One mounted and two dismounted Indian lancers, 1897

Photograph by F Bremner, India, 1897.

A lancer stands to attention next to an NCO while a mounted Indian officer points with his sabre. By the late 19th century many cavalry regiments comprised troopers with lances (as well as sabres or other secondary weapons) in the front rank and men with sabres in the second, the lances for the initial shock and sabres for the subsequent mêlée.

From photograph album of 60 photographs taken by F Bremner, Quetta, June 1897.