A Cavalry Manual for the use of Officers of the Bengal Cavalry.

HILL, R. B.

Published by Simla: Printed at the Simla Advertiser Press, S. T. Wallace, & Co., 1869

About this Item

Rare, unrecorded Indian cavalry manual; this copy with a fine military provenance, inscribed at head of the title page, "G. H. Elliott, 3rd B[engal] C[avalry]" and with a number of emendations in his hand noting updates to general orders. George Hambley Elliott (d. 1931) was gazetted ensign with the 91st Highlanders in July 1867, transferring to the 93rd the following month before joining the Bengal Staff Corps, becoming lieutenant (1870), captain (1879), major (1881) and retiring in 1899 with the rank of colonel. He saw action in the Second Afghan War, accompanying Roberts in the march to Kandahar and was present at the action there, being mentioned in despatches. He was also the author of The Armament of Cavalry (Allahabad, 1875). Interestingly, his obituary in The Cavalry Journal (vol. 21, 1931), noted that "the Cavalry Club owes him much, for he was largely responsible for the establishment of the library". The four pages of penciled notes on binder's blanks at the end appear not to be in his hand; they regard medical conditions of horses, such as spavin and "sprains of the back sinews". The author, Captain R. B. Hill, served with the 60th Native Infantry, who mutinied at Rohtak in June 1857. The Army List for 1870 shows that he joined the 1st Bengal Cavalry on 1 January 1862, and was officiating 2nd in command and squadron officer. The concluding section of his book deals with cavalry organization for the Abyssinian Expedition of 1867, also known as the Magdala Campaign. Octavo (198 x 122 mm). Late 19th century reddish-brown buckram, brown roan label, green-and-gilt floral-patterned endpapers, top edge gilt. Bookplate of The Cavalry Club, designed by Captain Nevile Wilkinson. Old splash stain at foot of pp. 67-72. A very good copy.

Seller Inventory # 140765

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Cavalry Manual for the use of Officers of the Bengal Cavalry.
• Publisher: Simla: Printed at the Simla Advertiser Press, S. T. Wallace, & Co., 1869
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)