Friday 30 May 2014

...and on a roll - Bengal/Bombay infantry for the Sudan

I've managed to plough on and complete these fellows in just a few days. These represent either the 17th ('the Loyal Poorbeah') Bengal Infantry or 28th Bombay Infantry that saw service in Sudan from 1885. They wear khaki drill with brown leather equipment and canvas leggings. As usual for British Indian Army regiments, they carried a rifle one generation behind their British counterparts, the Snider-Enfield rather than the .45in Martini-Henry.   



These are the largest Anglo-Egyptian unit that I've painted so far and except for officer, were completed as one batch. Sizeable batches don't come naturally to me but it is great to have a decent sized unit complete as one, particularly as matching the khaki uniform may wellhave been a pain



They were purchased on a whim at a good price on eBay and as such don't quite fit with the rest of my Sudan collection. Having arrived in 1885 and fought in the second Suakin campaign, they don't sit comfortably alongside my British units in grey serge rather than khaki drill and Beja retaining their distinctive hairstyle, which had mostly been abandoned in favour of Arab headgear by 1885. Alas, many of you will know that I'm not one for worrying overly much about such details!



Three Indian regiments fought at Hashin and Tofrek in March 1885. The 17th Bengal infantry did end their campaign gloriously - at Tofrek they were overwhelmed and routed by a sudden Beja assault. This led to confused hand-to-hand fighting between Beja warriors and the Berkshire Regiment within a part-finished zariba. The 15th Bengal (Sikh) infantry and 28th Bombay infantry fared better at Tofrek, described in Go Strong into the Desert as 'the epitome of steadiness'.


In game, they will be as British units, but with slightly worse morale: in Black Powder, for example I probably wouldn't give them the benefit of Steady.









12 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks both, I'm rather pleased with them

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  2. Great painting! Excellent basing too!

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    1. Cheers Ray - the sabot bases are comin out pretty well

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  3. Beautiful work, a great looking unit!

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  4. Great work Phil, I look forward to seeing these fellows on the table.
    Cheers
    Stu

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    Replies
    1. Soon, soon :-) a campaign even, time permitting.

      How long have I been saying that for?

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  5. Got to love those impulse Ebay scores. Great work Phil! Good on you for sticking with it and getting the unit completed. Feels good, don't it?

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    1. Aye it's worthwhile. I've just two minis in my current batch - feels strange. A bit too small really but should have them done and onto the next in a few days.

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