10th Hussars in the Sudan

[fantomark]

HI!

Recently , I was asked to carry out some research on the 10th Hussars for a friend of mine wishing to make a model figure of an officer of the 10th at El Teb.

While I did manage to find a number of modern uniform plates and quite a few contemporary illustrations, I have succeeded so far in location only one photograph.
When closely examined this photograph, however, reveals two details that can be of interest to modellers and re-enactors.

1- Contrary to most contemporary paintings and prints that show a spiked khaki (or khaki stained) helmet , the photo clearly shows a khaki helmet cover being worn on a (presumably) white helmet, with no spike.
In fact his was standard practice if the khaki covers were available .
The 10th Hossars arrived in the Sudan straight from India , where khaki helmet covers were a standard issue, as opposed to units coming from England who at this time had not yet been issued with a khaki cover and therefore had to wear stained helmets.
Most modern illustrations are obviously based on Victorian prints and paintings , and therefore have adopted the same "artistic licence" of the Victorian illustrators as far as the helmet is concerned.


2 - The second detail is of more interest to me as a weapon enthusiast!
Look at the revolver. This is a single action US Colt Army 1873 (All ranks in the US Cavalry of this period were equipped with the 7 1/2" barrel version , exactly like the one used by this British officer).
This is by no means exceptional , since British officers had to buy their own weapons and equipment and could therefore choose according to personal taste (this said, it is true that in the British army double action revolvers were generally more popular than single action ones).
Most figure collectors and painters who are still convinced that every correct figure depicting a British Officer must have a Webley will not like this!

Cheers!

Marco

[Mark A. Reid]

Ciao Marco;

A great photo, very many thanks for sharing.

Were/are you able to attach a firm date to the photo, or ascertain if it was taken in India or Africa? No doubt a botanist could pinpoint the precise location, season and current wind velocity from studying the vegetation behind the subject. That lets me out but I wonder if another, better-educated member can comment? Each time I look at the horse's facial expression I keep thinking he's telling his rider " Put all your money on Sweet Nothings in the 4 o'clock at Doncaster. "

Congratulations on identifying the pistol, as you say, a bit of a surprise to see a British hussar officer carrying a " Wild West " weapon.

Ciao,

Mark

[Jonathan]

This photo is in one of my books. I am pretty sure it provides the info you seek, Mark. I will have a look when I get home!

[fantomark]

HI!

Sorry, Mark : as you know I am no botanist and I even hate mowing grass in my ridicolously small garden (Queen Cleopatra having a green finger might be able to assist, though...!)

However, here are details of the book where I found the photo:
THE VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN ARMY FROM OLD PHOTOGRAPHS (1975 - reprinted in 1984) by Batsford Ltd.

Photo is one of a 3-photo Eastern Sudan set and captioned : 10th POW Own Hussars's officer scouting 1885.
Date is most probably wrong though, since according to all my sources the 10th only took part in the 1884 Eastern Sudan campaign and was back home in the UK in 1885.

Cheers!

Marco

[colenso]

Hi,

I believe your photo was taken in 1884, and something tells me that "The Times" was involved. As my interest lay in medals to the Victorian Cavalry I'm certainly no expert on uniforms. However, I do have an avid interest in the XRHs East Indies tour 1973 - 1884 and have studied this subject in depth. I include this shot of the "Tenth," taken in Jellalabad 1879 the central figure (sitting) is most certainly Quartermaster William King, the other XRH officers have all identified.

I hope this is of help

regards

colenso

[Mark A. Reid]

Hello again;

There are some great comments on this thread and I wonder if, with our combined resources and intellects ( ! ) we might be able to pin down a more precise time and location for the photo depicting the 10th Hussar officer and his faithful steed? I'll admit straight away that my interest lies primarily with the Egyptian Army and I don't feel qualified to comment on this image to any great extent but perhaps this can lead to another consideration? The 10th Hussars landed at Suakin on 18 February, 250-strong but without either horses or saddlery. They were loaned both by the local, under-strength squadron of the Egyptian Cavalry, with certain additions produced by the sailmakers and artisans of the Royal Navy who quickly prepared piquet ropes, etc. for the regiment.

Now, my question to those cavalry and equestrian experts available, does this officer's mount look like a typical Syrian horse as used by the Egyptian Army? Bearing in mind that most Egyptian cavalrymen were recruited from Lower Egypt and weighed considerably less than a European soldier, does this horse look like a larger, European-type horse or a more sleek Middle Eastern animal?

A sugar cube, an apple and a scratch behind the ears to the person who provides the best answer!

Cheers,

Mark

[fantomark]

HI!

Thanks Colenso: nice photo!

