The 1st Madras Pioneers

"Sarvatra!" (Everywhere!)

My next unit for The Men Who Would be Kings is the 1st Madras Pioneers. The regiment took part in the Carnatic Wars in 1746–1763 and then the Third Anglo-Mysore War. In the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War they took part in the Battle of Seedaseer, the Battle of Seringapatam, the Battle of Nagpore, the Battle of Ava. They were next in action during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 in the Central India Campaign. Their next campaigns were outside India when they took part in the Second Afghan War, the Second Burmese War and the Boxer Rebellion. During World War I they were part of the 9th (Secunderabad) Division in the 27th Bangalore Brigade. This brigade served away from its parent division and served in British East Africa as part of the Indian Expeditionary Force B. After returning to India they took part in the Third Afghan War.

After World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments. In 1922, the 61st Pioneers now became the 1st Battalion 1st Madras Pioneers, which was disbanded in 1933. 

Yikes! I've got to fix the paint on the flag pole!

Lineage

• 1st Battalion Coast Sepoys - 1758
• 1st Carnatic Battalion - 1769
• 1st Madras Battalion - 1784
• 1st Battalion, 1st Madras Native Infantry - 1796
• 1st Madras Native Infantry - 1824
• 1st Madras Native Infantry (Pioneers) - 1883
• 1st Madras Infantry (Pioneers) - 1885
• 1st Madras Pioneers - 1901
• 61st Madras Pioneers - 1903
• 61st Prince of Wales's Own Pioneers - 1906
• 61st King George's Own Pioneers - 1910
  
  

Of course the 1st Madras Pioneers will be taking to the tabletop using the rules The Men Who Would be Kings! The 1st Madras will find themselves in the 2nd Afghan War, the fictional Anglo - Russian War, and anywhere else the Empire needs them. The figures are Perry Miniatures and are from packs VLW 32 Bombay Infantry Command, 2nd Afghan War, VLW 33 Bombay Infantry advancing, 2nd Afghan War, and the mounted officer is from VLW 13 Jacob's Rifles Command.

By swapping out the flag stand, they are now the 2nd (Thundering Herd) Regiment of the fictional Princely state of Chaimbellistan. I fudged the flag a bit when gluing,  but I am proud (humble, aren't I?) of the elephant I painted!

Yep, painted two elephants decently!

To make them look more like an engineering unit, I added mainly leftover hard plastic axes from the Gripping Beast Viking Hirdmen box and some odds and ends I've collected over the years. Save those bits!

"Good job lads! You have built another fine bridge!" When the 1st Madras Pioneers are performing engineering tasks on the tabletop, I will add the little vignette of tools and materials next to the unit.

Not only can they fight as infantry, but the 1st Madras Pioneers will be performing engineering tasks from time to time on the table top. I plan on using rules similar to the "bridge building" rules from Scenario G: Widow Creek Bridge found in Rebels and Patriots on pages 47 - 48. Having capabilities like this adds new and fun dimensions to scenarios and can make the game very interesting.

I had to give the Havildar (Sergeant) an axe! I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley.

Off to the next mission.