Essay:
1st Bengal Lancers - Skinner's Horse

Colonel Skinner

The son of Hercules Skinner, a Scotsman, and an Indian Rajputni. This couple had three sons and three daughters, James being the eldest. Hercules was determined to have his daughters educated even though he knew that his wife was immutably opposed to it on the grounds that it violated her Rajput honour. She felt so strongly about it that she killed herself. It is hardly surprising that such determined parents should have a son who grew up to be a famous and charismatic leader. James was educated first at a charity school then at a boarding school. His first employment was as an apprentice to a printers in Calcutta but he hated it and ran away, supporting himself with odd jobs in the bazaar. He was found and taken back home. His next job was with a law firm, copying papers which did not suit him either, so he was relieved when his godfather arrived in town. James told him of his wish to be an officer in the army and the impossibility of realising his dream because of his Indian blood. The godfather suggested that he serve in the Maratha army instead and wrote a letter of introduction for him to the French general, De Boigne, who commanded them.

He was taken on as an ensign, serving for 8 years until 1803. During this time he fought with great courage against various rival chiefs of central India and Rajasthan. The worst time of his life happened after a battle at Uniara in January 1800. They were fighting a rearguard action in which only a few of his men survived. Skinner was left for dead, having been shot in the groin. He lay unconcious from early afternoon until dawn the next day. He had no food or water and lay in terrible pain for two whole days, keeping jackals at bay and not being able to reach other wounded men crying out. His life was eventually saved by an untouchable woman who gave him bread and water. He was taken to the enemy camp where he was well treated and released as soon as he was well enough. He sent 1000 rupees to the old woman who saved him.

There were other campaigns to be fought when he returned to service, notably against a man called George Thomas who was an adventurer who had set himself up as a ruler at Hansi in the Punjab. They attacked him at a fort called Georgegarh but he made a desperate escape and was eventually forced to surrender at Hansi. When war broke out between the Marathas and the British, Skinner and other Anglo-Indian officers refused to fight and were dismissed. He was persuaded to work for the British although he nearly changed his mind at one point when he came up against the inevitable prejudices. But Lord Lake persevered and he agreed to a cavalry command on condition that he did not have to fight his old master, Sindia. After the defeat of Perron's army at Delhi, 800 horsemen deserted to the British and asked to serve them with 'Sikander Sahib' as their commander. Anyone who has seen the film The Man Who Would Be King will know that Sikander is the local name for Alexander (the Great) whose empire reached north-west India. And so was born the famous Irregular Cavalry Corps that became Skinner's Horse.

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Image:
Regimental Durbar, c1830

Colonel James Skinner sits at the apex of the two rows of seated native officers. In the forground is a new recruit on his horse flanked by various people who can be seen more clearly in the Detail. Next to Col Skinner sits his son and adjutant, Lt James Skinner. They wear long yellow coats with orange short jackets. The trumpet-major stands in the forground with reverse colours ie a long orange coat and yellow short jacket. At top right there are men in short blue jackets and red turbans who are gonzalez employed to operate the galloper guns or the swivel zambooraks fired from a camel.