1897 War Of the Worlds uniform question (1 Viewer)

[Scott]

What uniforms would British troops turn out in in 1897 at home in England to fight the Martians? Khaki as in the colonies? Red or blue coats according to unit or some type of summer uniform. The original illustrations from the magazine story show a soldier in a pillbox cap and a hussar in a fur cap.

 

[trooper]

The uniforms would have been similar to those employed on manoevres. Normal headdress, home pattern helmet, hussar busby, bearskin etc but without plumes; undress serge frock jacket, similar to full dress but with less lace; normal trousers, boots, gaiters and equipment. Weapons at that time would have been the Lee Metford rifle for the infantry, Martini Henry carbines sword and lance for the cavalry. Machine guns were in common use by then and would have been the Maxim mounted on wheeled carriages.

 

[Scott]

Thank you. One of the units at Horsell Common is named as the "Cardigan Regiment." I've tried to find that name for an actual unit but the name only comes up as the one in the story. Was that a fictional unit or a real unit known by that name? (As in Lord Cardigan)

 

[trooper]

Would assume it is a fictional regiment. No regular regiment was known by that designation or nickname. It could of course refer to a regiment stationed at Cardigan but I think the odds are that it is fictional.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Could it be a fictitious representation of the 11th Hussars? Old Jim the Bull (a nickname for the 6th Earl of Cardigan) did buy the Cherrypickers like tin soldiers, so, I guess they could fairly be referenced as his regiment.

 

[Scott]

I was thinking of that but the "Cardigans" in the story were infantry. WotW is a fun read but I need some 19th Century British "english" translation. The illustrator did put a poor hussar getting hit with the heat ray.

 

[Scott]

Would assume it is a fictional regiment. No regular regiment was known by that designation or nickname. It could of course refer to a regiment stationed at Cardigan but I think the odds are that it is fictional.

From a quick look at the map, Cardigan is quite a ways away from the action. Thank you, I'm going with a fictional unit. I forgot that the Thunderchild is a fiction vessel as well. On the other hand there is no fictional Royal Artillery for the artilleryman character to belong to.

I have seen folks wargame WotW and I would like to see someone make a movie of the story actually set in 1897 with correct uniforms. The are Victorian CGI visuals for Jeff Wayne's musical version performance but they are highly stylized.

 

[trooper]

There are quite a few figures on the market that could be applied to this scene. Look for British infantry in marching order. Asset and ATS both have some in their ranges and I am sure other makers do so as well.