Uniform Insignia Forum

I am making a militia force, under managed, under armed, and short on all supplies necessary to fight a war against a large, dominating monarchist force. The story goes that they are stuck in a huge bunker-esque area filled with supplies of their enemy, so they design off of that. They live in large trenches, and are outnumbered.

That was a very badly written and thought-out plot, but I just need some ideas. Any ideas will help, and even uniform and medals can help.

how about starting with something realy simple? like the Yugoslav partisans did in WW 2? stripes, triangles, squares, stars? and of course, a ranks structure that places the accent either on assignment (group leader, company commander and such) or shows similarities with the royal forces structure?

You should probably start by designing the monarchist forces' uniforms and then give your militia an appearance that canibalise various elements of it.

For the sake of argument, lets say their opponent had uniforms and badges identical to the british ones, they could reuse the pips but worn on the collar in the same progression. Instead of the crown, they could have use a button taken from a coat (in any colours save the one of the pips). This could work well if most of the militia use to be part of the monarchist army as they would be use to it.

They could also mix & match uniform pieces from different order of dress: combat shirt with parade pants. If the depot is not limited to equipment for one arm, they could have something along the line of army headgear, airforce jacket and navy pants.

Another option is integral uniforms as worn by their opponents but with the addition of a distinctive colours (which of course wouldn't be use much by the opposition) in various parts: sash diagonaly across the chest, armband, bandana, etc...

You could also decide that the depot wasn't big on insignias and uniforms so that they have a mostly civilian dress (although composed mainly of discreet colours) will some ranks and other devices spray painted on it using stencils (insignias could be only stripes or other simple geometrical shapes for that reason).

Alternatively, they could have insignias only for some members and in a very basic form: the squad leader wears 2 guns, the regimental leader has a trench coat, the overall leader has the militias symbol on his shoulder strap, etc...

monarchist forces' uniforms and then give your militia.
I have interesting question, name for me one war or rebellion where monarchists had a rag-tag uniforms, I don't recall any. As far as I know monarchist (royalist) armies were very well equipped and orgenized.

I guess, in mine mind, there two types of militia forces: Communist/Eastern style partizans, or Western (ussualy US style freehold) militias. If you would like to form eastern style militia or partizans, they moreless going to look like ether like Red Army from 1917-1924 in terms organization or Tito's partizans. Another words, there no personnel ranks, just positions marked by stryps and stars. The Western Style militia would have normal ranks but only that nessessary -- such as Fighter, Corporal, Segeant, Sergeat-Major, Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Colonel, and General. Also, could be very well develloped corps of so-called specialists: from platoon to army levels.

Ziba

> have interesting question, name for me one war or rebellion where
> monarchists had a rag-tag uniforms, I don't recall any. As far as I know
> monarchist (royalist) armies were very well equipped and orgenized.

I think you misunderstood, plan what your monarchist look like and *then* figure out which bit of these might be worn by the militia.

as for monarchist force wearing being rag tag, ever seen the spanish civil war requetes or the french chouan ?

I think you misunderstood, plan what your monarchist look like and *then* figure out which bit of these might be worn by the militia.

as for monarchist force wearing being rag tag, ever seen the spanish civil war requetes or the french chouan ?


You know, I did not initiate this thread so, your replay Marc regarding first part, not for me. Another thing, since when were Paco‘s forces poor rag-tag army? Germans with Itallian crammed there so much, that Republican Army looked like poor relatives. As far as the other, I am not really familiar though.

Ziba

Deferring tangental conflicts for the moment, I think I have a solution. Tweak the story thus:

1. The rebels patently refuse to imitate the royalist army. As they are rebelling, in part, against the ostentation of a monarchial climate, they would shun the elaborate dress and insignia of their enemies. Therefore, whatever system of insignia they devise will be simple and also the basis for the insignia of their future republic, which will also be simple, to reflect part of their ideology.

2. Since they are pressed for time, resources, etc., the format for enlistedmen, NCOs, and Officers would have to be unifrom and probably comprised of lines and shapes that are easy to embroier or stencil onto civilian clothes (which is all they have in terms of uniforms, except for the leaders and luckier looters). Not only that, but the ranks would have to be closely wedded to positions, so there would be 1 enlisted rank, 4 NCO ranks, 2 company officer ranks, 2 field officer ranks, and 1, 2, or 3 general staff ranks, depending on the size of this force.

3. So, what about...

Lance Corporal: no insignia

Corporal: one diamond
Sergeant: one bar
Staff Sergeant: one diamond above one bar
Sergeant Major: two bars

Lieutenant: one diamond above or between two bars
Captain: three bars
Commandant: one diamond above three bars
Colonel: four bars

Major General: two bars between two diamonds
Lieutenant General: diamond, bar, diamond, bar, diamond
General: three bars between two diamonds
(based on 'Revolutionary Army no.2' from the Rank Insignia Notebook)

The idea behind this system is that diamonds are used to fill in the gaps, unless there are more than one, in which case they indicate superiority.

you should first start off with you job insignia. have your technicians where hammers, your infantry should have rifles or swords. and these uniforms must look rough.

medals, medals, medals. since they are in such a pitiful state you should make their medals dull and worn out. i would say that they should be of tin or some other non-precious medal.

and you can never go wrong with tough enlisted chevrons.

As I re-enact as a member of the Polish Armia Krajowa (Home Army) and know much of partisans, I have taken upon myself to pattern this militia after what occured during the America civil war. Not many confederate forces had uniforms, and painted chevrons on civilian clothing, as the German Volkssturm and several WW2 partisan forces did.

All equipment will either be land-lease or modified Royalist equipment. About one in every five men will even have a uniform, many only wearing a cap with insignia or distinguishing marks. I made a decision on rank insignia, and it will be a system bars, stars, and chevrons. This will be simplistic, fo the most part. For differing medals, they will be either regionally awarded or will be worn by those previous members of the royalist army.

Some badges and medals will consist of pips, triangle,s stars, and bars, along with some medals awarded throughout the militia. Many will look different, and all will have similarity. There will be no shiny or gaudy medals, but mostly ribbons or sashes. Everything that one would be able to make at home.

pettyofficer3 wrote:and you can never go wrong with tough enlisted chevrons.

I'd rather say - bars.
Bars 3-5 cm long and 1-2 cm broad would be the most universal thing. They were actively used during RCW & SCW, worn by Jugoslavian and Ukrainian (Nationalist) partisans, used by some other Left and Rignt irregular formations in Europe (probably not only in Europe, but don't know for sure).
Different colours can signify different categories (green - NCOs, red - officers, yellow (golden) - generals) or branches (red - combat, yellow - HQ, green - logistic).
The same with the sizes of the bars.