Sowar, c1887

This photo was taken before the regiment was officially titled lancers, in 1890, but this shows that they already were armed with the lance. His other weapons are a three bar hilted sword and a percussion carbine.
He is wearing a dark green kurta with silver shoulder chains and brass buttons down the front. His brown leather Sam Browne belt is worn over a red kummerbund. The medal is for service in Burmah 1885-7. He has a strap on his left shoulder which is not leather and must be for a haversack. At first glance it looks as if it supports a pouch by his right elbow but this is an ammunition pouch attached to his waistbelt.
It was usual for Indian cavalrymen to wear dark puttees but in the Hyderabad cavalry they were permitted to wear boots. The 1901 regulations stated that the 1st and 2nd regiments wore brown boots, the 3rd had black boots and the 4th had ankle boots with brown leather gaiters. Also that the first three regiments should wear khaki breeches and the 4th, yellow. So although this man is dressed 14 years prior to these regulations, it is likely that he has black boots, but his breeches look too dark to be khaki.

Uniforms | Regimental History