Trooper Frank Graham Bateman, a planter from Mysore, served in 'A' Company of Lumsden's Horse, the Irregular Regiment raised by subscription in India. Consisting of two Squadrons and a Maxim Gun Detachment, the Regiment sailed from Calcutta in February ('A' Squadron) and March 1900 ('B' Squadron). When both Squadrons were together they joined Roberts' Army at Bloemfontein in April, 240 strong, and were attached to Colonel Ross' Mounted Infantry with whom they served alongside Loch's Horse amongst others.


This celebrated Regiment was the toast of India and commemorated in the sumptuous volume, The History of Lumsden's Horse and a more personal account of its deeds in the advance to Johannesburg and Pretoria can be found in Burn-Murdoch's With Lumsden's Horse Agin the Boers. The Regiment returned to India in November 1900, at which stage Lord Roberts telegraphed the Viceroy expressing his 'appreciation of their excellent services' and said 'It has been a pride and a pleasure to me to have under my command a volunteer contingent which has so well upheld the honour of the Indian Empire' (Stirling refers).