1st Punjab Cavalry


British officer c1894


There are three orders of dress in this group photo. 'The most formal is the patrol jacket worn by the two men on the left and the central figure, 'William O'Malley. It is blue with five rows of black mohair cord and black braid on the cuff in the shape of a Bengal knot. The trousers are blue, with gold stripes at this stage. The seated officer on the left has the red and gold pill box cap while the other two have white helmets with multi-coloured pagri.

Three officers at the back and one seated have the blue frock with shoulder chains and brown leather Sam Browne supporting the sword. They have white gauntlet gloves and drab cord breeches with black boots. The white helmet was worn with this order of dress.

The officer on the right is in khaki service dress, normally reserved for summer wear. He has a khaki helmet with a pagri of the same colour. 'His belts and boots are of brown leather and he has short brown leather gloves.

There were two forms of Review Order worn by British officers for special parades, A and B. 'Review Order A had the hussar pattern blue tunic with red and gold collar and cuffs and gold cord sewn along the edges, and black cords hanging across the chest in five rows of four. This was worn with white breeches, white helmet and short white gloves. Before 1868 the tunic was more in line with the hussar pattern and had buff facings and silver lace. See John Watson VC. 'Review Order B was the Indian style dress; turban, blue kurta, low red collar and cuffs, gold lace, white gauntlets, white breeches and red cummerbund. 'The plain black leather pouchbelt was worn in both orders of dress.


Uniforms | Regimental History


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by Stephen Luscombe