2nd Shropshire Volunteer Rifle Corps...The King's Shropshire Light Infantry

In the early 1880's the The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (formed from the 53rd & the 85th Regiments of Foot) were involved in some of Victorian Britain's numerous overseas adventures;

1882 - Egypt, defence of Alexandria, capture of Kafr Dowar and Damietta, Malta

1885 - Suakin, Cyprus and Egypt

Some of their history can be found here and here

An interesting sketch from 1885...

The sketch above is titled NIGHT ALARM SUAKIN 1885...

Also the 85th lad's were involved in other Colonial affairs too;

1868-78 - On service in India.

1879-80 - Campaigning in the Second Afghan War

1881 - On the Natal frontier, South Africa

Some of their exploits can be seen here, too.

They must have looked something similar to these chaps...

Here they are the 85th in Peiwar Kotal, Afghanistan in 1879...

Therefore with the growing need of a little versatility, some imagination...and the requirement to train my eyes to follow both my paint brush and minds eye...my eager Victorian gents have been sent to the Sudan with the wrong kit...

The No.2 company has been issued with the 2nd Shropshire Volunteer Rifle Corps uniform instead of the Serge Grey...so someone's in hot water...the 'Colonel' will hear about this...

After a major recruitment campaign - the Volunteer Rifle Corps formed ready for home service...

Only to find themselves off fighting the Dervishes...

I took the idea from the images for the 2nd Shropshire Volunteer Rifle Corps 1896 from Military Modelling April 1989 edition...

And the Shropshire regimental museum...see the link here

...although the black lace and facings did not seem to do justice to the figures - so the company sent out to the Sudan have been issued with the 1881 trial (Dunc's Taylor's & Son's Co. to his highness the Duke of Berlin) uniform of white lace and facings...

Naturally they have been brigaded with the chaps from the KRRC...

The figures are from the lovely Qualiticast Miniatures - Zulu War range..now 'apparently' defunct!

However, Qualiticast Miniatures are listed here; if they would just answer an order request...would be nice!

Does anyone know if they are taking orders...or if they are also out of business...anyone speak Italian? Anyone...!!

The only question now is - back to work or back to the paint table...

Greetings from a sunny (snow covered) Berlin.

Next up - Sudanese Lancers...

Suakin Field Force 1884 – 1885

A great colour plate in Military Modelling supported by an article by Michael Barthorp.

Figure 1 – Corporal 1st York and Lancaster Regt, in Khaki drill warn with puttees (first adopted during the 2nd Afghan War) and khaki cover for his white helmet; another Indian practice.

Figure 2 - Private of the Black Watch 1884 in Serge Grey.

Figure 3 – Private of the 3rd Grenadier Guards in his ‘English’ khaki. His white helmet is stained and he wears his battalion badge on his puggaree.

Figure 4 – Sergeant of the 10th Hussars, from one of the Indian garrisons. This is based on a painting of the 10th’s charge at El Teb by G. D. Giles, who was attached to the 10th at the time.

Figure 5 – Mounted Infantryman in Bedford cord pantaloons, blue puttees, ankle boots with spurs. The frock coat colour depended on the men’s parent regiment.

Figure 6 – A private of the 19th Hussars in grey serge frock and Bedford cord pantaloons worn with home service knee boots

Figure 7 – Indian Officer of the 15th Sikhs

Figure 8 – Royal Marines Light Infantry with stained helmet and equipment. Although, Count Gleichen who accompanied the Camel Corps up the Nile observed the arrival of the RMLI company with “snowy-white” helmets and belts and pouches “freshly piped-clayed”.

The image was taken from the December 1984 edition of Military Modelling.

I hope you find the information useful.