Question about the Indian Mutiny and the Gurkha regiments

[WillieB]

Was any of the Gurkha units (Sirmoor for example) equipped with the Brunswick rifle during the Indian Mutiny? And if yes all of them or just the flanking companies like the regular Britsh units?
Thanks for any help!

[sjwalker51]

I can't answer the question with any degree of certainty, but I know a man who can: take a look at Mike Snook's 'Iron Duke' website where you'll find plenty of information, and if you don't find what you need to know there, pop over to the Victorian Wars Forum, where I'm sure I remember a thread discussing exactly this question - what units were equipped with what type of firearm during the Mutiny.

Hope these leads help!

Simon

[WillieB]

Good advice.
According to Mike Snook's site they were equipped with a short P1842 musket.
Osprey says Brunswick rifles, but I'm more inclined to go with Col. Snook's expertise.

[sjwalker51]

So would I.

Can't copy/paste the link for some reason but the very informative thread in the Indian Mutiny section of the Victorian War forum (called 'Who carried what...' and started by me) is well worth reading as well - just goes to show how much relatively recent history is still open to debate and discussion. You'd think it would be relatively easy to find out when a particular British or Imperial unit changed weapons but that's not always as well recorded as you might assume!

[WillieB]

So would I.

Can't copy/paste the link for some reason but the very informative thread in the Indian Mutiny section of the Victorian War forum (called 'Who carried what...' and started by me) is well worth reading as well - just goes to show how much relatively recent history is still open to debate and discussion. You'd think it would be relatively easy to find out when a particular British or Imperial unit changed weapons but that's not always as well recorded as you might assume!

Just found your thread and by now I'm absolutely convinced that the Gurkha regiments carried the shortened P1842.
Still, according to this same thread, I'll be able to press gang some green clad rifle company mutineers or loyal sepoys into my core armies for SP2

[sjwalker51]

Great minds think alike. I've got the Mutineer Miniatures Gurkhas and Sepoy Light Company which are certainly 'good enough' but I suspect the Iron Duke ones will be even better, albeit a bit far down the line right now.