For Queen and Country: Collecting British Army equipment from the Empire

Military technology advanced in leaps and bounds during the period. In 1837, the army was little changed from that which had fought at Waterloo. By 1901, muskets had been replaced with magazine-fed rifles and smooth-bore cannons with modern, quick-firing artillery.

Victorian kit is, unsurprisingly, most popular in the United Kingdom. However, there are plenty of interested collectors in commonwealth countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Victorian British gear still sells reasonably well in the States, though it will never be as popular as gear from the Civil War, Revolutionary War, or the World Wars. This is because (barring a few small incidents) American troops were not involved in these campaigns (though American citizens acting as mercenaries and war reporters were often present). Three of the most popular areas for modern collectors are rifles, uniforms, and medals.

Before the 1850s, the British Army used the Brown Bess musket — a weapon that had bested Napoleons soldiers on battlefields from Talavera to Waterloo. However, by the time of the Crimean War, smooth-bore muskets were hopelessly outdated on European battlefields. Their limited range meant anything except massed point blank fire was pointless.

French Army Captain Claude-Étienne Minié created the conical shaped Minié ball in 1847 and by 1849 the French had adopted the first version of the Minié Rifle as their primary service arm. With a fast reload time and greatly increased accuracy over the musket, the rifle was a giant leap forward in military technology.

Britain had to play catch up. From this point on, the name Enfield is prevalent in British small arms. Enfield refers to the then small town north of London where the Royal Small Arms Factory was located. From here, standardized rifle patterns were designed and manufactured. The Pattern 1851 Minié rifle (essentially a copy of the French design) was brought out just in time for Crimea. It was quickly replaced by the much more familiar P53. The rifles are distinctive because of their three metal bands positioned at intervals to secure the barrel.  

Around 900,000 P53s were shipped to America during the Civil War. Those with a Tower stamp are likely to have been retained for British Army use, as they were of the highest production quality. “Tower” P53s in good condition can often be picked up for under $2,000.

The next substantial change in the British Army service rifle came with the adoption of the Snider-Enfield in 1866. A breech loading mechanism invented by American Jacob Snider meant considerably faster loading times. Original Sniders were conversions of pre-existing P53s, but later rifles were freshly manufactured.

At first glance, the Snider appears similar to the P53, with the same distinctive three band barrel, but the firing mechanism is different. A latch has been fitted where a bullet can be loaded. While a relatively simple modification, the battlefield effects were substantial. A soldier did not have to muzzle-load so could fire and load his weapon from a prone shooting position. Snider/P53 conversion rifles can be picked up for under $1,000 at auction.

It would take the Army some time to adapt their tactics to take full advantage of this fact, however. For most of the period standard British tactics involved forming regular lines and the army would not evolve into an all light infantry force until the following century.

Any fan of the films Zulu (1964) and Zulu Dawn (1979) will recognize the next evolution of the British service rifle – the Martini Henry. A single-shot, breech-loading, leveraction weapon, the Martini was accurate to around 1,000 yards and had a maximum firing range twice that.

It saw service in all parts of the Empire, but is especially remembered by military history buffs as the weapon carried during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, during which the army suffered its worst defeat at the hands of a tribal force. The defeat at Isandlwana was not due to the weapon, but a combination of Zulu skill and British command blunders. 

The Martini was mostly produced in London at Enfield. However, several thousand were made by BSA (Birmingham Small Arms), a company founded in Birmingham’s Gun Quarter. A BSA Martini Henry in fine condition can be picked up for anywhere between $1,000-$1,700 at auction.

By the 1880s, the French were once again ahead of the rest in terms of service rifle design. Their Lebel Model 1886 was the first mass-produced bolt-action rifle issued to a European army. Naturally, it provided significant advantages over earlier breech-loading designs, as several rounds could be loaded into the gun before firing.   

Anticipating a major conflict with the expanding German Empire, the British moved quickly and by 1888 issued troops with the first model of the Lee Metford – the British Army’s first magazine-fed bolt action. It was bolt-action Lee Metfords used during the battle of Omdurman that contributed to the horrifically one-sided casualties sustained by the Mahdist troops. Lee Metfords are much less common than the later famous Lee Enfield. Picking one up in decent condition might set you back $1,500-$2,000.

The last service rifle from the Victorian era is the Lee Enfield Mark 1. These weapons are much rarer than the later SMLE (Short Magazine Lee Enfield) variants of the World Wars. They were built and tested from 1895, but were only issued to the army in 1902, one year after the death of Queen Victoria. 

Despite sticking out like a sore thumb on a dusty battlefield, the British Army still campaigned in scarlet red tunics for most of the period. The decision to keep wearing red well into the 1880s was born out of military traditions harking back to the New Model Army of the English Civil War. It was Britain’s “redcoats” that had bested Napoleon’s armies at the beginning of the century, and because of this tradition there was a very real reluctance among both officers and enlisted men to change.

