Uniforms of the Royal Navy Battalion

[Commander Howse]

I am trying to come up with a Commander in the Naval Battalion impression. I have the tunic, pants, Bulldog Revolver,and sword. What I need to know, is the Pith Helmet color,and did they use the regular royal navy buttons and belt buckle? I seen photos of white and darken color helmets. I am assuming the the darker color pith helmets were tea dyed, since the khaki color helmets weren't until boar war. I have also seen the ribbon around the hat blue in paintings and the little figures. I was wondering if that is the way the actual battalions had theirs. If you have info on this or more information about the battalion officer uniforms, It will be greatly appreciated.


thank You
Mason Howse

[fantomark]

Ciao, Mason!

If you google NAVAL BRIGADE ZULU WAR, you will see many useful images.
As to the buttons, I am not really sure, but I am inclined to think that they were really Royal Navy Buttons, or possibly General Srvice Buttons.

With regard to the helmets, they were indeed stained a definitely dark brown , using either Tea, Coffee or most probably just mud!
Just compare the grey tone of the helmet with the dark "navy" blue of the tunic in the B/N photos: they look more or less the same tone, so the helmets were really a dark colour!

Ast to the blue helmet puggaree/veil seen in photos and prints of the Egyptian and Sudan campaigns, it does not seem to have been so popular in the Zulu War, judging from photos, and contemporary prints I have seen.
Have a look at the 3 (rather well known!) attached pics: you can only see one puggaree/veil loosely wound around one officer's helmet, and this is definitely too light a colour to be blue: almost surely it is white , since it is exactly the same tone as the officer's white jacket.

Congratulations for your Webley Bulldog: I would love to have one! Any chances we may see any pics?



Hope this helps.

Cheers!

Mark

PS: A couple of months ago, I was also contemplating to re-enact as a Naval Brigade officer , Sudan 1884-1885 , and I did spent some time in researching uniforms and equipment.
Eventually , though , I dropped the idea: seeing me in a blue reefer jacket and white trousers , most of my friends probably would not have resisted the temptation of sticking on me the nick of Captain Schettino, of Costa Shipwreck fame!!!

[Commander Howse]

Thank You for the reply. I will post pictures hopefully soon. My uniform should be arriving any day now. The bulldog is my favorite in my collection. I have also recently acquired an untouched Mark II Martini Henry Enfield with a Mark IV butt stock from Atlanta Cutlery. I have cleaned it up and is in good condition, for being neglected for over 100 years. As soon as I get my uniform together I will post pictures.

Thank You
Mason Howse

[tabony]

his book has all of the info on buttons etc. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rank-Rate-Royal ... =1-2-spell

Martin

[Commander Howse]

Thank You

Mason Howse

[Commander Howse]

Attached are my photos for my first try at getting a uniform together.

Mason Howse

[fantomark]

HI, Mason!

Great outfit ! Congratulations!

I really like the combination of the Blue naval jacket and the khaki breeches!

As to the helmet, as we discussed, in most photos it appears stained a medium to dark brown.
However, I must say I personally prefer the unstained white version as shown in your photos.
Of course the choice is yours, but I would give a thought before staining it : the blue , khaki and white colours really look a very elegant set.
I presume your next step would be a pair of brown or black field boots, or , alternatively, canvas or leather leggings and ankle boots!


If you could also post a photo of your Bulldog it would be great! It is one of my favourites!

Again congratulations!

Ciao!
Marco

[Commander Howse]

Hi,

Thank You, I received the uniform today and wasn't sure about it, but after looking at the photos I like it. I decided, I was just going to leave the pith helmet white. Your right, the next thing I am going to get will be either black or brown leather leggings. I might eventually get the brown field boots. I am also going to get a blue naval cap and Victorian naval hat badge. Again thank you for your comments.

Mason Howse

[fantomark]

Hi, Mason!

Great Bulldog - again congratulations!

As to the pith helmet , I am glad to know you will keep it unstained.
In any case, if you are going to re-enact frequently it will most probably weather to a less spotless finish in a natural way.

If you would like to to stain it, eventually, you would be able to do it later (when the helmet will inevitably lose its snow white "factory finish").
If this will be the case, then personally I would suggest you keep to a lighter shade of khaki, for a better general visual effect (this is just a personal viewe, though)

In the attached pics you can see my (ex-white) helmet stained a light khaki colour using the same Vallejo acrylic paints I use to paint my model soldiers!

If you prefer keep white finish, of course you would be able to blanco it snow white using Vallejo's white (or any other Acrylic Paint) when it will get dirty!
(After all that is still the Royal Navy's practice with present day Royal Marines helmets!)

Ciao!

Marco

PS: in the pic you will also see my Brown Field Boots.
I had them custom made here having an original pair copied by a close friend of mine who is a local shoe maker.

[fantomark]

By the way!

Of course, your uniform would also be appropriate for a Naval officer in the Egyptian Campaign, 1882 or the Sudan Campaign 1884-1885.

(Trousers could be white , blue or the khaki breeches you already have)

In practice the only diffeernce is that in Egypt and in the Sudan, a puggaree was often worn on the helmet (while this was rarely seen in the Zulu War).
The puggaree could either be a neatly pleated "factory fitted" type in white or khaki , edged with a blue line on the top, or just a loosely wrapped "DIY" type in blue lightweight material.
Personally I would prefer the second option: just get a blue scarf of the right size and wrap it around your white helmet : the colour contrast would be a nice one!

And, yes! : your Bulldog too would be perfect for Egypt and the Sudan, of course!

Ciao!

Marco

[Commander Howse]

Thank You for all the information. I really like your uniform. I have attached more photos with navy blue trousers.

Mason Howse

[fantomark]

Ciao!

yes! there they are!
They look great!
And it is a good idea you are also getting a cap made!
I can tell you that even if the pith helmet was originally designed for wearing in the sun and in hot weather condition, a cap is by far more confortable for wearing as an alternative to the helmet , give you a welcome break during one full re-enacting day!

Glad you like my Red Coat uniform.

If you want to see my other uniforms, just click here:

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=6919&start=30

and the other pages in the same thread!

Ciao!

marco

[Commander Howse]

Nice uniforms. Before I made up my mine about the Naval Battalion, I was going to get a red infantry tunic. I always want to do something different. So I chose the Naval Battalion. I also portray a Confederate Navy Captain during the American Civil War. I was planning on using the early war hat, which is in the photo, and put a Victorian Royal Navy Hat badge on it. I also saw your Long Lee Enfield it looks amazing. I have an Mark II Martini Henry Enfield, that I have restored, and a Mark III* Model 1 Lee Enfield. I just like anything British military.

[fantomark]

Great Guns , Mason!

I am also interested in virtually any British Guns and edged weapons , my favourite period being from c. 1870 to 1942.
And , yes, of course the Martini Henry Rifle and the SMLE are two of my all time favourites!

The only post WWII gun I really like is the Viet-Nam War era M-16 rifle!

Ciao!

Marco