The 2nd Battalion, 60th Rifles

The King's Royal Rifle Corps was raised in the American colonies in 1756 as the 62nd (Royal American) Regiment to defend the thirteen colonies against attack by the French and their Native American allies. After Braddock's defeat in 1755, royal approval for a new regiment, as well as funds, were granted by parliament just before Christmas 1755 – hence the regiment's traditional birthday of Christmas Day. However, parliamentary delays meant that it was 4 March 1756 before a special act of parliament created four battalions of 1,000 men each to include foreigners for service in the Americas.

Two additional battalions of the regiment (the 3rd and 4th battalions) were raised in England in 1775, principally of men recruited from England and Hanover in 1775 for service in the American Revolutionary War. After assembly in the Isle of Wight, both battalions were sent in 1776 to Florida where they were joined by detachments from 1st and 2nd Battalions. These battalions were deployed to Georgia and were involved in skirmishes at Sudbury in January 1779, the Battle of Briar Creek in March 1779, the Siege of Savannah in October 1779 where elements from the 4th Battalion captured the Colour of the 2nd South Carolina Regiment, and at Augusta in September 1780. The 3rd and 4th battalions were disbanded in June 1783.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment saw action in the Peninsular War. The first four battalions had been raised as regular line battalions, but in 1797 a 5th battalion had been raised at Cowes on the Isle of Wight and equipped entirely with the Baker rifle, and wore green jackets with red facings. The mixing of rifle troops and muskets proved so effective that eventually line battalion light companies were replaced with rifle companies. The line battalions found themselves in several different theaters, including the West Indies. The rifle battalion was soon joined by a second, and these found themselves in the Peninsula with Wellington's army, serving along with the 95th Rifles, and the King's German Legion rifle units. A 7th battalion was eventually raised as a rifle battalion specifically for service in the American War of 1812.

After the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment received a new title: first, in 1815, its name was changed to The Duke of York's Own Rifle Corps and then, in 1830, to the King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC). In 1858, the Rifle Depot at Winchester was made their headquarters. The regiment served in the Anglo-Egyptian War in 1882. During the rest of the 1800s, the unit also was active in China, Canada (Wolseley expedition), Afghanistan, India, Burma and South Africa. The regiment was deployed during the Second Boer War from the outset playing a key role in the first battle at Talana Hill. Two officers from the regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross; Lieutenant Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts and Lieutenant Llewelyn Alberic Emilius Price-Davies.  Private Frederick Corbett also received the Victoria Cross for his action at Kafr Dowar, Egypt, on 5 August 1882; his VC was later rescinded when he was convicted of embezzlement, theft, and being absent without leave.

Naval Brigade in the Sudan

Within the Royal Navy, a naval brigade is a large temporary detachment of Royal Marines and of seamen from the Royal Navy formed to undertake operations on shore, particularly during the mid- to late-19th century. Seamen were specifically trained in land-based warfare at the gunnery school at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth.

In the Sudan theater the Naval Brigade fought in the following campaigns:

• the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War
• the Anglo-Sudanese War (1884–5)

 If you get tired of all of the khaki and grey - just add some blue jackets to your field force.

Naval Brigade miniatures by Perry Miniatures from their Sudan range.

Gordons Then and Gordons Now

One of the great treasures of the digital age for me is to compare how my painting style has changed over the years.  I have painted the Gordon Highlanders several times:  In 15mm for the Napoleonic Wars, in 28mm for the Napoleonic Wars, in 28mm for the Sudan and most recently in 28mm for the Northwest Frontier.  Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the unit I painted in 15mm as I sold my 15mm Napoleonic Army in the early 2000's but I do have pictures of the others:

The Gordon's I painted for the Napoleonic Wars.  Later I discovered I used the wrong kilt as a pattern.  Oh well. They still fought just as well on the tabletop.  Figures are Wargames Foundry except for the Ensign who is from Front Rank.

After I realized my mistake I renamed them the 79th Cameron Highlanders.  I think I painted these figures in 2004.

The 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders painted for the Sudan.  Figures by Perry Miniatures.

 Figures were painted in March 2014.

 The 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders painted for the Northwest Frontier.  Command figures from Perry Miniatures and the rank and file from Artizan Designs.

 Figures were finished in September 2016.

1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders

   After much delay I have finally finished the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders from Perry Miniatures.  Much of the inspiration of the painting and basing comes from the blog Lonely Gamers.  Bases are plastic 40mm x 40mm from Games Workshop.  The sand is model railroad sand and the static grass is from Gale Force Nine.

   The Gordon Highlanders were one of the British Army's most celebrated regiments. It was the local regiment of the North East of Scotland, first raised in 1794 by the Duke of Gordon who was assisted by the Duchess. It was said she offered a kiss as an incentive to join up.

 Always known as the Gordon Highlanders, the Regiment was officially designated the 100th Regiment of foot, becoming in 1798 the 92nd Regiment of foot; the numbering with which it has since been associated.  

   The 1st battalion of the Gordons was sent to Sudan, and was issued grey wool jackets, which were worn throughout the campaign.  This was the uniform worn by the Gordons at the Battles of El Teb, and Tamai in 1884.

 

 

   There were seven companies at Tamai, and they formed the left side and front corner of General Buller's square. Their "machine -like" volleys of gun fire were one of the main reasons that the pressure was relieved on the second British square which had been broken by the Dervish onslaught.

 

 

   At Kirbekan, 10th February 1885, only Captain Ian Hamilton's D Company was present in the last desperate attempt to relieve Gen. Charles Gordon in Khartoum.  

   At the close of 1885 the regiment returned to Egypt for a rest and was then reassigned to duty at Malta.

 

 

Perry Platic Ansar for the Sudan almost here!

Michael Perry of Perry Miniatures writes:

The plastic Mahdist Ansar are almost here! So if you like, you can pre-order them. They will be available mid-late July.

The box contains 40 Mahdist Ansar, who fought the Eygptians and British between 1881-1885. They include command, six flags, info and painting guide, plus sand-colored unit bases. They're designed to be assembled as Beja tribesmen ('Fuzzy Wuzzies', early or late war) or the Kordofan and Nile Arabs, although customers might be able to use them for other Northern African peoples.

Heads and arms are separate, as are shields. There are options for rifleman as well as spears, sword and 'throw-stick' arms.

They are hard-plastic 28mm.

Plastic Mahdists Coming from the Perry's!

Oh be still my beating heart:

Michael Perry of Perry Miniatures writes: The plastic Sudanese Tribesmen will be ready for July this year. Sorry about the delay, but that was down to me not quite finishing the command in time to get them in the queue for tooling earlier.

There will be 44 in the box, and they can be put together as early- or late-war Bija (Fuzzy Wuzzies), Kordorfani tribesmen, or Nile Arabs.