10 replies to this topic

[jony663]

I am wondering, what color were the turbans of the foot soliders?

[Lancashire Fusilier]

jony663, on 18 June 2012 - 01:57 AM, said:

I am wondering, what color were the turbans of the foot soliders?

There was a very good thread " Indian headdress Variety " started on January 24, 2008, which can be pulled up using the Forum search box.
The thread has details of the various Indian Army turbans, and mentions colours, apparently there were different colours for different services.
Regards,
LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

jony663, on 18 June 2012 - 01:57 AM, said:

I am wondering, what color were the turbans of the foot soliders?

Here is a very good coloured painting of Indian troops from the 46th and 33rd Punjabis, clearly showing their turban colour.
Regards,
LF

Attached Files

•  Indian Headdress.jpg   33.65K   4 downloads

[KGB]

In the Sikh faith different colours have their own religious meaning.

[Steven Broomfield]

If you Google A C Lovett you'll turn up a lot of prints (I suspect - I've never tried) similar to the one LF has posted; they are pre-GW and show the Indian Army at its best. Obviously war-time might lead to different things! Also remember that the pagri was not worn only by Sikhs but (until the introduction of steel helmets) by all faiths and classes, but with many variations - you will notice that two differnt styles (at least) are shown in the picture displayed. Additionally, many classes wore the conical kullah with the pagri wound round it (Punjabi Mohammedans and, IIRC, Dogras).

Generally in service dress in wartime I'd go for a pale khahi.

As for that worn by the Sikh, yes, but in military use also generally khaki drill coloured, I'd assume. Orange (saffron) is the colour of the Khalsa and worn by especially observant members of the religion.

[DavidB]

I presume that Indian/Pakistani troops  were excused wearing a Brodie or were they ?

[jony663]

Thank you all for the information.

[KGB]

Yes Steve I cannot see a Sirdarji regiment wearing different coloured turbans. Non Sikhs also had turbans.

[Steven Broomfield]

rgartillery, on 18 June 2012 - 11:05 PM, said:

I presume that Indian/Pakistani troops  were excused wearing a Brodie or were they ?

I have posted on this before, but can't remember where.

Basically, all Indian Army troops were issued with steel helmets. However, Sikhs would not wear them (for obvious reasons), to which the army objected. A compromise was reached, whereby it seems Sikhs were issued with them, then lost them, so everyone was happy.

Other castes,races, etc, had no religious objections and wore them happily. One of the histories I quoted commented that Dogras, in particular, were very taken by them. This led to an uterly reprehensible pun by Mr S Gunner, which I refuse to repeat.

[DavidB]

Steven,
    Thanks, I'm in the same boat could remember reading ab out it some time ago but couldn't remember where.

[stevebecker]

Mate,

Yes, I had a Sikh in my UN unit and when we had to fly into Sarajavo he refused to wear his kevlar helmet instead happyly wore his flak jacket and turban?

Cheers

S.B