These sowars are shown in action firing their carbines from the saddle. The short barrelled percussion muskets were not very accurate for distance firing but when used by a group of men were a deterrent for enemy patrols. The undress uniform consists of a French grey stable jacket and trousers. The trousers have a white stripe and the jacket has orange facings and white edging. There is also white piping up the back seams and the back of the sleeves. The dark blue peakless forage caps have white cap-bands and a blue button on top. These men are also armed with a sword and two pistols. The saddle is covered with a black sheepskin and there are blue valises strapped to the back of the saddle with ‘III LC’ embroidered on the circular ends. They have plain black leather sabretaches slung from white leather slings.
The regiment had 15 skirmishers in each Troop so that there were 90 skirmishers in each of the 10 regiments of the Bengal Light Cavalry. The 3rd BLC mutinied at Meerut on 10 May 1857 because 85 of the skirmishers refused to touch the cartridges for their carbines, and were given harsh prison sentences. These well-trained men were regarded as the elite soldiers in the regiment which makes the unfair treatment they received all the more astonishing.
