Perry Sudan: Wounded British figures & Heliograph

[Major Weenie]

Just purchased the two packs and was wondering if ALL the figures should be in the Sudan white/grey?

Or if some of them could be in other colors?

Perhaps medical? or engineering uniforms ?

Just wondering,
MW

[Plynkes]

It depends which campaign you are representing. In the first (1884) Suakin campaign the troops that had been diverted on their way home from India wore khaki. In the second (1885) Suakin campaign, almost everybody was in khaki, after an initial period when some may have still been in the grey. So if your enemies are coastal Beja rather than the Mahdists of the Nile region, large amounts of khaki can be easily justified.


But in campaigns where almost everybody had been issued the grey serge uniforms (such as the Nile and Desert columns), I think the troops in support roles would have been wearing it too.

[Major Weenie]

Thanks,

I was hoping that other ranks could be in the grey, but that some of the officers could be in something bit different.

Ah well...

[Plynkes]

Well officers could wear what they liked within reason and regulations. Artwork shows some officers in blue patrol jackets and such, but I haven't seen any photos showing this, so that could be artistic licence. The problem with khaki uniforms being worn by officers commanding men in the grey serge is that they probably wouldn't own a khaki uniform, unless they had taken the trouble to have one made privately. It was the first time most of those units wore anything other than British scarlet.

There is a group photo of officers of the Adjutant General's and Quatermaster General's departments at Suakin in 1885. They are all are in khaki/grey uniform worn on that campaign except one, who is still in a scarlet jacket (with tartan trews). So I don't think it is entirely outside the bounds of possibility to have the odd fellow here and there ignoring the general orders for campaign dress, if you want to mix things up a bit.