Right - A French period drawing (Vinkhuizjen Collection), shows an illustration of the likely uniform for the "General Major".
The early period the rank system used by the New Model Army (disbanded in 1807-08), used chest buttons to indicate rank. Several illustrations from 1828 (Vinkhuizjen Collection) show:
Early illustrations of senior officers also show them wearing chest buttons. Only three types of officers are depicted [1]:
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[1] Figures seen in the book by Mahmud Sevket Pasa ‘L'Organisation et les Uniformes de l'Armee Ottomanne (1907)’, were originally miss-dated (these figures are dated to 1840, when they actually relate to early 1826); as well, as miss-described (using post 1876 ranks). These appear to show the original three officer’s ranks created for the 1826 modern army.
Between 1826, and 1828, the modern army was expanded into three battalion regiments, each commanded by a BIMBASHEE: Major, with newly appointed MIRALAY: Colonel in command of the regiment. Long-skirted kaftans, with gold floral embroidery, and gold tape chest loops ending in gold tassels orignially worn by the ‘Chef de Bataillon’; BIMBASHEE: Major, were now worn by the MIRALAY: Colonel [1]. Following 1828, new insignia consisted of: “Lieutenant colonels have a plain gold crescent with gold stars. Captains have silver stars; senior and junior lieutenants wear plain silver crescents. These distinctions are worn on the breast on each side.” [2]
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[1] Some illustrations of post-1828 senior officers were originally miss-identified, namely a ‘Dark-Blue’ regiment MIRALAY: Colonel (Vinkhuizjen Collection), was originally incorrectly inscribed as a ‘BIMBASHEE / Infanterie Oberst (in German for Infantry Colonel), from 1830. A second ‘Dark-Blue’ regiment MIRALAY: Colonel (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection), was originally incorrectly inscribed as an ‘Ottoman Artillery Captain, 1828’.
[2] Knotel, R. Knoetl, H. Sieg, H. 1980 Uniforms of the World - A Compendium of Army, Navy and Air Force Uniforms 1700 - 1937. Arms Armour Press, London.
In addition to the use of chest buttons, the post-1826 ON BASHEE: Corporal, was the same as older Janissary ODABASI: Barrack-Room Chief. An illustration of the 'White Regiment' shows a pair of red cloth star and crescent badges on his chest [1] [2].
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[1] Marcel Roubicek 1978 ‘Modern Ottoman Troops, 1797-1915: In Contemporary Pictures. Franciscan Printing Press; "Soldier of the Ottoman 'New System' Infantry, 1828". The illustration shows a black cartridge box carry strap covering the right-side red star and crescent badge.
[2] Charles Mac Farlane, ESQ. MDCCCXXIX (1829) Constantinople in 1828 : A Residence of Sixteen Months in the Turkish Capital and Provinces with an Account of the Present State of the Naval and Military Power and of the Resources of the Ottoman Empire. London: Saunders and Otley, Conduit Street. An almost similar figure is illustrated, with the second red star and crescent badge clearly shown. Dated 1828-1829, as this is the actual publishing date of the book itself; however, it is likely the particular edition of the book, containing the colour plate was itself made after 1833, according to library catalogues. The figure also wears a fez, which should date it to post-1832.
During the 1830s, officer's jersey were tailored including gold floral embroidery, and gold tape edging, to indicate rank levels:
From 1828, new higher ranking officers were appointed to the army [1]:
It is known, in the post 1828 period, that: “Generals and other officers' uniforms are mainly red, with gold embroidery varying according to rank. The distinctions of rank are as follows: lieutenant general, two crescents set with diamonds, with three stars, also set with diamonds, in the middle; brigadier generals wear similar crescents, but with only two stars." [2]
Following 1832, with the adoption of the fez, an early system of badges were also employed to indicate rank [3]:
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[1] Marcel Roubicek. 1978 Modern Ottoman Troops, 1797-1915: In Contemporary Pictures. Franciscan Printing Press.
[2] Knotel, R. Knoetl, H. Sieg, H. 1980 Uniforms of the World - A Compendium of Army, Navy and Air Force Uniforms 1700 - 1937. Arms Armour Press, London.
[3] Metin Eruretin. 2001 Osmanli Madalyalari ve Nisanlari. [Ottoman medals and orders: documented history]. DMC.
Right - The only word legible on this hand written pen note, added to this illustration reads “Schreiber, 1845” [1].
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[1] Vinkhuizjen Collection.
The 1826 organisation created the rank of SANJAQDAR: flag bearer, for each company, in each regiment [1].
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[1] It is generally understood, that it was Sultan Abdulmecid, who reorganized the army and gave out European–styled regimental standards in 1843–1844 (these were red flags, displaying a silver crescent).
Right - A Guard Band Master [1]. The Guard regiment officer wears a jersey, not unlike the senior drummer (and both display identical pattern of chest lace).
The Bandmaster from the ‘Pink’ regiment, wears a janissary styled costume [2].
In 1832, the bands of music in all corps, wore: "blue coats, with scarlet collars, and lace of the same colour, with yellow silk embroidery." [3]
In 1832, the bands of music for the guards have gold embroidery [4].
In 1832, the fifers, drummers, and trumpeters are dressed like the other troops [5].
Comparatively, the period 1792-1839 saw many British Army Bands adopt a variety of fantasy Turkish music costumes for their bandsmen [6].
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[1] Vinkhuizjen Collection.
[3] [4] [5] Knotel, R. Knoetl, H. Sieg, H. 1980 Uniforms of the World - A Compendium of Army, Navy and Air Force Uniforms 1700 - 1937. Arms Armour Press, London.
[6] Flaherty, C. 2014 British Regimental Bands Turkish Musicians.
According to 1832 account: "The surgeons wear a light-blue coat, with a low collar and carmine cuffs. Field apothecaries have plain ash-coloured coats". [1] [2]
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[1] Knotel, R. Knoetl, H. Sieg, H. 1980 Uniforms of the World - A Compendium of Army, Navy and Air Force Uniforms 1700 - 1937. Arms Armour Press, London.
[2] "the Veterinarian school was established around 1827, and was part of the College of Medicine, who produced physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, and veterinarians." Layla J. Aksakal, Peter Barton Hutt (2003) The Sick Man and his Medicine: Public Health Reform in the Ottoman Empire and Egypt.
In 1832 the cadets of the general staff wear the uniform of the infantry officers, without crescent badges, and with differing embroidery, than that seen on the officer’s uniforms [1].
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[1] Knotel, R. Knoetl, H. Sieg, H. 1980 Uniforms of the World - A Compendium of Army, Navy and Air Force Uniforms 1700 - 1937. Arms Armour Press, London.
In 1832, the pupils of the cavalry school wear scarlet officers' uniforms [1].
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[1] Knotel, R. Knoetl, H. Sieg, H. 1980 Uniforms of the World - A Compendium of Army, Navy and Air Force Uniforms 1700 - 1937. Arms Armour Press, London.