PolarBear
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Here is a discussion from the Victorian Wars Forum on the grey uniforms worn in the Sudan. One of the members has one from the KRRC (King's Royal Rifle Corps)
KRRC uniform identification
by wawine » 09 Aug 2008 17:19
I am seeking help in identifying a uniform that I just picked up. It is a named and dated (1883) KRRC officer's kit with some rather odd characteristics. Instead of being green, and with the usual frogging and lace on the front, it is a pale grey/khaki serge, single breasted and unlined. It has matching trousers, and a roll collar mess dress jacket, fully lined, in the same color scheme. My assumption was that is was to a volunteer unit, but the rather loose weave serge and lack of lining leads me to believe it may be one of the hot climate 'grey' uniforms issued to the KRRC for Egypt prior to the issuing of Khaki Drill in 1884. The buttons and facings on the collar and cuff are clearly KRRC, as are the twisted black and red cord shoulder straps with black Lt. pip, but I have never seen reference to a single breasted KRRC officer uniform either volunteer or regular army, except for the KD uniform. I am new to this blog, and have not figured out how to post a photo. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
wawine
Re: KRRC uniform identification
by mike snook » 10 Aug 2008 00:52
A photo would be useful but certainly there was an issue of grey uniforms to the troops in Egypt/Sudan in the period 1883-early 85. This was superseded at that latter juncture by khaki. The infantry battalions that fought under Sir Gerald Graham in the 84 expediton to Suakin (Battles of 2nd El Teb and Tamai) wore grey. 3rd Bn KRRC were in Graham's force and at both battles.
The troops that went down the Nile for the Gordon relief expedtion in the summer of 84 also wore grey. The infantry battalions in the River Column (no KRRC) had grey trousers as well as tunics, while the camel regiments in the Desert Column wore grey tunics over Bedford cord riding breeches in a sort of yellow/buff/ochre colour. There were three KRRC sections in the Mounted Infantry Camel Regiment (MICR) of the Desert Column. The 3rd Bn KRRC section under Lt Percy Marling VC was in A Coy MICR, whilst the 1st and 2nd Bn sections under Lts Willliam 'Johnny' Campbell and Archibald Miles respectively were both in C (Rifles) Coy MICR under Capt Richard Fetherstonhaugh, (Fanshaw to you and me!), also a KRRC officer. They all fought at Abu Klea and Abu Kru. Of course any KRRC officer on the HQ or logistic staffs of these various Sudanese expeditons would also have worn grey.
By the time of Graham's 1885 Suakin expedtion (Battles of Hashin and Tofrek) a mixture of grey and khaki was being worn. There were no KRRC battalions involved, though there may have been a KRRC section or two in the composite MI regiment. I could probably find out if you were desperate.
KRRC uniform identification
by wawine » 09 Aug 2008 17:19
I am seeking help in identifying a uniform that I just picked up. It is a named and dated (1883) KRRC officer's kit with some rather odd characteristics. Instead of being green, and with the usual frogging and lace on the front, it is a pale grey/khaki serge, single breasted and unlined. It has matching trousers, and a roll collar mess dress jacket, fully lined, in the same color scheme. My assumption was that is was to a volunteer unit, but the rather loose weave serge and lack of lining leads me to believe it may be one of the hot climate 'grey' uniforms issued to the KRRC for Egypt prior to the issuing of Khaki Drill in 1884. The buttons and facings on the collar and cuff are clearly KRRC, as are the twisted black and red cord shoulder straps with black Lt. pip, but I have never seen reference to a single breasted KRRC officer uniform either volunteer or regular army, except for the KD uniform. I am new to this blog, and have not figured out how to post a photo. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
wawine
Re: KRRC uniform identification
by mike snook » 10 Aug 2008 00:52
A photo would be useful but certainly there was an issue of grey uniforms to the troops in Egypt/Sudan in the period 1883-early 85. This was superseded at that latter juncture by khaki. The infantry battalions that fought under Sir Gerald Graham in the 84 expediton to Suakin (Battles of 2nd El Teb and Tamai) wore grey. 3rd Bn KRRC were in Graham's force and at both battles.
The troops that went down the Nile for the Gordon relief expedtion in the summer of 84 also wore grey. The infantry battalions in the River Column (no KRRC) had grey trousers as well as tunics, while the camel regiments in the Desert Column wore grey tunics over Bedford cord riding breeches in a sort of yellow/buff/ochre colour. There were three KRRC sections in the Mounted Infantry Camel Regiment (MICR) of the Desert Column. The 3rd Bn KRRC section under Lt Percy Marling VC was in A Coy MICR, whilst the 1st and 2nd Bn sections under Lts Willliam 'Johnny' Campbell and Archibald Miles respectively were both in C (Rifles) Coy MICR under Capt Richard Fetherstonhaugh, (Fanshaw to you and me!), also a KRRC officer. They all fought at Abu Klea and Abu Kru. Of course any KRRC officer on the HQ or logistic staffs of these various Sudanese expeditons would also have worn grey.
By the time of Graham's 1885 Suakin expedtion (Battles of Hashin and Tofrek) a mixture of grey and khaki was being worn. There were no KRRC battalions involved, though there may have been a KRRC section or two in the composite MI regiment. I could probably find out if you were desperate.
