An Analysis of an Indian Army Tunic

Posted on the 2023-05-26 13:56:17 by RavenYardAntiques.

Object:This tunic dates from 1882 or 1884 to 1902. It was worn by an officer of the 27th Madras Native Infantry, officially renamed the 27th Madras Regiment after 1885, although the earlier title continued to be used in some sources.This pattern of tunic was worn from 1880 to 1902, but the regiment only adopted yellow facings in either 1882 or 1884. According to W. Y. Carman, the change took place in 1882, while Hart’s Army Lists records it as 1884, though Hart’s is often one or two years behind contemporary changes.The buttons bear the numeral “27” and the battle honour “Mahdipore”, commemorating the regiment’s role in the victory at Mahidpur in 1817. After the end of the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, the regiment remained at peace until 1857, when it took part in the Siege and Capture of Lucknow during the Indian Mutiny. Its next active service came in the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885. In 1903, the regiment became the 87th Punjabis and adopted new insignia.Possible Attribution:This tunic was worn after 1882 by a lieutenant-colonel in the 27th Madras Native Infantry who had served during the Indian Mutiny. Following a detailed examination of Hart’s Army Lists, the strongest candidate for the original owner is Lieutenant-Colonel Bryan William Broughton, who served as a wing commander in the regiment from 1883 to 1886. Broughton was a veteran of the Mutiny and served with the regiment during the period in which it wore yellow facings while holding the rank of lieutenant-colonel.An alternative candidate is Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Seymour Robinson, who was second-in-command of the regiment in 1882. Available records suggest that Robinson was also one of the few lieutenant-colonels in the regiment who was a veteran of the Mutiny. However, he appears to have left the regiment before 1884, the later of the two possible dates for the adoption of yellow facings. For that reason, Broughton remains the more likely attribution.

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