Northern Bengal Mounted Rifles - Cap Badge

The unit was originally formed in 1872 as the Northern Bengal Volunteer Rifle Corps, drawing heavily on British tea planters for recruits. In 1889 the auxiliary unit was reorganised as the Northern Bengal Mounted Rifles, with Darjeeling as its headquarters. The motto of the unit was 'Fideliter', meaning 'faithfully' or 'with reliance on God'. a beautiful cap badge as found in the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection at the National Army Museum. Few examples ever come to market so a very rare piece.