As rifles became more prevalent, however, change was forced upon them. By the end of the century the British soldier that fought Boer marksmen did so in khaki battledress, presenting a much less conspicuous target.

During the Crimean War of 1854-56, the uniform still resembled that of Waterloo. The redcoat had been cut down slightly to avoid snagging in undergrowth, but still presented an easy target for rifle-armed troops. By the time of the Zulu War of 1879, the uniform was still scarlet red but had become more practical. It had simpler facings and buttons, and the webbing allowed for more ammunition to be carried, signifying the Army’s increasing reliance on firepower to disperse and destroy the massed armies of indigenous peoples.

Khaki is a Hindi word meaning dust-colored. Unsurprisingly, the first units to dress in khaki were from the British-Indian Army, though khaki uniforms would eventually be used by all British units on foreign service. During the Boer War, this move gave British soldiers a better chance of survival in battle against Boer marksmen. 

Headgear changed significantly during the period. During the Crimea and Indian Mutiny, the tall Belgian-style shako was worn. By the 1850s a rim at the back of the shako was added to prevent sunburn. 

Pith helmets originated (like so much British military fashion of the period) in India. They were a practical way to prevent sunburn and shield the eyes. They were also extremely hard-wearing. By the time of the Xhosa and Zulu Wars in the 1870s, most British units were wearing them. In 1877, the use of a puggaree — a piece of cloth wrapped round the helmet — was officially authorized for troops in India and the Far East. However, photographs of British soldiers wearing them while on campaign in Egypt and the Sudan shows that a great degree of license was taken with the official dress code.

Throughout the 19th century, huge numbers of British troops fought in India. Though tunics were still worn even in extreme heat, soldiers stationed in India were permitted shorter caps with cloth neck guards.

As usual with pre-20th century uniforms, fully intact ones are hard to come by. Unlike rifles and medals, uniforms degrade heavily over time. Original items can be very expensive, especially where provenance has been obtained. For example, an original Zulu War pith helmet associated with the 24th Regiment of Foot (the unit that fought as Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift) might fetch over $3,000. A full uniform is extremely rare, and most collectors are forced to cobble pieces together.

The sheer amount of campaigns involving the British Army during Queen Victoria’s reign required the minting of around 40 service medals, most bearing the image of the Queen on one side. The name of the recipient and his regiment was engraved on the side of the campaign medal, making provenance relatively easy to establish.

Famous medals include the Crimea, Indian Mutiny, Sudan, South Africa (1877-79), The Sikh Wars, and South Africa (1899-1902). Many campaign medals had medal clasps denoting that the recipient had been present in certain engagements. For example, the Crimea medal had clasps for the battles of the Alma, Balaclava, and Inkerman, as well as the siege of Sevastopol.

A Crimean War medal without clasps — showing that the recipient had been involved in the war but not present at any major engagements, might fetch between $100 and $200. Clasps mean massively increased prices. For example, a Crimea medal with three clasps and issued to Sergeant Michael Bergin of the 7th Foot sold for almost $3,000 in 2023.

Cheaper alternatives can be found in the less well-known smaller campaigns fought during Victoria’s reign. One such is the Ashanti campaign, fought in West Africa in 1873 and 1874. It involved a small British expedition led by Garnet Wolseley (the inspiration for Gilbert and Sullivan’s “modern Major General”) invading what is now Ghana. One awarded to a Private M Rodgers of the 42nd Highlanders recently sold for $600.

When purchasing campaign medals, it should be remembered that not every battle or action fought during the campaign received a clasp. Clasps were usually awarded as battle honors for major engagements where British forces had distinguished themselves. An awardee may still have been in violent action with the enemy during a campaign, even if his medal bears no clasps.

By far the most famous British medal from the period is the Victoria Cross. Like the Medal of Honor, this can only be awarded for bravery of the very highest level in the presence of the enemy. The rate at which VCs were awarded during the Victorian period was high, reflecting the fact that for a time it was the only bravery award that could be issued to the rank and file.

When VCs from the period occasionally come up for auction, they can reach terrifically high prices. One easy way to own something that resembles the medal is to buy a high-quality replica. When made to exact specifications, they can be picked up for around $150.

British Victorian military kit and medals never get the same level of global attention as kit from the Civil War and Revolution; however they offer a goldmine for collectors interested in the period. The British Army fought an incredible variety of campaigns during Victoria’s reign against a myriad of enemies. Military technology advanced in great leaps, and early mass-production means much equipment survives intact. 

If you have a limited budget, replica kit can be a good option. High-quality replicas of rifles, uniforms, and medals can be bought for considerably less than the historical pieces. Some sellers create replica uniforms with wear and tear built in so they resemble how the uniform would have appeared in a campaign.

In any case, sound period knowledge is crucial. Fortunately, there are several publications and even YouTube channels dedicated to Victorian militaria. A good place to start for anyone interested is the U.K.-based Victorian Military Society and their Soldier of the Queen journal.  

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