Trousers and their variances in contemporary paintings

Posts : 15 Join date : 2017-08-04 Location : Leigh, Kent

What was the official colour of the trousers supplied to the men, particularly the 1/24th? I see contemporary paintings and indeed models showing men wearing a much lighter shade of blue than those depicted in the painting of Fripp. With Fripp, even allowing for some creative licence, he was on the spot for the later stages of the war able to view what the soldiers of the day were wearing and therefore is his depiction of the 24th more reliable than those of modern painters with his men wearing much darker trousers and with their accoutrements much more worn, stained from being on campaign?

Which is right? Is it the trousers shown by Fripp or maybe the worn, faded lighter blue as depicted by Scollins in James Bancroft's book on Rorkes Drift, or is it something in between? I do understand that Fripp's painting wasn't completed for another five/six years but he did have preliminary sketches, so the passage of time shouldn't be an issue.

Anyway, look forward to any of your thoughts on trousers!

This is going to be absolutely no help to what so ever but the official colour was (if I recall right) 'Oxford mixture' (very dark blue, almost black from a distance, similar the Guards trousers today)

That said, I have spent many years painting wargames figures and no soldier on campaign looked like what the 'home service' soldiers looked like.

It really depends on what you want to know the colour for - there is a tend to be realistic in painting - whereby the subjects are show tatty and campaign worn but there is still the traditional idea, where subjects are painted in regulation issue uniforms and anything in between.

In the Napoleonic period, the famous redcoat faded to brick red (in the peninsula) but newer drafts would have been in a more regulation colour), webbing went 'pink' and trousers were 'local' ones.

There is a famous sketch on a couple of the 24th on campaign, one of which is wearing local 'boer' type hat.

Fripp has painted the pith helmet stained but the rest looks like QRs.

Told yer it would be no help...... Very Happy

Posts : 15 Join date : 2017-08-04 Location : Leigh, Kent

I think that's useful. Thank you.

Hi Roselier
The 1/ 24th had been in Sth Africa since 1875 , their uniforms would've been quite faded and worn they had been marching all over the country for 4 years before the start of the AZW , the 2/ 24th on the other hand arrived in 1878 their uniforms would've been in better condition . There are a couple of excellent but expensive books which feature paintings of those who were on Campaign , these books show the artwork of Chelmsford's secretary Jay North Crealock , and Lt William Whitelock Lloyd , these works show the condition of the uniforms during the war .
90th

Posts : 15 Join date : 2017-08-04 Location : Leigh, Kent

Thank you. I have seen the picture of the cook by Whitelock Lloyd but had never really visited Crealock's paintings.

Would you have said that the Officers uniforms would have been less faded because they would have had tailored pieces made with better fabrics and would have had more than one set made?

I'm not sure the Officer's uniforms would've fared any better to be honest , they may've had an extra Jacket but lets not forget that the 1 / 24th had been there since 1875 .
90th

Just out of interest, did they send out new clobber from England to units campaigning overseas?

There were new recruits/drafts sent out at various times (and presumably ammo & weapon spares), so were there new clothes, sent to, say the Cape at regular intervals (I'm not saying shipped up country, like ordering from Amazon/e-bay....)?

Just wondering......

Yes , I'm sure they must've sent some items out but certainly not on a regular basis , if you were up country I very much doubt you would've received any clothing allotments until your return .
90th

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