It also confirms that the regiment wore covered helmets and no spikes (this seems to be a debated issue in the figure modelling community!).
As to Horse and horse equipment, I agree with Mark: The horse does look like more European than Syrian! Also the saddle looks to me typically british, though I am not an expert in Egyptian Horse Furniture.

I remember reading that Egyptian army Horse Equipment of the Period was based on the French pattern, but I have been able to find no photos yet!!

Maybe "Effendi" Mark can be of furher help !

Ciao!

Marco

[colenso]

I think I can clarify the horse furniture for you re Memoirs of the XRH:
"The saddles were a rough description, mostly an old French cavalry pattern, with no means of attaching the carbines: the bits were a very severe kind, the Mamaluke bit. No heel-ropes and a very few head ropes came with the horses. Admiral Sir William Hewett and the officers of the fleet rendered the greatest assistance in every matter and helped remedy all the deficiencies."

The following morning the Regiment pararded and for first time on its new horses, went into the country outside the earthworks for a field day.

regards

colenso

[Mark A. Reid]

Thanks for this Colenso, very useful. Of course the Egyptian cavalry did use head ropes, etc. but do not appear to have passed many/any of them to the recently-arrived XRH, perhaps choosing to keep such easily-lost items for themselves. The Egyptians still needed to maintain their own squadron at Suakin of course and probably any spare items were jealously hoarded. The Egyptian Army ( EA ) supply system was a little stingy and the Egyptian cavalrymen were probably looking ahead to when the horses would be returned to them. As it was, most of the horses were returned within a matter of weeks.

The only good image that I have of an EA cavalryman of 1884 is from the Illustrated London News and it presents the South end of a North-bound horse so there is little to see of the saddle! I can send it to you for your archives, Marco, if you like?

By the way, I don't know if I would be too quick to dismiss the wearing of the spike on the FS Helmet of the XRH at the Second Battle of El-Teb on 29 Feb. 1884. The Melton Prior sketches of the Xth that appear on Page 276 of the ILN of 22 March 1884 distinctly show the spike being worn by all ranks of the regiment.

Just as an aside, over 200 Egyptian soldiers also fought at both El-Teb and Tamaai. They came primarily from the Egyptian Camel Corps and the 3rd Battery, Egyptian Artillery and I can categorically state that none of them wore a spike in their tarboush!

Cheers,

Mark

[tabony]

The horses head kit is British with a curb bit and bridoon (small ring snafle). The saddle is Bitish but at that angle it could be a staff pattern but I think it's a universal officers saddle, definaletly not French.

Martin

[Mark A. Reid]

Thanks Martin;

So ... we have an English horse, British tack and a helmet with a khaki cover and no spike. Does this mean that this photo is more likely to have been taken in India than in the Sudan? Or ... could an officer have brought his own charger back from India, along with his saddlery, and simply not dressed like everyone else?

Where are those botanists when you need them!


Mark

[colenso]

Mark,
According to my records on 15th and 17th December 1883 and prior to leaving India for England, a sale of officers horses and polo ponies took place. Representatives from many of the stations were in attendance, and most satifactory prices were obtained to all accounts.

I guess after ten years overseas service in the East Indies, then most officers and families thoughts were on returning to England and setting up a new chapter in their lives. At the time I guess none would have anticipated that they were to be diverted to fight in the Egypt campaign.

As for saddlery, then this would be down to the individual but having researched several officers whose medals are in my collection, I have nothing to support that this was the case.


regards

colenso

[colenso]

Reading through my notes I thought this would be of interest to add to the above post. According to the account later set out by Colonel Liddle (later to be C.O. XRH) "Fortunately officers and men had retained their Indian helmets, khaki clothing, putties, &., so in respect of clothing were fully prepared for a campaign in a hot climate."

Further to this he goes on to state; "The men's saddlery had, according to custom, had been left with the horses in India, and it seemed very uncertain in what manner the Tenth was to be mounted on landing, even if mounted at all.

As previously stated by Mark: - step in General Valentine Baker who hence announced that he proposed to offer the horses of his three regiments of Egyptian Gendarmerie to mount the Tenth.

kind regards

colenso

[Mark A. Reid]

Hello Colenso;

Thanks for this additional information. I tend to agree with your supposition that the XRH officers would have left most, if not all, of their saddlery in India.

I also blushed to realise that I should have mentioned that the horses were provided by the Gendarmerie and not by the Egyptian Army, of course.

Cheers,

Mark

[tabony]

One point to remember, the saddlery was left with the horse because it has to be fitted to an individual animal. In our case the bit and brasses, irons and leaters and sheepskin were personal issue, all saddlery was the horses. A saddler is a highly skilled individual and you can't just swap saddles around without causing some serious problems. An ill fitted girth can cause a gall that will put a horse out of action for months if it gets infected!

Martin