Mss Eur F697/2/5

Diary kept by Lydia King Raban whilst accompanying her husband Herbert Raban, Lieutenant in the 36th Native Infantry, on a regimental march from Dinapoor [Dinapur] to Delhi. Also accompanying them was their 6 month old son Herbert, their Ayah, and various servants.

The diary commences with the various arrangements to be made for travelling: paying visits to friends to say goodbye, and observations on the amount of noise at night in the camp from horses, dogs and then general movement of people. Also detailed is the confusion and mismanagement which Lydia notes often occurring in the early days of a regimental march, and the arrangements for how servants and baggage travelled separately to the family itself.

Other details include information on the tents used for camp each night, and the various roles and responsibilities that her husband was expected to undertake as a Lieutenant in the Regiment, with particular focus on his duties leading the Advance Guard, Rear Guard, and in protecting the camp from local thugs.

During the march they crossed the Ganges River twice, visited the tomb of Lord Cornwallis, visited local mosques and gardens, received visits from local Rajas and paid visits to friends and family.