BRITISH INDIAN CAVALRY OFFICERS LUNGI. Recently all the effe...

Estimate

£900 - £1,100

BRITISH INDIAN CAVALRY OFFICERS LUNGI. Recently all the effects including uniforms and equipment worn by Major General Sir Chauncy Batho Dashwood Strettell were sold at auction. Strettell, who was appointed to the 3rd Punjab Cavalry in 1902, wore this officers lungi, which is the headdress for British and Indian officers worn whilst being members of Indian cavalry regiments. It is a rare piece of Imperial British headdress, it is constructed in the most beautiful quality materials, the long tapes having crossed patterns of blue and white lace. The lungi has been tailored permanently wrapped, the pagri is with a woven design of the regimental colours of blue, white, blue, gold, blue, white, blue with a gold bullion kullah and long tail. Strettell, commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant 1900, entered the Indian Staff Corps and was promoted to Lieutenant in May 1901, then transferred to the 3rd Punjab Cavalry, rank of Captain January 1909. At the outbreak of the Great War he was in England and raised the Service Squadron of the 6th Dragoons, which he commanded as a Temporary Major between October 14 and June 15 and made a Full Major on the 1st September 1915. He was posted to Mesopotamia and served as Brigade Major in the 7th Indian Cavalry Brigade between December 17 and April 19. He served in various offices with the Indian Army until he retired in November 1940, although he was brought back into active service as Group Commandant of the prisoner of war camps in 1941. He was then Director of Demobilisation and Reconstruction in India from 1941 to 43. A wonderful historical piece of military headdress from the Indian Cavalry