The King’s Dragoon Guards were stationed in India from1858 to 1866 with a break in 1860 when they went to China. This illustration by Pierre Turner is an indication of how little the regiment had adapted to campaigning in India and China. The heavy cavalry had not served in India before and because they were rushed out there to quell the Mutiny there was not time to issue them with suitable clothing. Drawings made in China by Colonel H H Crealock show the KDG in their home service uniform.
The helmet is the same pattern as worn in the UK but without the red plume, but it does have a puggaree wrapped around it to reduce the heat. The dress tunic worn by this captain is unlikely to have been worn in India where most photos of British officers serving there show them wearing light material frocks. However, the 2nd Dragoon Guards were seen to charge at Lucknow ‘in their bright scarlet uniform and brass helmets’. British cavalry regiments did not adopt breeches and knee boots until 1871 so this officer is probably wearing gold-striped trousers with locally purchased boots.
