"Russian 'Non-Combatants'" Topic

Does anyone know how the grey-uniformed 'non-combatants' were organised in the Russian army 1812-14? Were there any distinctions to their uniforms depending on who they were with?

Perhaps you can define what a Russian noncombatant was?

Uniformed non combatants? Train drivers? They were military.

Anyone in a uniform on the battlefield was a combatant.

The non-combatants had – as you write – an all grey uniform and grey fatigue cap. In the cavalry, they had red piping over band and crown of the fatigue cap, as well as on the collar, cuffs and turnbacks, at the side seams of the trousers. They had no shoulder straps, the only regimental differences was that they had the same white or yellow buttons as their regiments. Non-combatants of Guards regiments had buttonholes with Guards' lace: one on each side of the collar, and three on each cuff flap.

For definition: Non-combatants were regiment "employees" which did not take direct part in the fighting, but performed auxiliary functions, like medical care, judicial supervision, worship services, clerical duties, repairs, regimental transports etc.

Information from: Russian Dragoons and Gendarmes 1801-1815, by Oleg Vasyliev.

And to IDYM: Russian wagon drivers were military, but non-combatant military, responsable for regimental transport.

Cheers,
Peter

Peter, perfect. Thanks very much,

I learn something new everyday, thanks Peter!

Were the Russian 'noncombatants' armed?

And were they considered soldiers?

Were the Russian 'noncombatants' armed?

To quote the same source as before, concerning Dragoon non-combatants: "Wagon master, hospital supervisor, regimental bone-setter, all clerks and barbers had sabres or backswords with waist belts without sockets for bayonet scabbards. All other non-combatant ranks had no weapons."

And were they considered soldiers?

They were part of the army/of the regiment. So what is a soldier? I would say, no, they were not soldiers. They did similar things they would also do outside of the army, i.e. they were priests, surgeons, lawyers, blacksmiths etc. I would define them as civilian employees of the army.