1st Bengal Light Cavalry

The Diary of an Indian Cavalry Officer, Pagioda Tree Press, Bath, 2003 is the diary of John Hatfield Brooks who was an officer in this Regiment form 1843 till it was disbanded in 1858. Unfortunately most of the earliest years are missing, so we lack the first hand account of the Maharjpoor Campaign and the Sikh Wars. But the diary is complete from 1849. The diarist gives a vivid view of cantonment life in pre-Mutiny India, and also sheds light on the annexation of Oude. When the Mutiny broke out in 1857, the Regiment was at Mhow in SW Bengal and Brooks describes in some detail the events there.

The diary continues till 1863, by which time the officers of the Regiment had transferred to the new 1st Bengal European Light Cavalry, which in turn became the 19th Hussars in the Queen's (ie British) Army.