Life in the Ranks: The Experiences of a British Cavalryman in Early 19th Century IndiaExperiences of a Light Dragoon The author of this book, William Taylor, has left two books of his life as a cavalryman of the British Army during the early years of Queen Victoria's long reign. This volume concerns his time-principally in India-in the ranks of the 4th Light Dragoons. Its sequel, With the Cavalry to Afghanistan, (also published by Leonaur), concerns his experiences as part of the Army of the Indus in the opening campaigns of the First Afghan War as the British sought to place and maintain the puppet-ruler Shah Shuja on the throne of that perpetually troubled country. Taylor offers invaluable insights into the lot of an ordinary soldier posted to a far away and alien land for years at a time and his books are an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the British cavalry of the period or those with an interested in British India generally. |