Returning from a Review (Detail of Officers)

The officers of Skinners Horse were nearly all Indian at this time. The three British officers are shown here, Col. James Skinner on a richly bedecked brown horse and the bearded Major William Fraser on a grey. They wear light dragoon uniform which was slightly out of date at the time. The Tarleton-style helmets were taken out of use in the British army c1819. They have tight-fitting blue dolman-style jackets with red collars and cuffs and silver lace and braid.. Round their waists are girdles of red and gold. Their white overalls are baggy and strap under the boots. They have white pouchbelts and dark coloured sword-belts. The officer with a spear is Lt. James Skinner, son of Col. Skinner. He is 'attacking' an Indian officer who is demonstrating the kind of trick riding that the regiment was famous for; hanging on to the pommel of his saddle with one foot in the left stirrup and firing a pistol to the rear. Both these officers have flowing yakhair under their saddle-cloths. An Indian officer in the forground with his back to us, carries a long lance with a tent-peg on the end. Most of the Indian officers have red and yellow saddle-cloths and no throat plumes.