Bikaner Camel Corps, Delhi Durbar, 1911

Photograph from an album entitled, 'Southern Provinces Mounted Rifles Delhi Durbar Contingent, 12th December, 1911', 1911.

The Delhi Durbar of 1911 was held for the formal purpose of enabling King George V as Emperor of India to announce his coronation to his subjects in India, and to receive homage from the Viceroy and his officers, and from the Indian ruling princes. The total number of participants and spectators was estimated at 100,000, including over 30,000 British and Indian soldiers.

The Bikaner Camel Corps was founded in the Indian state of Bikaner in 1889 by Maharaja Ganga Singh. War camels had been used in Bikaner since the 15th century. The unit served in the 3rd China War (Boxer Rebellion) (1900), in Somaliland in 1902-1904, in Egypt during World War One and in the Middle East in World War Two.