Whistle and chain, Northern Bengal Mounted Rifles, 1889

Silver plate whistle and chain; the circular boss has a lion's head in relief with a suspension ring in its jaws.

The unit was originally formed in 1872 as the Northern Bengal Volunteer Rifle Corps, drawing heavily on British tea planters for recruits. In 1889 the auxiliary unit was reorganised as the Northern Bengal Mounted Rifles, with Darjeeling as its headquarters. The motto of the unit was 'Fideliter', meaning 'faithfully' or 'with reliance on God'.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.