#8289 Bengal Lancers

Dated: January 26, 2013.

The cavalry regiments of the Bengal Army were among the most colourful and effective mounted troops of British India. Many had begun as locally raised irregular cavalry, recruited for particular campaigns or frontier duties, before becoming permanent regiments of the Indian Army. Although their titles, uniforms and recruiting areas varied, the popular name "Bengal Lancers" came to represent the turbaned Indian cavalryman armed with lance, sword and carbine.

Box art

These regiments were commanded by British officers, with Indian officers and non-commissioned officers providing much of the day-to-day leadership. Their ranks commonly included Sikhs, Punjabi Muslims, Jats, Rajputs and other communities selected according to the recruiting practices of the individual regiment. Horses, uniforms and equipment could differ considerably, so there was never one universal Bengal Lancer appearance.

Line drawing

The lance remained an important weapon for mounted shock action, but Bengal cavalry performed many other duties. They reconnoitred ahead of marching columns, patrolled borders, escorted convoys and officers, carried messages and pursued retreating opponents. When terrain or enemy fire made mounted action impractical, the men could dismount and use their carbines. This versatility made Indian cavalry particularly valuable in the open country of the North-West Frontier and during campaigns in Afghanistan and elsewhere in Asia.

Test shot (may go through substantial revisions prior to release).

This set contains twelve mounted Bengal Lancers in four rider poses, together with twelve horses. Separate arms and weapons allow figures to be equipped with upright or levelled lances, swords, carbines and a trumpet. Rolled equipment may also be attached to the saddles, providing additional variation. The relatively calm horse poses are particularly suitable for patrols, escorts, reconnaissance and troops waiting to deploy.

The figures wear turbans, long tunics and riding boots in the general style of late-19th-century Indian cavalry. Because individual Bengal regiments used different facing colours, turban patterns and uniform details, painters can adapt the figures to represent several units rather than being restricted to one named regiment. Contemporary photographs and uniform illustrations should be consulted when portraying a particular regiment.

These figures work especially well with our Colonial Wars Indian Infantry, British infantry, artillery, mounted troops and transport sets. They may form the cavalry element of a British Indian column, escort a General Service wagon convoy, patrol the frontier or take part in a larger imperial expedition.

Duties of the Bengal Lancers
- Reconnaissance, scouting routes and locating enemy forces.
- Frontier patrols, watching roads, passes and settlements.
- Convoy escort, protecting supplies and communications.
- Mounted attack, charging with lance and sword.
- Pursuit, following and dispersing a retreating enemy.
- Dismounted action, fighting with carbines when necessary.

A note on the name
"Bengal Lancers" was not the title of one single regiment. It describes a number of cavalry regiments originating in the Bengal Army and later serving in the British Indian Army. Each regiment had its own history, recruitment and uniform distinctions.