Grey Serge
The initial force to operate against the Mahdi garrisoned in the Mediterranean (excluding the Naval Brigade) were supplied with grey uniforms. These
uniforms were first sent to Egypt in September 1882 after favourable reports of Indian khaki in the late war with the Egyptians. Helmet and 74 valise
equipment are stained off-white, mess tin cover and expense pouch (not always worn) are black. Only the greatcoat was carried, not the actual valise.
The rifle is the .45in Martini-Henry.
2. English Khaki
Due to the lack of obtaining a satisfactory dye in England khaki only began to replace the grey uniforms in the Sudan in 1885. Not all regiments
received it, and only a portion of some. The painting of the battle of Tofrek by C E Fripp shows the Berkshires in action in both uniforms.
3. Royal Marine
Shown here wearing grey but with white pipe clayed helmet, pouches and belts, rather than the more usual stained finish, as observed by Count Gleichen
of the Camel Corp.
4. The King's Royal Rifle Corp.
The KRRC sported their traditional black pouches, belts and buttons. Neck curtains for protection against the sun were not supplied to the army and it
was left up to the individual to procure a towel or similar to attach to, or wear under, the helmet. These curtains are nearly always depicted as
white.
5. York & Lancaster Regiment
A battalion of this regiment together with others (Royal Irish and East Surrey) arrived from India wearing Indian khaki drill uniforms. It fought with
fairly outdated equipment, cartridge pouch and belt from 1854 and 1857 expense pouch. The greatcoat had to be carried over the shoulder. According to
Bennet Burleigh of the Telegraph all troops passing through Suakin were issued with Oliver pattern water bottles as shown here.
6. Yorkshire Regiment
The battle of Ginniss (30th December 1885) was the last occasion on which the British army fought in red. At this battle, as well as a couple of others
eg. Kirbekan, red was ordered 'to look more formidable to the Dervishes'. Some units probably remained in their khaki trousers and puttees.
Regimental facings on the red frocks were changed in 1881 to white for English and Welsh, yellow for Scottish, green for Irish and blue for royal
regiments. This figure has the larger 1882 pattern pouches which have been pipe clayed for the occasion.
7. Gordon Highlanders
This is the uniform worn by the highlanders at the battles of El Teb, 29th February 1884 and Tamai, 13th March 1884.
8. The Black Watch
Similar to the above apart from the tartan, sporran and the addition of the red hackle. Melton Prior, the war artist, shows them with the 1874 valise
as in fig.1, but with a Glengarry under the straps of the greatcoat. Other units do not seem to have carried their forage caps.
9. Cameron Highlanders
At the battle of Ginniss this unit was ordered into red from it's khaki.
10. 15th Bengal Infantry (Ludhiana Sikhs)
Sikhs fought in their khaki drill with brown leather equipment and puttees. Indian infantry were armed with Snider rifle.
11. 28th Bombay Infantry
Again clothed in their Indian khaki and brown equipment but with canvas leggings.
12. New South Wales Contingent
This was the first war in which Australians were involved. They arrived wearing their home service dress, ie. red frock and white helmet, they soon
received a shipment of English khaki, 1882 valise equipment and leggings although the latter were not popular and trousers were often left loose.
Australia supplied one battalion of infantry (volunteers) and a battery of artillery.
13. Grenadier Guards
On the 12th March 1885 the Guards Brigade consisting of 1st Bn Coldstream Guards, 2nd Bn Scots Guards and 3rd Bn Grenadier Guards arrived in Suakin
with two khaki suits per man. They wore 1882 valise equipment and also, unusually their regimental badges on the front of their puggarees.
14. South Staffordshire Regiment
This regiment and the Black Watch were ordered to wear red to storm the ridge at the battle of Kirbekan, 10th February 1885.
15. The Naval Brigade
The Navel brigade manned the Gardiner and Gatling machine guns. Pistol and cutlass were the personal armourment of the crews, who were in turn
protected by a detachment of Martini Henry armed sailors with the equipment as pictured here. Major Giles's picture of Tamai shows them in this
uniform with white covered caps, a drawing by A Forester shows them wearing sennet hats and white trousers as is shown on the 2nd figure, whilst
Dickenson has them in helmets, shirts sleeves and white trousers.
16. Royal Artillery
This is their probable uniform at El Teb. A Forester's drawing of the battle of Ginniss depicts them in what looks to be a mix of home service dark
blue trousers and either dark blue or khaki frocks. Puttees are either dark blue or khaki.
17. 19th Hussars
The 19th wore the standard grey serge frocks but with Bedford cord pantaloons and home service boots. After El Teb Burleigh says that the cavalry were
ordered to arm themselves with native spears which were found to be far more effective than swords for reaching enemy going prone at the point of
impact.
18. 10th Hussars
On the other hand the 10th arrived from India at the beginning of the war in Khaki. Their blue pantaloons had double yellow welts and their uncovered
helmets kept their parade spikes. They also kept their Indian pattern water bottles. Officers retained their black leather and gilt cartridge pouch
belt and black undress sabertache. The carbines were Martini Henry.
19. 5th Dragoon Guards, Camel Regt.
The Camel Corp of roughly 1,600 men consisted of the Guard's Camel Regt. (detachments from Grenadier, Coldstream and Scots Guards), Royal Marine
Camel Regt., then Heavy Camel Regt. (1st & 2nd Life Guards, Royal Horse Guards, 2nd, 4th & 5th Dragoon Guards, 1st & 2nd Dragoons & 5th
& 16th Lancers), the Light Camel Regt. (3rd, 4th, 7th, 11th, 15th, 18th, 20th & 21st Hussars) and the Mounted Infantry Camel Regt. (detachments
drawn from most of the infantry regiments out there). The same basic uniform was worn by all with the addition of the battalion number and regimental
initials in red on the right sleeve as pictured (a). Armament was the Martini Henry and sword bayonet plus a 50 round bandolier. 6,000
'mushroom' topis (b) were made and sent from India arriving in April 1885. Initially intended for the Camel Corp. they crop up in photos on
heads of various units including Australian Artillery and Royal Engineers.
20. Mounted Infantry KRRC
Mounted Infantry were raised from various regiments and mounted on local ponies. Frocks were the same as their parent unit but all wore Bedford cords,
blue puttees, 50 round bandolier and carried a Martini Henry and sword bayonet. The pouch and belt on this figure are Rifles issue.
21. 9th Bengal Cavalry
As well as sword and carbine the Bengal Cavalry carried the 9 foot bamboo lance.22. Infantry Officer
Officers tended to wear their own style and cut of uniform and shades of colour also varied. This is the popular Norfolk jacket type with deep pleats
at the front which sometimes concealed pockets. He wears boots but puttees were as common and a Sam Browne belt with his own choice of
pistol.
23. York & Lancaster Officer
Based on Giles's officer from his Tamai painting he is from the Indian contingent and, like his men, carries his blanket roll over his shoulder and
has a helmet cover. He has blue/black puttees for riding duties.
24. Naval Officer.
He looks a little over dressed for fighting in the Sudan but this was standard for Naval Officers sometimes exchanging puttees for gaiters.
25. 15th Bengal Infantry Officer
Dressed similarly to his men but wearing the Sam Browne belt and armed with a sword and pistol. British officers in Indian regiments wore the European
cut of uniform and helmets.
26. Life Guards Officer, Heavy Camel Regt.
This is another version of the Norfolk jacket. Around his puggaree is twisted red cloth which was particular to the Life Guards. Above the puggaree are
goggles which were issued to the Camel Corp.
