Sepoys on the Sands of Egypt : An East India Company Unit for Silver Bayonet
Uniform research
As I previously mentioned, I’m not a button counter. So I’m not looking for exact colour schemes to copy, but rather a general flavour of the kind of thing I should be aiming for. A push in the right direction, if you will, and perhaps noting some things to avoid.
I’ll post the results of my limited research (Google image search for ‘East India Company Uniforms’) in date order here, the earliest first.
Bengal Army 1785This first one was a bit of a surprise for me: a blue coat. My limit knowledge of the period led me to believe that blue was the domain for the French army. However apparently that’s the uniform of an artillery private (or golandaz) in the Bengal Army.The other two are pretty much as expected : a red coat with coloured trim over white shirt and trousers.
More elaborate hats than my figures have too.
Engraving by Joseph Constantine Stadler, 1815This one, from 1815, continues to confirm my generalisation. Red coat (check), white trousers (check). Blue hats – that’s something to think about.
1830 : Six Sepoy uniforms of the East India Company Madras armyAh, alright – seems like anything goes once you get into uniforms for specialisation beyond your basic infantryman.
From left to right (taken from here) we’ve got:
- Madras Horse Artillery
- Madras Light Cavalry
- Madras Rifle Corps
- Madras Pioneers
- Madras Native Infantry
- Foot Artillery.
This is nice for me as I reckon I can do just about any colour scheme that I fancy. Still mainly white trousers though. I must remember that.
1839: 27th Regiment of Madras Native InfantryBlue trouser now! Anything goes and the ‘rule of cool’ will work for me.
OK, time to pick up a brush…
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