'26th (Baluchistan) Regiment of Bombay Infantry', 1893

Photograph by Frederick Bremner (1863-1941), India, 1893.

Three soldiers of the 26th (Baluchistan) Regiment of Bombay Infantry.

The photograph is captioned (from left to right): 'Lance-Naick. (Afghan: Durrani). Review Order'; 'Lance-Naick. (Pathan: Wazir). Marching Order'; 'Jemadar. (Baluch: Brahui). Review Order.'.

The 26th Bombay Native Infantry was the last regiment of infantry to be raised by the Bombay Army of the East India Company, being established in 1825 as the 2nd Extra Battalion of Bombay Native Infantry. Its name was changed a year later. The regiment served in the Persian War (1856-1857), on the North West Frontier of India.

The word 'Native' was dropped from the unit title in 1885 and the name changed again in 1892, to the 26th (Baluchistan) Regiment of Bombay Infantry. The regiment served in the 3rd China War (Boxer Rebellion) (1900-1901).

Reform of the Indian Army in 1901 and 1902 led to the regiment being renamed the 26th Baluchistan Infantry and the 126th Baluchistan Infantry respectively. During World War One (1914-1918) the regiment served in Aden, Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Bremner, born in Scotland, worked for his brother-in-law G W Lawrie's photographic company in Lucknow, India from 1883 to 1891. Bremner established his own studios in Quetta and Rawalpindi. By 1905 he was operating in Quetta and Lahore, and in 1911 he also had a studio in the hill station at Simla.

From an album entitled, 'Types of the Indian Army'; 'Bengal and Punjab Armies', an album of 60 photographs produced in Quetta, India 1897. The album shows the uniforms and weapons of the Indian Army, 'Illustrating the races enlisted in the Bengal, Punjab, Madras & Bombay Armies, Dedicated (By permission) To His Excellency General Sir George Stewart [sic] White V.C., G.C.I.E., K.C.B., Commander-in-Chief in India.'.