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"Pathan levies NW Frontier" Topic


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Comments or corrections?

oldjarhead121 Nov 2016 5:53 p.m. PST

Can anyone tell me if the Levies (Tochi Scouts, Khyber Rifles etc.) wore any colored item or marker to separate them from "wild" tribesmen

Rich Bliss21 Nov 2016 6:38 p.m. PST

I've always been under the impression that they were actually uniformed. I have to admit not recalling any specific reference to this, however.

Henry Martini21 Nov 2016 7:33 p.m. PST

From 'The Frontier Scouts', by Charles Chenevix Trench:

The irregular Khyber Jezailchis, formed in 1878 from Afridi tribesmen, wore no uniform. They were identifiable by '… a red tag sewn on to the back of the pagri…' After receiving training from their commander, the Afghan Major Sardar Mohamed Aslam, being renamed The Khyber Rifles, and being rearmed with Snider rifles, they 'were provided with practical, loose-fitting khaki uniforms.'

The Zhob Levy Corps (later the Zhob Militia) formed in Baluchistan in 1889 was 'irregular but uniformed', and armed with Martini-Henry rifles.

The South and North Waziristan Militia were uniformed and armed with Martini-Henrys. There's a 1905 photo in the book of South Waziristan militiamen wearing khaki khurtas and breeches with puttees and open-toed sandals. Their equipment is light: just a haversack and ammunition bandolier (and no doubt a water bottle; not visible in the photo). The turban is in the Punjabi style with kullah. The bayonet appears to be of sword pattern.

There's no mention of the Chitral Scouts, formed in 1900, being uniformed.

The Tochi Scouts weren't formed until after the Third Afghan War, from loyal elements of the Wazir and Mahsud militias.

I don't think there are any existing figures that accurately depict the style of uniform and equipment shown in the above-mentioned photo (which is probably reasonably representative of all the uniformed NWF scout/militia units in the late 19th century). WW1 Indian troops have bandoliers, but both these and their rifles are too modern. Dismounted cavalry of the right period have light equipment, but pouch-belt style, and are armed with carbines. Maybe an enterprising manufacturer would be prepared to fill the gap. After all, these units and their actions are ideally suited to TMWWBK (so… North Star?).

GoodOldRebel22 Nov 2016 6:54 a.m. PST

Very useful information Martini Henry …and I second your call for some enterprising figure manufacturer to plug this gap in the market!

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