Corps of Guides


Sepoy and Sowar, 1901


It is interesting to compare this illustration from Simkin's Types of the Indian Army lithograph with Lovatt's painting (see Sepoy and Daffadar 1910). The sepoy standing on the left in both cases has a similar turban tied in the Pathan style with a red pointed kullah, but the upper garment is very different. In this illustration, a tunic is worn of a drab colour that is more grey than the trousers. The collar, cuffs and epaulettes are scarlet and piping of the same colour traces the front edge and rear vents. The waistbelt is brown leather with a matching pouch at the back. This differs from the similarly dressed sepoy in the photo Group 1903 who has his pouch more conveniently at the front. He has khaki puttees and brown boots and holds a Martini-Henry rifle.
The Sikh sowar is based on the mounted figure on the left of the photo Review Order Cavalry. His upper garment is not a tunic but a kurta with turndown red collar edged in drab lace. His cuffs are red and his kummerbund is plain red. He has the cavalry style pouchbelt with silver chain and pickers worn over a Sam Browne belt. His Puttees are khaki, not black as in the Lovatt painting and the group photo, but agreeing with the Review order photo which was probably taken in 1897.


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by Stephen Luscombe