Overall: 15cm (6in) x 9.7cm (4.7in) x 8.2cm (3.2in)
Silvered copper. Modelled as a wild boar, mounted on a polished wood base bearing silver scrolls inscribed with title, dates of existence, and the regimental motto, adopted on 1 April 1917, ‘Nec Aspera Terrent’ (They are not frightened of hardships). Boar overall: 4cm x 8cm.
The Bihar Light Horse was raised in 1862 and formed part of the Cavalry Reserve of British India. Its origins reached back to the Bengal Mutiny when some forty members of Bihar’s European community (mostly indigo planters and government officials) banded together in Muzaffarpur and garrisoned the civil surgeon’s bungalow, ‘Fort Pill Box’, against would-be insurrectionists. Spurred on by the suppression of the Mutiny and worried by the Indigo Revolt of 1859, in which white planters were publicly tried and executed by rebellious peasants, permission was formally given to raise the Soubah Behar Mounted Rifles Volunteer Corps in 1862. Planter Fred Collingridge, who once faced down local bandits with a hog spear after they had broken his arm, became the first commanding officer.
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'Pig-sticking', the hunting of wild boar with the lance, was a popular recreation for Indian Army cavalry units and may explain the adoption of the boar as the Bihar Light Horse's emblem. The unit's commander petitioned the Secretary to the Government of India for the unit to be allowed to carry lances but this request was declined and the men were issued with carbines. Divided into North and South Ganges Troops, the regiment was renamed The Bihar Light Horse Volunteer Corps in February 1884, and year later even proffered volunteers for service in the Sudan following the news of General Gordon’s murder at Khartoum. In 1900 a detachment of officers and men were granted leave to South Africa to fight the Boers. During the world wars it served in India, latterly in aid of the civil power. As with other volunteer units it was disbanded at Indian Independence in 1947, with remaining regimental funds used in payment for these silver hog trophies.
