Lieutenant Walter Fane of Fane's Horse (later the 19th Regiment of Bengal Lancers), 1860 (c)

Oil on panel by unknown artist, 1860 (c).

Lieutenant Fane (1828-1885) of the Madras Native Infantry raised an irregular cavalry unit for service in China in 1860. The recruits were taken from regiments being disbanded in the aftermath of the Indian Mutiny. The new regiment largely consisted of Sikhs, Pathans and Punjabi Moslems as caste restrictions prevented many Hindus serving overseas. Fane's unit took part in the capture of the Taku Forts and on returning to India in 1860 became the 19th Bengal Cavalry (Lancers).