Hi I received this bust for Christmas:



However I do not know anything really about the Crimean War and therefore I am looking for good 71st Highlanders Officer's uniform references.

thanks

Any good to you?


Barrie.

the band is defo the same, there just so many different styles that were worn

what i really want to know is is the forage cap supposed to be green

I can dig around for more definat info if you want, but I would say yes to the dark green forage cap as that is a traditional colour for the head gear of light infantry.

Martin

thanks for that

The cap should be blue with a red white and green band like the highland bonnet,the center square is green as they are not a royal regiment.They may be light infantry but they are still highland.When they were converted to light infantry during the Napoleonic war the highland bonnet was cocked up into the shape of a light infantry shako. I hope this is of help

so was this still the case in during the crimean war then

I believe Old Pete is spot on. I was having a senior moment thinking about green home service helmets, green berets etc. When in fact the HLI last pattern shako is blue with diced band!!

Martin

thanks for the help guys

I belive so through the shako would likely be the Albert pattern

That makes sense as the only reference for the forage caps seemed to share this style like this one from the 74th Highlanders

I believe in 1881 the 71st were amalgamated with the 74th to become the Highland Light Infantry (Princess Margaret,s Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment) the 74th becoming the second batalion

Some interesting stuff here http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=6050&hilit=71st highlanders
Might help you out a bit.

Barrie.

Just a tiny point.
The dark blue is so dark it appears almost black from more than a foot or two away.
All painted illustraions have to show them more blue than black in order that you can tell.
Even antique campaign headdress faded by weather etc faded only at the 'edges' not all over to blue.
Paul