My (Semi) Historical Late 19th Century Indian Army (Part Two)

Yeah I know - it's been awhile. The good news is that the last of the big move is kinda, sorta over so it's time to get back to the serious business of miniatures, painting and gaming!

I'm a big Dave Mersey fan (and a fan of the Osprey 64 page rule books - more on that later!) and my choice for gaming Colonial conflicts from approximately 1850 to 1914 is The Men Who Would be Kings. Based on the popular Knight Rampant, I love the approach that allows me to tailor the scenarios and forces in a realistic manner without getting bogged down in too many charts and mechanics. In addition, it's fun, fast playing, and allows me to have a "Hollywood" type of game!

As I started building my Indian Army, I did not have a particular table of organization (TO&E) or conflict in mind; I was picking units that I thought looked cool. As the force slowly took shape, I started focusing on the Northwest Uprising of 1897 - 1898 and still decided to pick units that looked cool! So don't expect to see the actual Indian Army forces organized by the historical TO&E when the uprising starts. As I mentioned in my last outing, here's what's up:

1. Picking units because they look cool!

2. A controversy of color.

3. Turbans!

Jacob's Rifles

Okay, this unit is outside of the period that I am aiming for - but WHO CARES! Who doesn't want a unit of green turbans and red pants to break up the monotony of khaki? My next unit for the British Indian Army, using the rules The Men Who Would be Kings are the 130th King George's Own Baluchis (Jacob's Rifles) which was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army raised in June 1858 as the 1st Belooch Rifles; re-designated as 1st Regiment Jacob's Rifles in September. It was designated as 130th Jacob's Baluchis in 1903 becoming the 5th Battalion (King George's Own) 10th Baluch Regiment (Jacob's Rifles) in 1922. In 1947, it was allotted to Pakistani Army, where it continues to exist as 12th Battalion of The Baloch Regiment.

The figures are from Perry Miniatures listed as Jacob's Rifles in their "Victoria's Little Wars" section. The nice thing about this particular figure range is that the Jacob's Rifles figures can be painted as numerous other Indian Regiments. Though my painting interpretation dates from the 2nd Afghan War, there are several primary sources that have stated that the unit continued to wear their green turbans and red pants in the field in the 1890's - and of course there are primary sources that say they didn't! Mine do.

"Sarvatra!" (Everywhere!)

Turbans!!! Most infantry units by the late 19th Century were wearing Khaki turbans. Not so the 1st Madras Pioneers which were also expected to fight as infantry. When I saw primary source photo's and illustrations, to include modern artwork, I knew I had to give the turbans a go. The nice thing about painting turbans you don't have to worry about getting all of the lines exactly straight because you are dealing with folds of fabric and they wouldn't look straight anyway. 

Since I had some extra command figures I did an elephant flag too in order for them to represent the fictional 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! 

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 VL 1W3 Jacob's Rifles Command.

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.

"Ran Vir Jai Sada!"

Speaking of turbans, 99.99% of the Indian cavalry were still wearing their colorful turbans in the 1890's. These nice figures from Artizan Designs are painted as the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry which has a long and distinguished history. I decided to model them as D Squadron which was composed of Jat Sikhs. I based them using the alternative basing method of 3, 2, 1 with a total of 8 figures for a Regular Cavalry unit.

Take that you bandits!

The motto of the regiment is ‘रण वीर जय सदा’ (Ran Vir Jai Sada); which translates to "The gallant warrior, ever victorious".

Next in Part 3:

1.The Great Indian Army GW Contrast Paint Field Study.

2. Lancers rule!

3. Conversions.