A Duffadar of the 1st Bengal Cavalry. (1896)
The 1st Bengal Cavalry, of which distinguished regiment we
here see a Duffadar, or sergeant, is one of the oldest mounted corps now
existing on the Bengal establishment of the Indian Army. It is the
famous old 1st Irregular Cavalry of "John Company's" forces -
"Skinner's Horse" - and was first raised as long ago as
1803. As one of the faithful few among the East India Company's
regiments during the Mutiny the 1st Irregulars were, in 1860, taken into
the Queen's Service as the senior cavalry regiment of the Bengal Army, the
regiment being further permitted to retain its record of battle services
under the old regime :- Bhurtpore (1805), and Candahar (1842). The
uniform of the 1st B.C. is yellow with black facings.
