Button, officer, 37th Lancers (Baluch Horse), 1903-1922

Medium-sized gilt button by J R Gaunt and Son Limited, London, with the regimental number, '37', over crossed lances.

The 37th Bombay Lancers (Baluch Horse) was raised in 1885 as the 7th Bombay Cavalry (Jacob-Ka-Rissallah). It was renamed in 1886 as the 7th Bombay Cavalry (Belooch Horse), and then became the 7th Bombay Lancers (Belooch Horse) in 1890.

It was re-titled as the 37th Bombay Lancers (Baluch Horse) under Lord Kitchener's 1903 Indian Army reforms, and this was the regiment's title when World War One (1914-1918) began. At this time, the regiment was stationed at Multan and consisted of two squadrons of Derajat Musalmans and Baluchis, and one each of Pathans and Sikhs.

The regiment had a quiet war and seemed to primarily undertake garrison duties. One squadron was however deployed to Persia. In 1919, the regiment moved to Ambala, and also participated in the 3rd Afghan War (1919), earning the battle honour 'Afghanistan 1919'. In 1920, it relocated to Mesopotamia and contributed to the suppression of the 1920 Iraq Revolt. Returning to Multan in India in July 1921, the unit amalgamated with the 17th Cavalry to become the 17th/37th Lancers, with the combined regiment renamed as the 15th Lancers in 1922.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.