J 
UMBALLA. 
REGIMENTAL news from this station seems never to be recorded in the R.A.I. 
“ Proceedings ”’—but it may not be without interest to those at home, who have 
friends or old associations connected with that place. 
The cold weather was, as it annually is, well broken into by the two R.H.A- 
batteries having to march to Muridki Camp, close to Lahore, to carry out their 
practice. They left on 11th November and were back again on 6th January, 
‘F’ Battery—just fresh from home—joined at Muridki as well, bringing the 
camp to three R.H.A. batteries with Colonel Eden in command. Shooting was 
decidedly good considering the difficult range Muridki is considered always to be. 
‘A’ was only two or three places out of the prize list; ‘H’ somewhat lower 
down, whilst ‘ F’ was not allowed to shoot in the competitive, having done so in 
England. 
Polo has as usual been flourishing, eight gunners usually turning out. Before 
leaving Umballa for Muridki a local polo tournament was instituted for the first 
time, to be called the Sirhind Open Polo Tournament. There were excellent and 
keenly contested games throughout. Ten teams entered, viz:—four of 18th 
Hussars, 17th Bengal Cavalry, 60th Rifles, Queen’s Regiment, Somerset Light 
Infantry and two R.H.A.—subaltern’s team consisting of Bright (1), Sandys (2), 
Simpson-Baikie (3), Taylor (back), and a mixed team of Major Hawkins, Captain 
Watkins and Lieutenants Boulnois and Greathed. 
The subaltern’s team proved the winners, but not without plenty of hard play. 
Hach player in the winning team got a small silver cup. 
A team from Muridki, consisting of Bright (1), Gillson (2), Simpson-Baikie (3), 
Watkins (back), entered for the Punjaub Tournament at Lahore during Christmas 
week, but were just beaten in the first round by the Patiala second team. With 
more practice they should have rendered a good account of themselves. Our 
friends, the 18th Hussars, won this year. Umballa entered a gunners’ team for the 
inter-regimental tournament in March, it consisted of Greathed (1), Bright (2), 
Simpson-Baikie (3), and Taylor (back), who were defeated in the first tie by 11th 
Hussars. Great things were not expected this year, but in time things will 
improve as ponies are collected together. 
Shooting has somewhat given way to polo this cold season, but still some nice 
bags have been got by those who have been out ; and considering the dryness of 
the year the bag got, marching to Muridki and back, doesn’t show up badly. 
On 30th January there was a very successful R.H.A. gymkhana, and all the 
station turned up. Good fields turned out for the four races as well as for the 
‘open race.’ An N.-C.O’s race finished up the afternoon. 
There was an R.H.A. dance on 28th February in the club. As it was in the 
Native Cavalry polo week, and immediately preceding the race week, the station 
was quite full and quite 300 people turned up in the evening. It was in every 
way a great success and kept up with much spirit till well on into the 29th. 
Since the end of January No. 1 Mountain Battery has been in camp close to the 
R.H.A. Lines and No. 3 battery, lately up in Chitral, arrived a month later. Both 
batteries have just left for the hills for the hot weather. 
A rifle meeting has just been held in the district. The ‘ Chestnuts’ won the 
Lloyd-Lindsay and Bombardier Pearce of ‘H’ made a possible 35 at 500 yards, 
General Tyler finished his inspection during February, but the Inspector- 
General doesn’t visit Umballa till early in April. After that there will be a good 
clearance, whilst several of us are meditating leave home, 
33B 
