Gwalior. A Royal Artillery elephant battery, 1881

A very good, clean full plate photograph measuring 11 x 8¼ ins mounted on part of an old card album leaf identified along the top in contemporary ink Elephant Battery 12/9 R.A. in action. Morar Gwalior 1881.The four teams are drawn up with their guns in front  on a large parade ground in front of the Morar Barracks, where several units of the modern Indian Army are still based. The difficulty of taking photographs in the days of the large plate camera is evidenced by the left elephant’s clear failure to stand still and smile for the camera.    oct15/2

The Maharajas of Gwalior must have been impressed by the Artillery’s imposing elephant batteries for by the time of the last ruling Maharaja, Jivaji Rao Scindia , similar batteies had been added the Gwalior State Forces.