Button, officer, 16th Bengal Lancers, 1900-1903

Small gilt button by Gaunt, with the initials, 'B' and 'L', flanking the intersection of two crossed lances, with the regimental number, in Roman numerals, 'XVI', below, and a King's Crown above.

The 16th Bengal Cavalry's origin lies in the creation of the Rohilkhand Horse in 1857, during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859), by Captain Francis Geach Crossman (1820-1868). Renamed the 16th Bengal Cavalry in 1862 the regiment was disbanded in 1882 but re-raised in 1885 as the 16th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry. In 1900 the regiment became the 16th Regiment of Bengal of Lancers and the 16th Bengal Lancers in 1901. The 16th Lancers served in the 3rd China War (Boxer Rebellion) (1900-1901). The regiment survived the reform of the Indian Army in 1903 as the 16th Cavalry but was amalgamated with the 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers (Watson's Horse) in 1921, as the 13th/16th Cavalry. In 1922 the regiment was renamed the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.