We will begin our look at the Sikhs with the regular army built by Ranjit Singh. As one might expect with French training came a uniform heavily French in style. The infantry wore a long tail coat, although some illustrations show turn backs cut short over the butt. It is my belief that the uniforms started life with long tails which shortened as patches and repairs were made on the garment. The coat in any case was a bright red with regimental colors on the collar, cuffs and turnbacks. While there may have been colored horizontal bands across the front, I have never found pictures of any. The coat was worn with loose trousers which seem to have been either white or light blue, often with a stripe up the outside seam. Black cross straps and equipment were issued as well as the non-regulation but seemingly omnipresent tulwar (a wicked looking scimitar) and leather studded target. Sikh infantry favored this sword and shield combination for close quarter work. The Trench influence encled with headgear. The turban which is the symbol of a Sikh was worn in regimental colors. When one considers those turbaned, fierce bearded warriors waving razor edged swords, it is little wonder they scared the begeebers out of the company sepoys. I have, through careful research and a bit of luck, discovered the following regimental distinctions: TURBAN FACINGS Trousers Remarks Red Yellow White The Aieen Elites (There was probably about a brigade of them) Red Blue Light Blue Red stripe on pants White White Light Blue Red stripe on pants White Blue White --- Yellow Blue Light Blue Blue stripe on pants Green Green Light Blue --- That is enough for six regiments of probably 2 battalions each. The infantry strength of the Khalsa was 40,000 men. We accounted above for some 24,000, so the creative wargamer can devise additional combinations of facing colors using the above examples as a guide. Artillery The Artillery was the pride of the Sikh Army. Men were systematically selected for physique, character, intelligence and courage for the guns. Sikh gunners were excellent, and very well dressed too. in the hot summer months they wore a white uniform in the French pattern but with a yellow turban. The infantry as well wore summer white with turbans in regimental colors. During that season the only difference between the arms would be the black belting of the foot soldiers as opposed to the white strapping of the gunners. Mercifully for the Europeans both the Sikh Wars were fought in the more temperate winter months. The Sikhs favored heavy brass guns with carriages painted a dull yellow ochre, very similar in color to Austrian guns of the Napoleonic wars. An even more unusual and striking uniform was worn at that time of year. Once again the French influence was most pronounced. Foot Artillery wore a black felt coat which may have been either a tailcoat or a corded coatee. In either case it was faced at collar, cuffs, braiding and turnbacks with a bright yellow. Either white or the pale blue trousers with a red seam stripe were worn. It is my best guess that the coatee was worn by horse artillery and the tailcoat by foot gunners. The headgear was either the ubiquitous turban in yellow or a very handsome French style bearskin into which the Sikhs, would weave their own uncut hair. That seems to have been a sort of promise to die by their guns - a promise they would keep all too often. For variety and for the none too picky about historical documentation, a couple of paintings show Sikh gunners sporting a yellow coat with green facings and turban, along with white pants tucked into what appear to be knee length brown gaiters. Colorful, what? The famous diorama of Edward Suren that I mentioned earlier also includes a Sikh infantry unit wearing a dark blue frockcoat and turban of the ame hue. White or pale blue pants, a red waist sash and black belting complete the uniform. I have no idea who they might be, but it is a handsome and distinctive outfit. Cavalry The Sikh mounted arm was also very colorful and striking in dress. Allard, one of the French mercenaries, raised a hand-picked unit of what was termed d ragoons, but can only be described as Cuirassiers. They were carefully chosen men together with the finest, strongest and probably the largest horses available. They wore a steel helmet and cuirass with red coats, faced buff, and the omnipresent pale blue pants, this time tucked into jackboots. They carded a carbine as well. A sharp looking outfit no doubt. The regu lar S ikh dragoons wore a similar uniform without the cuirass and with facings varying by regiment. A turban also covered the helmet. It is my best guess that the turban was most likely worn over the helmet of Allard's Cuirassiers too, at least after his departure. They certainly look more exotic that way. In my own Sikh army they wear their trusty turbans and seem to be the only Sikh horse that are worth anything against the Brits. Another Sikh regular cavalry unit of unknown but at least regimental strength was a striking body of lancers. They wore uniforms of European cut in white with yellow facings and turnbacks and a yellow turban. Their long bamboo lances sported blue over yellow pennants. Like their brothers on foot the Sikh horse favored a leather, brass studded target usually worn slung on the back. They make a wonderfully striking force on the table. It is a real pity they were so incompetent. There also seems to have never been very many trained cavalry about. The aristocracy of mounted warriors which formed the Ghorchurras were far too proud of their own heritage to accept anything like European discipline. They were adorned with armor that in many cases dated back to the Crusades. In appearance they resembled Saracen heavy cavalry. They were individually extremely skilled and brave but were a collective rabble, Other irregular horse were dressed in a variety of dirty white and yellow robes and turbans, armed with lance, tulwar and target. They remind one a great deal of the cossacks, having a natural skill in scouting and skirmishing but of very little use in proper battle. When one adds the hordes of the northwest frontier types on foot as well that swelled the numbers of the Sikh armies, along with the sun baked climes of the Punjab, the Sikh Army becomes a delight to the paint brush and to the table top. Their opposition was also not far behind. More Napoleonics and Palm Trees: The Sikhs Introduction Who are the Sikhs? Uniforms of the Sikhs Uniforms of John Company First Sikh War 1845-46 Second Sikh War 1848-49 Wargaming the Sikh War Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. VIII No. 4 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1988 by The Courier Publishing Company. 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