Indian Army Soldiers, Diamond Jubilee, 1897 (c)

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

Soldiers representing British and colonial forces were included in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1897. This photograph was likely to have been taken in association with the Jubilee.

This negative shows two Indian Army soldiers in undress uniform, standing next to a ship. They wear turbans of regimental pattern wound round kullas - small, close-fitting pointed caps. The shoulder titles of their khaki kurtas show their regimental affiliation: '20 Madras'. The soldier on the left of the image has a trade badge on his lower left sleeve that indicates he is a rifleman. Both soldiers wear khaki breeches are tucked into puttees - long pieces of cloth that are wound round the lower legs to protect the inside of the wearer's boots from mud and debris.

One of a collection of 278 glass negatives, Gregory and Company, London, 1895 (c)-1900.