Length: 44cm (17.2in)
Silver cavalry trumpet inscribed at the mouth 'Presented to the Officers / of / The Royal Deccan Horse / by / H.H. Harindar Singh / Rajah of Faridkot / 1934’. Makers’ mark of Boosey & Hawkes. Hallmarked London 1934.
The present silver trumpet was given to the officers of the Royal Deccan Horse in 1934 to mark the successful conclusion of a course of instruction with the regiment by the 19 year-old Rajah of Faridkot (1915-1989) who was commissioned as temporary Honorary 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army in May 1933. He was initially attached to 17th Queen Victoria's Own Poona Horse, where he made a name for himself as a fearless sportsman and skilful polo player. He later served with the 1st Battalion (King George V's Own), 11th Sikhs. He served in the Waziristan campaign of 1937, and was promoted successively to become Hon. Colonel, Sikh Light Infantry (1947-1989); Hon. Colonel, King George V's Own Bengal Engineer Group, and Bombay Engineer Group (1951-1989) and Colonel-in-Chief, Faridkot State Forces (1938-1951).