Lumsden's Horse

Lumsden's Horse was the name given to the Indian Mounted Infantry Corps, which was formed in Calcutta in 1899 by Lt Colonel Dugald Mactavish Lumsden of the Assam Valley Light Horse. The new corps was raised from volunteers from various existing Indian regiments, including the Assam Valley Light Horse. Colonel Lumsden contributed 50,000 rupees.

The Corps left Calcutta 250 strong in February 1900 to take part in the Second Boer War, under the command of Field Marshall Lord Roberts. The Corps took part in the march to Bloemfontein, the occupation of Johannesburg and Pretoria, the pursuit of de Wet, and the Barberton & De Kaap campaigns against the Boers.

Lord Curzon, Viceroy and Governor General of India placed a memorial tablet in St.Paul's Cathedral, Calcutta. It lists those of the Corps who died in action and in sickness.

This unit should not be confused with another horse regiment, the famous Guides Cavalry, which was also founded by a Lumsden, whose surname was eventually added to that regimental title too: Queen Victoria's Own Guides Cavalry (Lumsden's).

References

* Henry H S Pearse, "The History of Lumsden's Horse", Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1903.