Regulares

[martin goddard]

The regulares (moroccans) are the north African troops employed by the nationalists in the SCW.
i would like some info if anyone has it.
It seems that NCOs and weapon teams wear the red fez. The rest wear the turban thing.  Some pictures seem to go against this, with the rank and file wearing a mixture of fez and turban. can this be so? Anyone also know the differences between summer and winter uniforms for regulares?
Would also like some pictures of them with their knives out. apparently a trianguar type blade.


all a bit detailed , but thought to try here first
thanks in advance.

[Andoreth]

Martin

I have quite a bit on Moroccan units but four days before Salute is not the time to try to pull it together. Perhaps we could speak on Saturday? I have never been too interested in their knives however.

Andrew 

[Andoreth]

It is quite common to see regulares Spanish officers, Moroccan NCO's and buglers in fezes while the remainder of the unit have wrapped their fezes with turbans. As to machine gun troops they wore fezes in the victory parade at the end of the war unlike the turban clad rank and file and earlier photographs from African campaigns show MG teams wearing fezes. However I have seen one Spanish painting showing machine gun troops in helmets fighting alongside turbaned infantry (I think it was supposed to Jarama but my Spanish is not great), possibly reflecting their higher status. As to mixing fezes and turbans there are a couple of photographs of Moroccans in the fighting around Madrid wearing a mix and it seems likely that dress regulations were not strictly adhered to in the field. Regulares summer uniform was normally shirt sleeve order with their top coats worn round the body, winter dress was a mixture of the typical African top coat and where these were not available ordinary Spanish greatcoats.

I have tried looking on google.es for Regulares with knives and while I can find pictures of the knives themselves I can find no photographs, even posed propaganda shots, of troops wielding them in combat. Do you have any evidence that they were actually used much in combat?

I think I sent you a list of Spanish websites previously but did not include this one, a Pinterest site specifically for the regulares https://www.pinterest.se/husarescasal/los-regulares-fuerzas-regulares-ind%C3%ADgenas/

Hope this helps.     

[Andoreth]

Having just written the reply above I have come across another photograph of a unit of Regulares shambling down a road near Almorox. Of the fifty or so men in the picture around 7 stand out for wearing a white turban, the rest of the troops appear to be wearing fezes.

[martin goddard]

very helpful Andy

thanks