Indian Pattern Carriers

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

Some questions on turbans, as worn in action by Sikh troops.
- What colour were they (and was there a combat/camouflaged version)?
- Did this vary by regiment?
- Was there any unit/rank "trim" or similar distinctions?

[RMD]

Almost always a very pale, sun-bleached khaki-drill, regardless of theatre of war. Sometimes with a coloured insert just above the forehead, but I've no idea what the significance or frequency of this was. In jungly conditions it was often covered with a scrim net.

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

Almost always a very pale, sun-bleached khaki-drill, regardless of theatre of war.

Sounds eminently sensible - and fairly easy to paint!

Sometimes with a coloured insert just above the forehead, but I've no idea what the significance or frequency of this was.

So a nice aiming point, or was it higher than that?

In jungly conditions it was often covered with a scrim net.

How obvious would this be in 28mm - worth replicating, or just leave it?

Thanks for the above answers, btw!

[RMD]

The thin strip of colour was usually seen - very thin, like piping - between the eyebrow and the first turn of the puggri - you sometimes see a very similar sort of thing on the puggris of bush-hats. I think it's just a walking-out dress thing, though and not normally seen in the field.

You can happily leave the scrim-nets off. There are far more photos of them NOT being worn in the field.

[RMD]

Oh and Indian webbing often looks extremely pale and highly contrasted with the 'Battledress Jungle Green' (along with the turbans) in b&w photos from Burma. Presumably sun-bleached? That said, they did also sometimes dye it JG at source in Indian factories and according to my mate's late dad (ex-7 Indian Div and 36 Indian Div) they often painted webbing with green or black vehicle paint to preserve it in the jungle. Of course, that only matters if you're painting 'Jungle Green'-era troops (roughly late 43 onwards).

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

Good news on scrim nets and "trim"! On the subject of "light coloured" webbing, I recall recently seeing this photo of Indians (Sikhs) in the Middle East (c. late 40, early 41) wearing full-length BD (ie full-sleeved blouse and long trousers) where the clothing was so dark it made the webbing look like it had been blanco'ed!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ar ... usader.jpg

[RMD]

Good news on scrim nets and "trim"! On the subject of "light coloured" webbing, I recall recently seeing this photo of Indians (Sikhs) in the Middle East (c. late 40, early 41) wearing full-length BD (ie full-sleeved blouse and long trousers) where the clothing was so dark it made the webbing look like it had been blanco'ed!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ar ... usader.jpg

Yeah, lots like that from Burma as well.