action part is still up to interpretation.

Damnit mane! They wear scarlet anytime I want my favorite unit (Stone Mountain 24th in Scarlett for Zulu War) to participate in a game where the scenario is not past the 1890s!!!!!

:)

That said, I always consider Gennis as the last "Real" battle in scarlet.

SmokeyRoan – I won't tell anyone, if you won't!

Re. what counts as 'action'… one could (I suppose) argue that the Guards Regiments who protect the Queen are 'in action' in that they are on duty, and there to prevent an attack – though this would seem to be stretching the definition to breaking point.
In 1981, however, when some lunatic took six pot shots at the Queen as she rode past, a Scots Guardsman – resplendent in scarlet – punched and wrestled him to the ground.

'In action'?

Hmmmm – not really – but where does one draw the line? Who gets to decide?

For me, it is still the Battle of Gennis.

Scarlet would be a atural color for expeditions to Mars.

In 1981, however, when some lunatic took six pot shots at the Queen as she rode past, a Scots Guardsman – resplendent in scarlet – punched and wrestled him to the ground.

Rather impressive self-restraint on the part of that Scots Guard, I would have expected a whole lot more "damage caused by resisting arrest." On the order of near-fatal damage.

Brown would be a more natural colour for expeditions to Mars.

I'd go with red being naturally Martian.