I have completed my unit of Naval Brigade sailors. I have painted 14 figures, which is more than I need: five or six would be more accurate at a ratio of 1/33. But I felt that I needed a few extra for smaller skirmish and non-historical actions.Uniforms
The information about uniforms for the sailors of the Naval Brigade is probably more unclear than for any other British unit in the Sudan. Partly this is because they are not a homogenous unit but consisted of sailors from a number of different ships. Even working out which ships they came from is not easy as these changed over the course of the campaign. Also artists of the time have shown them in different uniforms. I suspect they would not have displayed such a heterogenous look as I have depicted them in.
Headgear
White covered (or blue, i.e. without the cover) round caps with black headbands, black ribbons and the name of the sailor's vessel in gilt wire on the headband.An alternative was the wide-brimmed straw Sennet hat. Sennet was a particular type of straw much used in the Orient. Naval slang for this hat was a Benjy. They were abolished by the Royal Navy in 1921.This is a Canadian version from the early Twentieth Century.Perry Miniatures do not offer a figure in a Sennet hat, even though Michael Perry mentions and illustrates the hats on his useful uniform guide on the Perry miniatures website.http://www.perry-miniatures.com/index2.html(go to The Sudan-Extras).Copplestone Castings used to do RN sailors in Sennet Hats but they have withdrawn them.Redoubt do some but the figures are crude and I suspect that they are far too large to use with the Perry figures.
http://www.redoubtenterprises.com/shop/?page=shop/browse&category_id=731095ef8c2b705fb650fd93fcea3595
There is a picture from the time illustrating sailors in Sennet Hats and white trousers.
Jackets
These are mainly illustrated as dark blue serge blouses worn over a white shirt with a black neckerchief. White blouses are illustrated too. With the dark blue blouse the collar could be light blue with three white stripes (as I have done them) or plain dark blue (no stripes) to match the blouse. With white blouses the collar was, again, light blue with white stripes or plain white. No buttons of course.
Trousers
Dark blue or white.
Leather belts and equipment
I have seen these described as black or brown with brass buckles.
Shoes
Everyone seems to agree that these were black.
Leggings
Brown or drill canvas or black leather.
Water Bottle
I have seen this described as having a grey felt cover.
So, it seems that you can use pretty any combination of these and probably be right!
Tomorrow I will look at the officers' uniform.