| Inscribed on the reverse simply "Horace Skipton May 89" this photograph proved to be something of a mystery. I was unable to find anyone by that name mentioned in the Army Lists for several years either before or after the date on the photograph. This man is in all likelihood Horace Pitt Kennedy Skipton who was member of the Indian Police Service from 1883 to 1899. While his uniform does indeed resemble that of the Rifle Brigade his being a member of the Indian Police Service would explain finding no mention of an officer by this name in the Army List. According to the India List, Civil and Military for January 1888 was Director Superintendent of Police, 5th Class for Bilaspur. After leaving the Indian Police Skipton returned to England and served in several high ranking positions in the clergy. He was the editor of several publications relating to the church and India as well as the author of several books on the same subjects. Skipton was born in 1861 in Warwickshire, the son of Daniel Pitt Skipton. He married Jessie Goodwin in 1890 and had a daughter named Gertrude and a son named Gervais. He died on 16 February, 1943. A special thanks to Rev. Sel Caradus for providing valuable help in identifying the sitter in this photograph Cabinet Photograph G. W. Lawrie & Co. - Photographer Lucknow, Naini Tal & Mussoorie, India 1889 |
