British/Indian Second Afghan War Uniforms

[Atheling]

Hi,

Can an yone recommend a good source for the uniforms of the British and Indian forces involved in the Second Afghan War?

I recently bought a copy of The Frontier Ablaze, The North West Frontier Rising, 1897-98, Michael Barthorp and whilst the plates are very nice I get the feeling that the uniform info is too late for The Second Afghan War(?).

I'm no expert on British colonial uniforms so I would appreciate any help that you chaps can offer.

Cheers,
Darrell.

[Hammers]

Hi,

Can an yone recommend a good source for the uniforms of the British and Indian forces involved in the Second Afghan War?

I recently bought a copy of The Frontier Ablaze, The North West Frontier Rising, 1897-98, Michael Barthorp and whilst the plates are very nice I get the feeling that the uniform info is too late for The Second Afghan War(?).

I'm no expert on British colonial uniforms so I would appreciate any help that you chaps can offer.

Cheers,
Darrell.

I (and I think Plynkes) have an excellent book about uniforms of the Indian Army by Boris Mollo. I shall see waht I can find when I get home.

[Atheling]

I (and I think Plynkes) have an excellent book about uniforms of the Indian Army by Boris Mollo. I shall see waht I can find when I get home.

Thanks mate  .

Darrell.

[Shikari Sahib]

Hi Darrell, I have plenty of infos, unfortunately very few on digital format.
these are the only I found of interest.

Guides









Mountain Artillery



just a start

Piero

[Shikari Sahib]

some more interesting books with drawinngs,paintings:
MacMunn, Lt. Gen. Sir George (illustrated by A. C. Lovett): The Armies of India. A & C Black 1911 (Crécy Books 1984).

Glover, Michael and Chater, Chater Paul: An Assemblage of Indian Army Soldiers & Uniforms. Purnell Book Services Ltd., 1973.

some interesting Osprey men-at-arms British on Campaign, n.2,3

Piero

[Aaron]

Thanks for the MacMunn suggestion Shikari Sahib. I was able to find a free pdf copy of the 1911 edition complete with the color illustrations on archive.org! http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022927283

[Shikari Sahib]

at your service American Sahib

[Atheling]

Thanks chaps. This is getting very interesting already  .

Keep 'em coming  .

Darrell.

[Arthur]

For a quick overview of Queen's troops, volume 3 of Osprey's The British Army on Campaign MAA series is probably the easiest way to get started. For Indian units, I believe the two MAA's on Bengal infantry and cavalry regiments are still in print. Being Ospreys, these booklets are far from exhaustive, but they at least cover the basics in reasonable detail.  

I agree that Boris Mollo's The Indian Army is a great ressource, although I'm not sure it's been reprinted lately. I was lucky enough to find a copy at Foyle's aeons ago when the book was already fetching steep prices on the second-hand market. That said, don't hesitate to grab a copy if you can find one : it's worth every penny you'll pay for it.  

Ian Knight's Go To Your God Like A Soldier is not a uniform guide, but it is chock full of period photographs and engravings, and so is Soldiers Of The Raj, published some twelve ago by the National Army Museum. Dunno if the latter is still available, but both are very nice pictorial ressources.    

[traveller]

Great uniform plates! Thanks!

[David]

Here some nice colour pictures
http://www.britishbattles.com/second-afghan-war/kandahar.htm
http://www.britishbattles.com/second-afghan-war/maiwand.htm
http://www.britishbattles.com/second-afghan-war/kabul-1879.htm
http://www.britishbattles.com/second-afghan-war/ali-masjid.htm
http://www.historikorders.com/secondafganwar.html
Hope this helps
David
I will have a look for my book on this.

[Atheling]

Here some nice colour pictures
http://www.britishbattles.com/second-afghan-war/kandahar.htm
http://www.britishbattles.com/second-afghan-war/maiwand.htm
http://www.britishbattles.com/second-afghan-war/kabul-1879.htm
http://www.britishbattles.com/second-afghan-war/ali-masjid.htm
http://www.historikorders.com/secondafganwar.html
Hope this helps
David
I will have a look for my book on this.

David,

Thanks- all great links! I was actually about to ask about the British regiments this morning.

Darrell.

[David]

The books i have are
The Indian army Boris Mollo
Some very nice colour pictures
The north west Frontier (british india and Afghanistan  A pictorial Histroy 1839 to 1947)By Michael barthorp
Good information but pictures are Black and white.
And then there the Osprey books
Bengal Cavalry Regiments 1857-1914
Indian Infantry Regiments 1860-1914
The British Army on Campaign 1816-1902 (3)
Queen Victorias Enemies (3) India (Has 3 figures of the Afghan Regulars 1878 - 80)
I hope this helps

[Atheling]

The books i have are
The Indian army Boris Mollo
Some very nice colour pictures
The north west Frontier (british india and Afghanistan  A pictorial Histroy 1839 to 1947)By Michael barthorp
Good information but pictures are Black and white.
And then there the Osprey books
Bengal Cavalry Regiments 1857-1914
Indian Infantry Regiments 1860-1914
The British Army on Campaign 1816-1902 (3)
Queen Victorias Enemies (3) India (Has 3 figures of the Afghan Regulars 1878 - 80)
I hope this helps

David,

Thanks again. All noted and much appreciated for passing on the info  .

Darrell.

[Hammers]

The books i have are
The Indian army Boris Mollo
Some very nice colour pictures
The north west Frontier (british india and Afghanistan  A pictorial Histroy 1839 to 1947)By Michael barthorp
Good information but pictures are Black and white.

I love these two. Well worth hounding out second hand at ebay or amazon.