Important Notice

More Images

Frederic Peter Layard, Line of March of a Bengal Regiment, London: Ackermann & Co., [Circa 1845]

1st edition. A booklet with hand-coloured lithograph strip panorama measuring 7.5 x 70.4 cm, consisting of 22 sheets conjoined, concertina-folded into oblong portfolio measuring 9.3 x 33.8 cm; title from label pasted on inside cover. Vignette of a native soldier and palm trees. Lettered to frontispiece "Line of March of a Bengal Regiment of Infantry in Scinde." "H. Alken" "Ackermann & Co. 96, Strand, London" and "Madeley lith, 3, Wellington St. Strand." Folding into publisher's brown cloth covered boards, covers decoratively bordered in blind stamp, upper board with title gilt-lettered and boxed in a custom-made solander box.

The procession advances from right to left with captions appearing close to the bottom of the image. From right to left they read:

1. Title. 2. Striking Tents. 3. Magazine Camels / Physic Bhangy. 4. Hackery with Sick / Hospital Establishment / Native Doctor. 5. Brahmins Praying in a Tank. 6-7. [untitled, but The Army Marching.] 8. Orderly, Commanding Officer. 9. Band / Guide 10. [untitled, but Officers Riding together.] 11. Dak Runners / Halfway Coffee Lub. 12. Breakfast Kit / Sowari Camel / Duffadar of the 4th Irregular Cavalry with Despatches. 13. Advance Guard. 14. Officer in Command of Advance Guard / Palkee / Massalchee. 15. Guard Escorting Prisoners / Moonshi in a Bylee. 16. Grass Cutter / Scindies / Mess Khansaman / Dooly. 17. Saes or Groom / Quarter Master / Faqueer. 18. Mess Stores / Mess Kidmutgar / Cook / Mess Tent. 19. Berri Wallah or Shepherd / Mess Cattle / Bhangi Burdar / Puckauli / Baggage. 20. Hackery with Baggage / Pandit / Dundia with Nirikh Boo / Bunneah & Supplies for Regiment / Dundia Carrying The Bazar Flag. 21. Paraih Dog / Dundia or Weighman / Naik of the Bazar Guard / Grookedar / Dhobie & Wife Bearer / Bheestie / Mentur / Private Tent Pitcher & Master's Monkey. 22. Officer's Baggage / Jemadarof Russud Guard or Foraging Party / Khiomutgar & Cooley with Cooking Kit. 23. Baggage Camel of the Russud Guard / Camp Followers / Quarter Master Sergeant / Thundi Wallahs or Camp Color Men / Clashi or Tent Pitcher.

Artist Frederic Peter Layard of the 19th Bengal Native Infantry created this booklet with a long folding illustration of the line of march of a regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in the service of the East India Company. The panorama of the "Line of March" not only depicts the Advance Guard, but also many vignettes of local life, with the printed captions below the images.

The Index to British Military Costume Prints states that the print is by Lt. F P Layard, 19th Bengal Native Infantry. Born in Bath, the son of Henry Peter John Layard, a former Judge at Colombo in Ceylon, Frederic Peter Layard (1818-1891) became Bengal Army Ensign, 19th Bengal Native infantry in 1838; Captain in 185I; Major in 1862; and Colonel with Bengal Staff Corps in 1864. Layard is known to have left India on the steamer Victoria in February 1843 for Great Britain - it seems very likely that it was during this visit to Britain that the drawings were placed in Ackermann's hands for publication.

References: J R Abbey, Life, p. 515

NON-EXPORTABLE