Warlord Games: Massive Zulu Round-Up

The Royal Marines appear to have worn blue working jackets in the Zulu War. All were from ship's companies:

HMS Tenedos 24 RM/RMA
HMS Shah 87 RM/RMA
HMN Boadicea 53 RM/RMA
HMS Active 62 RM/RMA

The following uniform details are from "British Forces in Zululand 1879" by Ian Knight.

Royal Marine Light Infantry on active service in Zululand wore dark blue working jackets. The jacket had four brass buttons down the front, with two small buttons retaining twisted scarlet shoulder cords. Collar badges were an embroidered red bugle. Rank chevrons, which were worn on both sleeves, were gold for senior sergeants and red worsted for below. Trousers were dark blue with a narrow red stripe. RMLI wore the Glengarry cap with regimental badge. The regulation white helmet (probably stained) was worn in the field. Leggings were black. RMLI carried the Martini Henry rifle with the infantry sergeants' pattern sword bayonet (not the navy cutlass bayonet).

Royal Marine Artillery uniforms were similar. The jacket buttons were a different pattern than the RMLI and the collar badges were a grenade instead of the bugle. RMA trousers had a wide red stripe vs. RMLI's narrow stripe. RMA members wore forage caps with a yellow band for the men and a gold band for sergeants. As with the RMLI they wore the helmet while in action.

Contemporary photographs of HMS Active naval brigade show the marines in the white helmet; while those of HMS Tenedos show the RMLI in their glengarries and the RMA in forage caps.

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With regards to the 91st Highlanders, the cut of the jacket, cuffs and addition of pockets was different to the standard English one. Captured very well by Foundry though poses are limited. Foundry also have the piper!

However, it's worth noting though that 374 volunteers drawn from the 2/5th, 1/8th, 1/10th, 2/19th, 2/20th, 32nd, 36th, 41st, 55th, 84th, and 108th foot joined the 91st bringing it up to 906 men and 30 officers. The regimental history says that they were all clothed as the 91st during the voyage. Then goes on to say that uniforms and kit were weeded to ensure they were fit for the campaign. Which may account for why the most famous photo of the 91st in Zululand does appear to show some English pattern jackets and cuffs being worn.

Cheers
Mark