The Boxer Rebellion Project, Part 9: 1st Sikh Regiment, Punjab Frontier Force

The former 1st Sikhs, Punjab Frontier Force in 1905. They were redesignated the 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force) in 1903. Note the different ethnic groups by turban; the name of a regiment was the recruiting area (usually) and did not designate the ethnicity of the unit. Ethnicity was usually by company to facilitate logistically the food rations.

I received a three way bonus with this unit! 

1. They fought in the Northwest Frontier Uprisings of 1897 to 1898 - a conflict I already game.

2. They fought in the Boxer Rebellion.

3. The unit has a piper (HUZZAH!).

1st Sikhs, Punjab Frontier Force. Figures by Perry Miniatures.

I'll be the first to admit, this unit (except for the piper) was a rush job. I painted them quickly so I could move onto the Chinese Imperial Army figures I recently purchased from Wargames Foundry. In reviewing the pictures, and as I was painting, I realized that I would need to go back a few touch ups and highlighting to bring them up to my (ahem) gaming distance standards. I love the size of 12 figure Regular Infantry for The Men Who Would be Kings; the game rules I pretty much use exclusively for my Colonial gaming.

British and Sikh officer.

The regiment was raised on 10 December 1846 at Hoshiarpur as the 1st Regiment of Infantry, The Frontier Brigade by Major JS Hodgson. It was composed of Sikhs, Punjabi Muslims, Pathans and Dogras, mostly recruited from the disbanded regiments of the Sikh Empire following the First Anglo-Sikh War. In 1847, it was designated 1st Regiment of Sikh Local Infantry, becoming the 1st Regiment of Sikh Infantry in 1857. 

Havildars (Sergeants) to steady the line.

I need to repaint the chevrons.

In 1851, the regiment became part of the Punjab Irregular Force, which later became famous as the Punjab Frontier Force (PFF) or The Piffers. The Piffers consisted of five regiments of cavalry, eleven regiments of infantry and five batteries of artillery besides the Corps of Guides. Their mission was to maintain order on the Punjab Frontier; a task they performed with great aplomb. The 1st Sikh Infantry took part in numerous frontier operations besides the Second Sikh War of 1848–49 and the Great Indian Mutiny of 1857–58, when it fought in Rohilkhand and Oudh in North India. During the Second Afghan War of 1878–80, the regiment took part in the capture of Ali Masjid and the advance to Jalalabad. It also performed operations during the NW Frontier uprising in 1897-1898. In 1900, it went to China to suppress the Boxer Rebellion.

Piper Khan.

The British (you know I mean the Scottish Regiments!) used bagpipes in their army bands and  introduced the instrument to India in the 19th century. The Indian military style of bagpipe-playing, which is sonorous and set to Scottish tunes, draws directly from this tradition.

"Frontier Force". Left to right: 59th Scinde Rifles, Piper of 51st Sikhs (1st Sikhs of our period) and 56th Punjabi Rifles. Watercolour by Major AC Lovett, 1910. Even though the bagpipe illustrated is green, I decided to give mine a tartan pattern.

Bugler. Yep, I need to clean up the figures a bit.

When the Boxer Rebellion broke out in 1900, the British, as part of the 8 Nations Alliance, was hard pressed to provide troops as it was heavily committed to the Boer War in South Africa. As a result, the overwhelming majority of troops came from the Indian Army, including the 1st Sikhs, PFF. On the tabletop, the Khaki uniforms will look great alongside the blue of Japan, the white of sailors, US Marines and US Army, etc.

Sepoys.

"Looking a bit sloppy Major!"

The above officer figure will be perfect for The Men Who Would be Kings. Leadership and Leadership Traits are rolled for each officer and if the Leadership Traits "Drunkard" or "The gentleman has a bottle" is rolled, this will be the officer figure used as a reminder. Believe it or not, he is holding a canteen which definitely needs to be repainted! Not only that, I forgot to paint his mustache. Quite.