British officers and Indian other ranks, 32nd Pioneers in Afghanistan, 1880 (c)

Photograph, 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), 1880 (c).

The 2nd Afghan War was one of the first major campaigns where British and Indian soldiers wore khaki uniforms. As khaki-manufactured uniforms were not always available, the soldiers often had to make their own by dying their white summer uniforms with coffee, tea, curry powder and all kinds of dyes. Khaki drill service dress was introduced universally in India from 1885.