The Indian Army: 1765

THE INDIAN ARMY: 1765 - 1914

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	A painting (possibly European) of a soldier in the army of Tipu Sultan of Mysore. The city was particularly swift to adopt European-style fire-power and offered fierce sustained resistance to British advances into the Carnatic. Circa 18th century.
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	An excellent black and white sketch displaying the various military uniforms of the Bengal Army, 1797. Left to Right: Artilleryman, Infantryman and Infantry Subedar.
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	A painting by an Indian artist of two members of Ranjit Singh's bodyguard. Ranjit Singh was the founder of the Sikh state. Circa 1800, at the beginning of the Sikh's dominance of the Punjab.
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	Jawans of the Grenadiers Regiment marching with their colours. Circa 1800.
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	A Sepoy, 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles, of the Cuttack Legion. Circa 1817.
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	A painting illustrating a Sowar (Sepoy), 6th Madras Light Cavalry. Circa 1845.
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	A Sepoy, of the Madras Army, showing the standard issue shako of 1852.
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	A British Officer, a Havildar and the men of 1st Gurkha Rifles, 1858.
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	Men of the Loodiaah (Ludhiana) Sikh Regiment in China, Circa 1860. One of the most profitable exports from East India Company's possession was opium, a drug that was sold to addicts in China. When Chinese attempted action against the agents selling the drugs, the reaction was always the same - violence. Despite the termination of the East India Company's mandate, the British Government continued the trade and the armed aggression against the Chinese. The three conflicts which ensued are called the Opium wars for that reason.
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	In 1867 Emperor Theodore III of Abyssinia had, after repeatedly abusing British Citizens, got so far up the British Government's nose that they dispatched an Army miles into the interior of what is now Ethiopia to teach him a lesson. These officers of the 27th Bombay Native Infantry (1st Baluchis) formed part of that lesson. Their commander, wearing a turban in the image, was Major H. Beville.
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	A Gurkha soldier of the Frontier Police, photographed on the North-East frontier of India in 1877. Though he would have worn full uniform in the barracks, at this time soldiers were often allowed to abandon the uncomfortable European boots and trousers in the field.
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	Malta, Circa 1878. A black and white sketch depicting the review of Indian troops on the Floriana Parade, Malta. Russia invaded the Ottoman Empire in 1877. Britain had always held that Russia should not be allowed to break out of the Black Sea, and secure Mediterranean ports. To back up the threat of intervention Indian troops were dispatched to Malta and later helped occupy Cyprus.
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	A painting depicting the Native Officers, 2nd Regiment of Cavalry, Punjab Frontier Force, 1880.
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	The 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles in Burma shows off the two 7 pounder mountain guns it was issued with in 1884. At this point the Regiment was still mixed, only becoming wholly Gurkha in 1885. Circa early 1880s.
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