Sikh soldiers, 45th Rattray's Sikhs, 1910 (c)

Photograph, India, 1910 (c).

Three Sikh soldiers of 45th Rattray's Sikhs stand in the foreground while in the background a colleague performs on the high bar. Sport played an important role in the Indian Army. Sporting contests fostered faith in the regiment or corps, reinforced group identity and made soldiers ready to serve a shared cause. The shared experience of playing and watching sport was crucial in developing 'esprit de corps' - feelings of pride and confidence among the men of a unit.

From an album of 72 photographs.