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This group photo of officers of the 2nd Battalion was taken at Dinapore in India, in 1881. The date of the change from the 70th Regiment to the 2nd Battalion East Surreys was 1 July and we can see that some officers have the new uniform while others still have the old 70th uniform. The most obvious difference can be seen on the forage caps; some have 70 and others have the star badge of the East Surreys. The scarlet tunics are the hot-climate frocks worn by the infantry in India. Apart from the officer seated on the extreme right, who is from a cavalry regiment, all the officers have frocks, some with black collars and some with white. The 70th were dismayed to lose their distinctive and unusual black facings, and having to adopt the universal white facings ordered for the non-royal English infantry regiments. The sleeve decoration in gold Russia braid indicates rank. The CO, Lieutenant-Colonel W H Ralston sits hatless in the middle, wearing the white collared frock with a fine display of braid on his cuffs. Sitting on his right hand is a young captain, probably the adjutant, with two visible lines of braid on his white collared frock. Lieutenants had one line of braid as seen on most of the officers standing behind the seats. A major sits the other side of the heavily bearded officer, wearing the old 70th uniform, and we can see the decorative cuffs as worn by field officers. Some white helmets are visible, showing a regimental badge on the right side, placed on a coloured patch.
