Pouch belt plate, 11th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry (Lancers), 1864-1876 (silver and gilt)

Pouch belt plate, 11th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry (Lancers), 1864-1876. Silver and gilt badge with five-pointed star at the centre, surrounded by a garter bearing the inscription, ‘Heavens Light Our Guide’, and the regimental number ‘XI’. All encircled by a wreath and surmounted by the Imperial Crown. Scolls bear the battle honours, for ‘Lucknow’, ‘Taku Forts’ and ‘Pekin’. This unit was originally raised in Lahore during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859) by Captain Frederick Wale. After Wale’s death in 1858, Major Dighton Probyn took over command of the unit, renamed the 1st Regiment of Sikh Irregular Cavalry. It was initially under the control of the Government of the Punjab but in 1860 authority was transferred to the Commander-in-Chief, India. The regiment served in China during the 2nd China War (1857-1860) hence the presence of the battle honours for the Taku Forts and Peking (Beijing). Re-designated the 11th Bengal Cavalry the unit returned to India in 1861, adding ‘Lancers’ into its name in 1864. After merging with the 12th Cavalry in 1921 the unit became the 5th King Edward’s Own Probyn’s Horse. The regiment survived the partition of India as the 5th Horse, an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.