Our somewhat erratic local postal service delivered a copy of the latest issue of the Victorian Military Society's SOTQ (Soldiers of the Queen) on Saturday whilst I was at Broadside. As a result, I didn’t start to read it until Sunday, and I finished it on Monday.
The articles included in this issue are:
- Subjects of the Queen and Soldiers of the Pope: Britons in the Papal Army 1861-70 by Nicholas Scholfield
- Courage, ferocity, and elan: The Zouaves, 1830-1914 by Wendell Schollander
- An Edwardian Excalibur? The British 1908 pattern Mark 1 cavalry sword re-appraised by Dr Andrew Winrow
- Templar Study Centre at the National Army Museum
- Clash of Empires - the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War
- 'No Further Control of the Men' - The Mutiny of the 99th (Lanarkshire) Regiment in New South Wales, 1845 by Brigadier Jim Tanner
- The Other General Gordon: Commissary-General Sir Henry William Gordon KCB by Tom Allen
- Book Reviews by Andy Smith
- Officers of the Victorian Military Society
Yet again, this is a corker of an issue! Nicholas Scholfield's article about Britons in the Papal Army was of particular relevance due to my recent interest in the armies of the Italian Risorgimento, and Tom Allen's article about Sir Henry William Gordon had a special appeal to me because the Gordon family lived less than half a mile from my home and that he was born there.
The annual cost of membership of the Victorian Military Society is:
- UK: £30.00
- Overseas: £40.00 [except for Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore: £43.00])
In my opinion, is well worth it.
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Well that article on the Britons in the Papal Army is serendipity!
ReplyDeleteNundanket,
DeleteIt was!
All the best,
Bob
Interesting! I'm curious as to why the article about Zouaves in a magazine of the British Empire. I suppose it might have been suggested by the presence of the Papal article - there were probably some in the Papal Zouaves...?
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
DeleteThe popularity of Zouaves was not confined to North America, France, and Italy. Within the British Empire it influenced the uniforms of the West Indian Regiments (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_India_Regiments) - it is worth noting that the band of the Barbados Regiment still wear a Zouave uniform and are known as the Zouave Band (https://www.bdfbarbados.com/the-barbados-defence-force-band/) - and the uniforms worn by many units of the British Indian Army.
In the latter, it was the baggy trousers and spats that are the most obvious visual clue, the big difference being that the Indians wore a long tunic (a kurta) rather than a short bolero-style jacket or vest.
All the best,
Bob