Question- Regarding rank insignia of native officers during the Mutiny?

[WillieB]

Regarding the rank markings of Native officers.

I gather that most NCO's had exactly the same uniforms as the sepoys with additional white chevrons and such.

But how were officers distinguished from each other?

The only colour illustration I have is of a  Subedar- Major (Major) of the 12th BNI and he shows white cuffs( facing colour) with gold lacing, gold epaulettes, gold collar (with again gold lacing) gold double beads and gold headband on his Kilmarnock cap.

But what kind of rank markings would for example a Jemadar (lieutenant) or Subedar (captain) have? Would an ensign be a separate rank or perhaps a lieutenant?

Thank you for any help and I promise that after this I'll just keep on painting and stop pestering you all

[dragonwagon]

The Mutineers shot or tried to shoot their white officers and I don't think that any Indian troops were allowed actual Native  Officers, so as I've been reading; they had no real officers except for their own self elected Nabobs from tribal sources, at least that's my understanding of the mess!!

[WillieB]

The Mutineers shot or tried to shoot their white officers and I don't think that any Indian troops were allowed actual Native  Officers, so as I've been reading; they had no real officers except for their own self elected Nabobs from tribal sources, at least that's my understanding of the mess!!

That would make it easy but alas they had native NCO's and officers.

For the infantry that would be
Lance- Naik
Naik = Corporal
Havildar= Sergeant
Havildar- Major= Sergeant Major

Jemadar = lieutenant
Subedar= Captain
Subedar Major Major.

The higher ranking native officers often wore single or double bands of gold beads around their neck but that wasn't part of the uniform.
The search goes on.

[cdr]

Willie

like you said only 3 ranks of native officers, (Subedar major, subedar and jemadar)
For subedar i have a mention of 2 epaulettes with bullion fringes.

Carl

[WillieB]

Willie

like you said only 3 ranks of native officers, (Subedar major, subedar and jemadar)
For subedar i have a mention of 2 epaulettes with bullion fringes.

Carl

That's a very good benchmark Carl! Thanks very much!

[WillieB]

I got this from a  movie about the rebel Mughal Pandey.
The British officer is obviously wearing just one epaulette and has a gold collar. Facing are blue (correct for the 34th BNI) but what rank would this officer have?


No idea as to the historical accuracy of this film, as for instance the turnbacks on the Sepoy's coatees are blue instead of white, but perhaps at least some items are correct?