This well preserved jacket is in the National Army Museum (NAM 1964-08-43-1). It belonged to a non-commissioned officer of the 6th Bengal Light Cavalry around the time when that regiment was besieging Bhurtpore. The white cord frogging on the front is in 20 rows which are shorter at the top and bottom. The buttons are decorative, as the jacket fastens with hidden hooks and eyes. There is white cord decoration at the sides and up the back seams. The jacket was described as being French grey although this example seems darker. Officers’ jackets were paler but made of more expensive material.
The collar and cuffs should have orange facings but these appear to be red. The collar is very high and closed at the front, referred to in regulations as a Prussian collar. The shoulder straps are also red with a white edge. The rank chevron stripes on the sleeve indicate the rank of naik on the right sleeve, but there are three stripes on the left sleeve. Jackets of this period had rank showing only on the right sleeve so chevrons on the left are puzzling. The three stripes may be for long service and good conduct.
It is interesting to compare this jacket with an Indian painting of the 4th Bengal Native Cavalry of 10 years earlier.
