NAM.1983-03-26-1

Pouch, officers’, 7th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry, 1867 (c). Black patented leather box and frontal flap. Box lined with red Russian leather. On front of box a pocket of black patented leather divided horizontally into two by a piece of green leather. On each side of box, gilt metal belt fittings of acorn and oak leaf design. On base of box a gilt metal stud for attaching to a strap of black leather. On centre of frontal flap, the following gilt metal design: the Roman numeral VII, below which, but separate from, a frosted scroll bearing the title: BENGAL CAVALRY. Above all, the pierced entwined letters: BC surmounted by an Imperial Crown. Originally raised in Meerut in 1846 as the 16th Regiment of Bengal Irregular Cavalry it was renumbered the 17th Regiment in 1847. In 1861 the unit was renamed the 7th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry. A number of name changes occurred in the early 1900s as the Indian Army underwent reform. In 1904 the unit became the 7th Hariana Lancers and in 1922 it was amalgamated with the 6th King Edward's Own Cavalry resulting in the formation of the 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry.