| Posing with his bicycle atop a leopard skin is Bombardier Sturgeon of the 3rd Mountain Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery or so the old pencil inscription on the reverse states. The insignia on his shoulder straps is unclear and he wears a single bombardier's stripe on his sleeve. His bicycle does not appear to be military issue but was probably epitome of everything that was modern to both the rider and those who say him riding by. No service records for Sturgeon have been found at this point. A search of various Medal Rolls show that the 3rd Mountain Battery, R.G.A. took part in the Defence of Chitral and was entitled to the 1896 India General Service Medal with the "Defense of Chitral 1895" clasp. No one by the name of Sturgeon appears on that list so this Bombardier must have either joined the 3rd Mountain battery after that battle or perhaps had been on detached duty from the rest of the battery at the time. Cabinet Photograph L.C. Mullick - Photograher Bruce Road, Quetta, India c 1890's |
