Landships II

Have done a bit on this, and all seems OK for the Western Front and other theatres.

The Indian Corps landed at Marseilles in September 1914 and were soon deployed in Belgium and France until late 1915. Indian troops also bore the major share of the Mesopotamian Expedition and served at Gallipoli and in Egypt, East Africa, Aden, Bahrein, and Palestine.

They arrived in France wearing the altogether unsuitable khaki drill and did not receive serge uniforms for some time.

All ranks of cavalry and infantry, including Indian officers, wore a khahi turban, the skirted tunic or kurta, khaki breeches, ankle boots and puttees. Equipment was the Sam Browne and the 1903 pattern bandolier, all in brown leather. British officers' dress differed in that in hot countries a topee or peaked cap was sometimes worn instead of the turban, and the tunic was standard khaki drill with shirt and tie beneath.

In due course, serge uniforms and tin hats were issued to troops in Europe.

And, to my surprise as well, Gurkhas and two Garhwali battalions wore short khaki jackets, trousers or shorts, and a khaki slouch hat with upturned brim.

So it broadly looks as if these will be fine for the Great War. The Strelets Bengal Lancers are close enough for jazz, and Plastic Soldier Review helpfully points out that inaccuracies in the Airfix Gurkhas work to our advantage: all the men except the officer are wearing a tunic, an item more suited to World War 1.

-- Edited by James H at 18:21, 2007-10-04