'27th Light Cavalry. 1913. British Officer.', 1927

Watercolour by Edmund A Campbell (1871-1951), 1927, after Major Alfred Crowdy Lovett (1862-1919), 1908 (c).

Full-length portrait of an unidentified officer, 27th Light Cavalry, 1913.

The 27th Light Cavalry traced its lineage to the 3rd Regiment of Cavalry of the Nawab of Arcot's Army, which entered British service in 1776. It underwent several title changes, including 3rd Madras Native Cavalry (1784), 1st Madras Native Cavalry (1784-1786), 4th Madras Native Cavalry (1786-1788), 2nd Madras Native Cavalry (1788-1819), 2nd Madras Light Cavalry (1819-86), 2nd Regiment of Madras Lancers (1886-1901) and 2nd Madras Lancers (1901-1903).

At the outbreak of World War One (1914-1918) the regiment was stationed at Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh and consisted of one squadron each of Madras and Dekhani Musalmans, Punjabi Muslamans, Rathore Rajputs and Jats. The majority of the regiment remained stationed on the North West Frontier for local defence, although contingents were sent as drafts to reinforce other cavalry regiments serving in France and the Middle East. In 1919 the regiment served in the 3rd Afghan War, earning the battle honour 'Afghanistan 1919'. In 1922 the regiment was retitled as the 16th Light Cavalry.