Pole-vaulting at the 14th Punjab Regiment's Sports Day, 1937

Photograph, India, 1937.

Sport played an important role in the Indian Army. Sporting contests fostered faith in the regiment or corps, reinforced group identity and made soldiers ready to serve a shared cause. They also bridged the gap between officers and men, who often had little else in common. The shared experience of playing and watching sport was crucial in developing 'esprit de corps' - feelings of pride and confidence among the men of a unit.

From album of 223 photographs presented to the Royal Military College Sandhurst by the 14th Punjab Regiment, 1937.