The King’s Dragoon Guards sailed from England in November 1907, and on arrival in India were quartered at Ambala. In 1911 King George V toured India and there was a grand Durbar at Delhi. This photo was taken in 1911 and may show how the band were dressed for the Durbar. They are in dismounted summer uniform with yellow cord aiguillettes. The bandmaster had gold aiguillettes and sits near the middle of the front row. In the centre is the time-beater, with his large bass drum in front of him. His aiguillettes are hooked up close to his left shoulder so that they do not get in the way when the drum is attached to the strap around his neck.
To the right of the time-beater is the band sergeant with three gold chevrons on his upper right arm. He holds a bassoon. Next to him is the sergeant trumpeter (trumpet-major) with four inverted stripes and a gold embroidered crossed trumpets badge above. Some of the other bandsmen have crossed trumpet badges on their upper right arm indicating that they are trumpeters doubling up as bandsmen. In front of the seated figures, as well as the bass drum, there are the kettle drums with their banners, and the snare drum.
