Dugald McTavish Lumsden

Aged 22 Lumsden obtained a post with the Borelli Tea Estate in the Tezpur district of Assam.

In 1888 this unit was renamed the Assam Valley Light Horse and Lumsden commanded F Squadron in the Durrung District.

In December 1899, Lumsden was travelling in Australia so he cabled his contacts in Calcutta about raising a unit there and took passage on the first available ship to India.

On 10 January 1900, adverts appeared in the London newspapers requesting men and money for the new volunteer unit.

The Corps left Calcutta 250 strong in February 1900 to take part in the Boer War, under the command of Field Marshal Lord Roberts.