This photo of a group of senior Indian officers, probably taken at Allahabad, shows the dress uniform, the same as that worn in the 1890 group photo. They all wear puttees which within a few years were replaced by knee boots, as worn by the British officers. The officer on the right of the picture is Ali Muhammed Khan who was photographed several times up until 1903. Their blue kurtas do not show the light blue facings as the cuffs are covered by white leather gauntlets. They have shoulder chains which would have their rank badges. At that time the senior officers were Risaldars and Risaidars (or Ressaidar) , whereas the later ranking had a Risaldar-Major as the most senior, followed by Risaldars and Jemadars. The officer in the middle is probably Risaldar Kala Singh who was a King’s Orderly Officer in 1904.
They hold their swords which are in scabbards of brass and black leather. Kala Singh’s scabbard is attached to slings from his waist-belt. Ali Muhammed Khan has a sword frog attached to his slings that the scabbard would slot into when dismounted. When mounted, the scabbard would be attached to the saddle, or at least the spare shoe case.
The men standing behind the Risaldars are either NCOs or privates. They wear blue kurtas without facings, but with white metal shoulder chains on which would be the brass shoulder title. They have brown leather Sam Browne belts which have a brown leather frog to hold the sword scabbard when dismounted. They have red kummerbunds under the waist-belt. The man on the left has his pagri in Sikh fashion while the man on the right is a Rajput or a Muslem. They hold lances which were restored to the regiment in 1890 after an absence of 60 years or more.
The 2nd Bengal Lancers were stationed at Allahabad from 1890 to 1893. Before that, from 1885 to 1889, their headquarters was at Saugor, with detachments at Sutna and Jubbulpore. From 1894 they were at Bareilly.
The 1892 Army List states that:
‘Each Regiment of Bengal Cavalry consists of 8 Troops, with the following Establishment: — Commandant; 4 Squadron Commanders; 4 Squadron Officers; 1 Medical Officer; 4 Risaldars; 4 Risaidars; 1 Woordie Major [native Adjutant]; 8 Jamedars; 8 Kote Dafedars; 56 Dafedars; 8 trumpeters; 536 Privates.’
