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Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Siaba on 05 September 2023, 12:22:07 PM

Title: Rifle corps uniforms in China 1860
Post by: Siaba on 05 September 2023, 12:22:07 PM
Does anyone know if the standard uniform was worn by the 2/60th rifles or if any colonial sort of adjustment was done ?
Thank you for your help  :)
Title: Re: Rifle corps uniforms in China 1860
Post by: carlos marighela on 05 September 2023, 01:54:57 PM
Presuming they were dressed in a similar manner to everyone else in that campaign, it would have been plain serge campaign frock coats and airpipe helmets. Obviously the frock would have been rifle green.
Title: Re: Rifle corps uniforms in China 1860
Post by: juergen c. olk on 05 September 2023, 02:57:11 PM
Carlos is correct
Title: Re: Rifle corps uniforms in China 1860
Post by: EnclavedMicrostate on 05 September 2023, 04:23:20 PM
There's one painting (the accuracy of which I cannot vouch for) depicting the storming of the Taku Forts which shows the men of the 67th Foot wearing shakoes with havelocks while the officers wore airpipes, so it's possible(?) that certain other battalions may have done the same.
Title: Re: Rifle corps uniforms in China 1860
Post by: Siaba on 05 September 2023, 06:52:52 PM
Thank you for your help  :)
If the frock was rifle green. Do you think that the trousers were rifle green too or dark blue. I have the impression that everyone were issued new uniforms for this campaign...
Before going to China, they were stationned in India were they fought during the Mutiny. They would have had time to wear out their old uniforms and get the new ones.
Title: Re: Rifle corps uniforms in China 1860
Post by: EnclavedMicrostate on 06 September 2023, 10:56:28 AM
Funnily enough I have this exact same question, albeit for slightly later, ca. 1864-8. From what I can tell, the 'official' uniform for the eight Rifle battalions (4 of the 60th/KRRC and 4 of the Rifle Brigade) would have mandated green trousers without stripes, unlike the blue-with-red-stripe of the line. That's based on:

1. This image depicting a rifleman of the Rifle Brigade during the Crimean War https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b5/b1/3f/b5b13f1c40dc73bb3c6e4a1cf099fee9.jpg,

2. This image depicting an officer of the Rifle Brigade, marked ca. 1860 https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ec/a3/63/eca36376b7e96681b963ee75e2e2e0c5.jpg,

3. This image depicting an officer and colour-sergeant(?) of the Rifle Brigade ca. 1872, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/60048/60048-h/images/i_474fp.jpg

and

4. This image depicting a KRRC private (with good conduct stripes) ca. 1860. http://www.uniformology.com/BRITREGS/KRRC_-_1860.jpg

The question I sort of have now is whether, for the earlier cuff style, the Rifle Brigade had white piping, or if it was a deliberate highlighting choice by the illustrator and piping would have been black throughout.
Title: Re: Rifle corps uniforms in China 1860
Post by: carlos marighela on 06 September 2023, 12:12:42 PM
Thank you for your help  :)
If the frock was rifle green. Do you think that the trousers were rifle green too or dark blue. I have the impression that everyone were issued new uniforms for this campaign...
Before going to China, they were stationned in India were they fought during the Mutiny. They would have had time to wear out their old uniforms and get the new ones.


My working assumption would be that they wouldn't vary wildly from the official uniform. So, unlike the line regiments who were wearing either Oxford mixture, or, per the 2nd Division, blue trousers, they would be in their usual green.
Title: Re: Rifle corps uniforms in China 1860
Post by: Siaba on 07 September 2023, 12:28:05 PM
Thank you, everybody!
Your help was invaluable  :)