1903 Delhi Durbar. The Imperial Cadet Corps in camp

A full plate, 11½ x 8¼  ins photograph showing the Imperial Cadet Corps in camp. The photograph is well toned but there are two creases, more visible from the back. The three officers in the centre are, viewed from the left, Major W. A. Watson, Commandant, General H. H. Sir Pratap Singh, Maharaja of Idar, Honorary Commandant, Captain D. H. Cameron, Adjutant.To the left of these is Lieut. Rao Bahadur Thakur Dip, Assistant Adjutant. The always stern looking Major Watson and Capt. Cameron were both on secondment from the Central India Horse to what was then the very newly formed royal bodyguards.  At this time the cadets on view here included five ruling princes [Jodhpur, Kishengarh, Jaora, Rutlam, and Dholpur], the rest being sons of rulers. By the time of the 1911 Durbar when the Corps escorted the King Emperor their strength had risen to well over thirty. One of our illustrations shows the composition of the Corps at the 1903 Durbar as listed in out reference copy of the Official Directory.   aug9/1   SOLD 27th September 2023