Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Hornsby-Drake in his old uniform, 1st Madras Lancers, 1893

Oil on canvas by William E Miller (fl 1873-1903), 1893 (c).

Hornsby-Drake (1845-1932) joined the Indian Army in 1864 and served with the 1st Madras Light Cavalry (later the 1st Madras Lancers) in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880). He was Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master-General during the 3rd Burma War (1885-1887), then retired in 1887. Here he is shown wearing the uniform of his former regiment, although the portrait was painted some six years later. From 1888 to 1890 he served as a major in the 24th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers and in 1895 was appointed to The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms, a Royal bodyguard, from which he resigned in 1919.