2nd Bengal Lancers Guidons

An article by Captain H Bullock in the Cavalry Journal no.74, October 1929 gives a good explanation of the Standards carried by Indian cavalry regiments. The word Standard is used throughout, but the more correct term for this shaped flag is Guidon. In the British army, rectangular Standards were carried by heavy cavalry, and the swallow-tailed guidons were carried by light dragoons. There was never any heavy cavalry in the Indian army so only guidons existed, but referred to as Standards in written orders.

A General Order from Calcutta in 1818 laid down instructions for Bengal native cavalry regiments. There were to be three Standards per regiment, one for each squadron, the first, dark blue with the Royal Arms, the second crimson with the EIC arms, the third in the facing colour with the regimental number in a Union wreath. Two of the Standards of the 7th Bengal Light Cavalry still exist. Orders for Standards continued until the Indian Mutiny changed everything in 1857. This circular issued by the Adjutant General on 29 June 1864:

‘The Commander-in-Chief is pleased to notify that, after full consideration, Government have decided that regiments of Bengal native cavalry now in possession of standards may retain them, but such standards are not in future to be carried on parade or in the field.

Commanding officers will be careful to explain to their men that this measure is produced only by a desire for the more perfect efficiency of their regiments, with which, as is well known, the use of standards greatly interferes; and for this reason they are are now not borne by corps of British Cavalry.

Standards will not therefore be issued to regiments of Bengal cavalry not now possessing them.’

The post-Mutiny Indian cavalry consisted of former Irregular units, and units raised during the Mutiny so only a few regiments carried standards. Bullock lists four regiments, which, being post-WW1, were amalgamated units, numbered differently from the 1903 list:

2nd Lancers (Gardner’s Horse) (incorporating the 4th Cavalry)

The Scinde Horse (14th Prince of Wales’s Own Cavalry) (formerly the 35th Scinde Horse, and 36th Jacob’s Horse)

16th Light Cavalry (formerly the 27th Light Cavalry, or 2nd Madras Lancers)

The Poona Horse (17th Queen Victoria’s Own Cavalry) (formerly the 33rd QO Light Cavalry, or 3rd Bombay; and the 34th Prince Albert Victor’s Own Poona Horse, or 4th Bombay)