Regimental silver, 36th Sikhs, no date

Photograph, no date.

The photograph shows, in the centre, a miniature obelisk very similar to a piece of regimental silver in the National Army Museum Collection which commemorates the 36th (Sikh) Regiment of Bengal Infantry's last stand at Saragarhi on the North West Frontier of India in 1897. The obelisk is flanked by two silver figurine groups, each depicting three Sikh infantrymen.

On 12 September 1897, during the Tirah Force Expedition, 21 soldiers of the 36th (Sikh) Regiment of Bengal Infantry fought a desperate last ditch stand to defend a British outpost at Saragarhi. Rather than surrender to an overwhelming force of hostile Afghan tribesmen, the soldiers fought to the death. The defenders were all posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit.

From an album of 30 photographs, impressed on the cover, 'Jullundur 1887. Mardan 1937', associated with 4th Battalion 11th Sikh Regiment, between 1887 and 1937.