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Subject: Quartermaster Uniform Thu Oct 20, 2016 8:44 am
Hi all, first question from a new member. I am in the midst of painting a 28mm british army by BTD, and am stuck on decent info on the quatermaster uniform. A kindly soul on a wargaming forum advised:
"Quartermasters definitely no red stripe (on trousers) ! Should be a double white stripe, and white edging around the collar"
and all dark blue uniform. Would appreciate further comment and/or links to plates ?
Many thanks all
Chard1879
Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12
Subject: Re: Quartermaster Uniform Fri Oct 21, 2016 8:14 am
I always thought it was a single red stripe.
John Young
Posts : 2244 Join date : 2013-09-08 Age : 65 Location : Lower Sheering, Essex
Subject: Re: Quartermaster Uniform Fri Oct 21, 2016 6:04 pm
London calling,
Are you looking for information on line infantry? If so the Quartermaster would be dressed as an officer but with black leather sword belt and slings. The rank insignia would reflect the honorary rank that they held.
I think that the other advice you have received erroneously relates to officers of the Commissariat & Transport Department. The Quartermaster of 17th Lancers would have worn a white collar and double white stripes, but there was no mistaking him as he also wore a Victoria Cross!
If you need any further advice please ask, in the meantime I will look at BTD's site and recommend an appropriate figure.
John Y.
Kenny
Posts : 441 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon
Subject: Re: Quartermaster Uniform Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:03 am
John - does he mean commissioned Quartermaster or Quartermaster Sergeant?
John Young
Posts : 2244 Join date : 2013-09-08 Age : 65 Location : Lower Sheering, Essex
Subject: Re: Quartermaster Uniform Sat Oct 22, 2016 1:19 am
Kenny,
I assumed Quartermaster.
John Y.
londoncalling
Posts : 7 Join date : 2016-10-18
Subject: Re: Quartermaster Uniform Sat Oct 22, 2016 1:24 pm
Thank you for responses to date.
So the objective is I am building Zulu and British wargames armies in 28mm, and for those who may be familiar I am using Black Tree Design minis primarily (they do 8/9 QMs that I have). So I am pretty much limited to the sculpts and designs provided.
I am looking at infantry QMs, if the figures have ranks sculpted on them, then I can paint appropriately, but painting lacing freehand neatly at that scale is not easy if missing.
I do have Osprey books which have lots of holes hence the cry for help :)
londoncalling
Posts : 7 Join date : 2016-10-18
Subject: Re: Quartermaster Uniform Mon Nov 14, 2016 7:52 pm
Ok all, I am really struggling here. I have the osprey books, and my web searches are letting me down.
So the BTD QM figures have sergeants chevrons, so my questions are colours of... chevrons - gold ? waist belt - maybe off white on active duty ? waist pouches - as above ? cuff lacing cuff facing colour - ie if these were for the 24th would these also be in green collar - facings ? if yes, just a small tab or the whole collar ? shoulder tabs - are these piped ? hanger - brass or steel guard in steel or or black/brown scabbard ?
A lot of questions but am yet to find clear answesr on these.
Many thanks in advance
John Young
Posts : 2244 Join date : 2013-09-08 Age : 65 Location : Lower Sheering, Essex
Subject: Re: Quartermaster Uniform Mon Nov 14, 2016 10:46 pm
Londoncalling,
If they have rank chevrons then they are depicting Quartermaster-Sergeants rather than Quartermasters.
QMS's would have worn four gold chevrons just above the trefoil knot on the right sleeve for line infantry. The rank was worn on both sleeves in the 13th LI, 21st RSF, 90th LI & 91st Highlanders. The same applied the 60th Rifles but the chevrons were red.
They would worn a Staff-Sergeant's sword from buff sword belt. The scabbard was steel.
In full-dress the trefoil would have been gold, I will check about those worn the frock.
On 1874 frock the facing colour on the collar was a small tab. The cuff would have also displayed the facing colour. There are photographs from campaign which show some cuffs are devoid of any facing colour.
Shoulder boards were edged with white piping.
John Y.
xhosa2000
Posts : 1189 Join date : 2015-11-24
Subject: Re: Quartermaster Uniform Tue Nov 15, 2016 12:29 am
Not a QM.. but a plate from a pleasing book, The Thin Red Line by the Fosten's. not a good scan but show's detail.
Posts : 2244 Join date : 2013-09-08 Age : 65 Location : Lower Sheering, Essex
Subject: Re: Quartermaster Uniform Tue Nov 15, 2016 5:34 am
Les,
Thanks for that, londoncalling look at the top left figure of the Sergeant-Major, apart from the crown above his chevrons that is what your figure should look like.
That said there are a couple of errors in the illustration. The patrol jacket did not have bosses on the braiding - only Rifle Regiments had that. The Colour-Sergeant - centre left - is wearing the wrong rank insignia for the five-button frock. In that order of dress the insignia was abbreviated to a crown above three gold chevrons, with no crossed flags.
John Y.
cetewayo
Posts : 24 Join date : 2012-05-30 Location : United States
Subject: Re: Quartermaster Uniform Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:24 pm
The book "Zulu: Isandlwana and Rork's Drift" by Ian Knight (the big silver book) has a good color plate of a quartermaster sergeant in the same uniform as the BTD figures.