2nd Punjab Cavalry Sowars (b/w photo)

2nd Punjab Cavalry Sowars. Photograph from an album previously owned by General Sir Sam Browne VC, 1857-1870 circa. ‘Sowar’ was the lowest enlisted rank in the Indian Cavalry, equivalent to a trooper in the British Cavalry. The 2nd Regiment of Punjab of Cavalry was raised by Lieutenant Sam Browne in 1849. The unit, loyal to the British, fought in the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and saw extensive service on the frontier with Afghanistan. In 1903, with the amalgamation of the regiments of the three Indian presidency armies (Bengal, Bombay and Madras), the unit became the 22nd Cavalry Frontier Force).