'2nd Lancers marching past Poona', 1893

Photograph, Poona, 1893.

Poona (now Pune, Maharashtra) was a large garrison town in the Bombay Presidency during the period in which Britain ruled India. A cantonment was established there after the 3rd Maratha War (1816-1819).In 1816, the 2nd Bombay Lancers was first raised as the 'Second Native Troop' of the Bombay Squadron of Cavalry. It became a separate regiment in 1817, known as the 2nd Regiment of Bombay Light Cavalry and, other than briefly being renamed 2nd Regiment of Bombay Silladar Light Cavalry in 1861, it kept this title until 1883, when it was renamed as the 2nd Bombay Lancers.Under Lord Kitchener's major reforms, which were instituted in the 1890s and implemented by 1903, the three Presidency Armies were brought together to become the Indian Army. Units were renumbered in order to avoid confusion, with Bombay cavalry regiments adding thirty to their existing number, so the 2nd Bombay Lancers became the 32nd Bombay Lancers.From an album of 66 photographs, India, 1893.