The 21st Imperial Russian Frontier Guard Company

 

The 21st Imperial Russian Frontier Guard Company

First of all, researching uniforms, flags, etc. of the Russian Imperial Army of the late 19th to early 20th Century was a little harder than I thought. There is some good material out there in English on the Russo-Japanese War but most of the good stuff on uniforms and flags is in Russian. (I don't speak or read Russian). 

"I say Charlie, all of their material is in Russian. Not very sporting of them again!"

"Yes sir."

With this being a new period for me (and quite ignorant about) I want to give a good shout out to those groups who have been of great assistance in helping me with my research and questions (especially the Russian members and those that know Russian):

Facebook Groups: Colonial Gaming, Colonial Wargaming, Historical Wargaming Miniatures, and The Men Who Would be Kings Fan Group.

Lead Adventure Forum: Colonial Adventures and Back of Beyond (especially cuprum and Mark Plant for their assistance with Russian Flags).

"Captain, you're men are filthy!"

"Yes General. Men filthy and rifles clean."

"Captain, you are definitely the man for the job."*

The Frontier Guards were company sized units that were a border patrol force which also performed internal police duties in distant provinces. They were recruited from veterans who had already completed their Army service. In addition they received a higher rate of pay and had better conditions than their counterparts in the Imperial Army. Needless to say, they had a better class of soldier and were among the most capable and well-trained of all Russian Troops and had a fearsome reputation for bravery. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, Japanese admiration, and frustration with the tough resistance and fighting abilities of the Frontier Guards is indicated by a quote from an unknown Japanese officer: "Make no prisoners of green uniforms; kill them without mercy.

The Frontier Company also had a unique uniform that was different from the rest of the Imperial forces. They wore a dark green jacket and light green shoulder pads, collar pads, collar patches, piping and pointed cuff braid. My eyes are not that good to attempt the collar pads, collar patches and piping on the collar of these 28mm figures from Copplestone Castings; but, I did do the easier shoulder pads and pointed cuff braid. There is also supposed to be the Company number on the shoulder patches - nope, not going to try it. I might find some number decals later.

The uniform pants were grey-blue without any piping and are tuck into boots if available. If not, puttees were used in various shades of khaki. 

On campaign uniform resupply could be haphazard, so the items from the regular Imperial Army would be issued or "acquired". To build my Frontier Guard Company, I used the Copplestone Castings pack "Ragged White Russians" which I feel gives a good luck to a tough, frontier fighting unit. I painted all of the figures with the grey-blue pants but mixed up the shirts to show a unit that has done some hard fighting. There seems to have been no standard hat worn in the field as I have seen numerous photographs and sketches of Frontier Guards wearing a variety of headgear.

From left to right: Starshiy unter ofitser (sergeant), standard bearer, and Kapitan (captain).

I honestly have no idea if the Frontier Guard Companies had flags due to conflicting evidence and problems of translation. But heck, I like flags so my Company is going to carry one. Plus the standard bearer would look silly on the table without one.

Капитан Кароль Егоров (Captain Karol Agorov). The old man. The men trust him emphatically. He wears a privately purchased overcoat and his cap is based on one in the Central Armed Forces Museum of the Russian Federation in Moscow.

Сержант Онисим Зайцев (Sergeant Onisim Zaytsev). Nicknamed (but not to his face) Папа (Papa) by the men. 

Капрал Митя Ильин (Corporal Mitya Illin). You need it, he'll find it.

Младший капрал Иван Волков (Lance Corporal Ivan Volkov). The beard is not regulation. I'm not telling him, you tell him.

One of the interesting items I discovered with my research (interesting to me anyway) is that the enlisted ranks' greatcoat has a separate hood that could be worn as a hood or detached and wrapped around as a scarf.

"Got him!"

The 21st Frontier Guard Company will be one of the stalwarts of my Russian Field Force using the Rules The Men Who Would be Kings. They will be Regular Infantry (6 points) and Fierce (Fight becomes 4+) for a total of 7 points.

отвага, отвага, доблесть (Courage, Bravery Valor)

*With apologies to Bernard Cornwell.