Off to Pension (A Sikh Officer), 1910

Watercolour by Major Alfred Crowdy Lovett (1862-1919), 1910.

Many of the peoples recruited into the Indian Army and its predecessors had their own long traditions of military service. The Sikhs, Gurkhas, Rajputs, Punjabis, Mahrattas and others were a natural target for British recruiters. Indian soldiers were attracted by the regular pay, honour, land grants and pensions.

This is the original artwork for an illustration in Major G F MacMunn's 'Armies of India', published in 1911.