|
This photo is captioned ‘Loyal Native Officers taken at Umballa'. ‘Loyal’ indicates that these officers did not take part in the mutiny that occurred at Umballa on 10 May 1857. The sepoy regiments stationed there at that time were the 5th and 60th Bengal Native Infantry regiments and these men must have belonged to either of those units. The photo was probably taken in the winter of 1857-58 as they are wearing quilted frock-coats. Four of the officers have rank stripes on their right sleeves, and taller caps, so are in fact NCOs. The Indian infantry was ranked differently to the British army in that the lowest NCO was a lance-naik, then a naik (corporal), Havildar (sergeant) and Havildar-Major (sergeant-major).
The other officers had Viceroy’s Commissions; Jemadar (2nd lieutenant) being the lowest officer rank, then Subedar (lieutenant) and Subedar-Major (captain). These officers wear similar quilted coats but have different caps, slimmer waist-belts and carry swords. They all wear dark, winter trousers whereas in summer they would wear white trousers. |
