18th Bengal Lancers, 1897 (c)

Glass negative, W Gregory and Company, 51 Strand, London, 1897 (c).

This image comes from a collection of glass plate negatives associated with William Gregory and Company. The negatives depict the British Army, including some members of the colonial forces, 'at home' in Britain during the 1890s.

As well as being intimate portraits of soldiers from this era, the images provide detailed illustrations of uniforms worn during the high point of military tailoring.

Small contingents of soldiers representing Colonial Forces came to the United Kingdom for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1897, as well as participating in various Royal Tournaments during this period.

This negative shows six non-commissioned officers of the 18th Regiment of Bengal Lancers in service dress uniform, apparently standing next to a ship. They wear blue turbans of regimental pattern, khaki kurtas with shoulder chains and have cummerbunds tied around their waist. Khaki breeches are tucked into puttees-- long pieces of cloth that are wound round the lower legs to protect the wearer from mud. Many of them have service ribbons on their left breast indicating medals awarded.

Most of them seem to be lance-daffadars, with two rank chevrons on their upper arms. The man standing third from the left is a higher rank, at least a sergeant. Many of them also have chevrons on their lower sleeves, indicating 6 years (two chevrons) or 12 years (3 chevrons) good conduct.

One of a collection of 280 glass negatives, associated with W Gregory and Company, London, and F G O Stuart, 1892 (c)-1900.