7th and 8th Xhosa wars British questions

[glenning]

I'm having a hard time finding any info on the forage caps worn by the Royal regiments during the 1840's and early 50's- did they differ from regiment to regiment or were there a standard one for Royal regiments?

I'm thinking about painting my troops as either Royal Warwickshire Regiment or 2nd Queen's Royal Regiment  - dark blue cuffs and black collars, is that correct? Or should it be dark blue collars?

The Osprey book "The British Army on Campaign (1) mentions Home Service trousers initially being worn by the 2nd and later "replaced by fresh red ones made locally" - but I guess other shades (like the ones worn by other units) like white, buff, tan etc. also occured?

Thanks in advance!

[carlos marighela]

That Osprey plate depicts a soldier wearing a red night cap.  There are examples of forage caps in the other plates.

Forage caps for the period were principally of the broad crowned variety and came in either blue or green (for Rifle Regiments), although the pork pie type became increasingly common. At any rate both patterns soldiered on for some time. When they were first issued, they had a band that matched the facing colour of the regiment concerned or red if it was a Royal regiment. By the 1840s they were mostly issued in plain blue or green, with no other distinction save for maybe a regiment cap badge. There were exceptions, some regiments still wore the older style caps with coloured band and Highland Regiments wore diced bands on them.

From the mid 1830s forage caps were authorised to be worn with peaks for soldiers in hot climates. They are frequently depicted with white cotton covers in India and the very occasional black oilskin cover (there's an illustration of an example at the back of that book). In South Africa they frequently had a rear peak as well, kind of mirroring the Albert shako and as depicted in the Empress Orange River range. Covers don't seen to have been worn much in South Africa.

As for nether wear, the exigencies of campaigning anywhere, miles from regimental stores meant that substitute items would appear and lots of patching took place in contrasting materials and colours. Again the Osprey has a good set of first hand accounts of the variety worn.

[glenning]

Ah yes, I know it's a night cap - can't seem to find any good plates or surviving examples of blue or "Royal" forage caps though.

The Perry ones here looks black instead of blue or green - are these supposed to be the oilskins covers as mentioned, was that a thing with the 27th?

Anyway, thanks in advance!

[carlos marighela]

No, it's probably just a depiction of a very dark blue although officers' peaked forage caps were actually black. The oilskin coverwould  cover the whole cap, including the band, which is clearly visible on those Perry figures.

[glenning]

Thanks! Any of surviving or reproduction forage caps and shell jackets?

Also, are there any good plates in the Perry Cape Frontier Wqrs book?

[carlos marighela]

Don't have the Perry book, sorry.

[glenning]

Oh ok - where can I find photos of reproduction forage caps and shell jackets - or even better, surviving examples?

[carlos marighela]

Google is your friend....

https://corpsutler.com/product/1840s-1860s-british-forage-cap-navy-blue/

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3914230268634224&id=1760505767340029&set=a.1760949223962350

[glenning]

I googled but didn't quite find what I was looking for - anyway, thanks - it's always fun to help each other out and discuss here on the forum...