The group photo from which this detail is taken was posed to show different orders of dress in the 44th Bengal Native Light Infantry, as it was then titled. Sepoys strike poses in the foreground, mostly in dark green dress jackets, pantaloons, Kilmarnock caps and black puttees. The black facings down the front of the jacket can be seen more easily here.They have black leather waist-belts which support a bayonet and a kukri. A sepoy on marching order and khaki service dress holds his rifle ready.
The young man standing in the middle is in white mufti with his kukri tucked into the front of his waist sash. Either side of him are the officers. The British officer behind his right shoulder appears to have an undress smock or patrol jacket. Behind the young man’s left shoulder is the Subadar-Major who was Mahabulla Khan. He was the most senior Indian officer in the regiment, appointed on 23 Nov 1879 and retaining that position until 9 July 1887. He has a medal for the Indian Mutiny. In the battle at the Cachua River in December 1857 Major Byng was killed and the mutineers called the sepoys to join them but Mahabulla Khan, who was Byng’s bugler at the time, shouted back that they had only killed their sergeant-major. He was ordered to sound the charge and joined the attack which was successful. He was awarded the Indian Order of Merit and died in 1899.
