Shoulder title, 17th Bengal Lancers, 1900-1903

Brass title in the form of the regimental abbreviation, '17BL' between straight bars.

The Indian Mutiny of 1857 most affected the Bengal Army, which had significant numbers of disloyal regiments disbanded, and new or reformed units raised in their place. The unit that would become the 17th Bengal Cavalry was first raised in 1857 by Colonel C J Robarts as the Muttrah Horse and was renamed as Muttrah Police Corps in the same year. It originally consisted entirely of Afghan troops.

The following year, it was again renamed as the Rohilkhand Auxiliary Police Levy and then Robart's Horse in 1859. In 1861, it was named the 17th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry and participated in the Bhutan Field Force in 1865. It then served in the 2nd Afghan War, for which it received the battle honour 'Afghanistan 1878-80'.

The regiment was briefly disbanded in 1882 only to be re-raised in 1885 at Meean Meer by Lieutenant Colonel E H E Kauntze, again titled as 17th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry. In 1900, the title of the regiment was adjusted as a Lancer designation, to 17th Regiment of Bengal Lancers, and then shortened in 1901 to 17th Bengal Lancers. Under Lord Kitchener's Indian Army reforms, Bengal regiments retained their existing number, so, by 1903, the regiment was known as the 17th Cavalry.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.