Difference between revisions of "Bengal Army"

From FIBIwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (corrected citation)
(British Library)
(9 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 20: Line 20:
 
*"The Clark Brothers - Life in the Bengal Army" by Charles Gordon Clark  ''FIBIS Journal Number 29 (Spring 2013)'' pages 3-14. Gordon Wyatt Clark arrived in 1842 age 20. See [[FIBIS Journals]] for details of how to access this article
 
*"The Clark Brothers - Life in the Bengal Army" by Charles Gordon Clark  ''FIBIS Journal Number 29 (Spring 2013)'' pages 3-14. Gordon Wyatt Clark arrived in 1842 age 20. See [[FIBIS Journals]] for details of how to access this article
 
*"Captain Hunter: researching a memorial in Durham Cathedral" by Geoffrey Fox ''FIBIS Journal Number 31 (Spring 2014)'' pages 36-48. For access, see [[FIBIS Journals]]. Captain Hunter of the [[73rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry]] was killed in action 21 December 1845 at the  [[Battle of Ferozeshah]]
 
*"Captain Hunter: researching a memorial in Durham Cathedral" by Geoffrey Fox ''FIBIS Journal Number 31 (Spring 2014)'' pages 36-48. For access, see [[FIBIS Journals]]. Captain Hunter of the [[73rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry]] was killed in action 21 December 1845 at the  [[Battle of Ferozeshah]]
 +
 +
==See Also==
 +
 +
[[The Batta Mutiny of 1766]]
  
 
==Records==
 
==Records==
Line 31: Line 35:
 
**[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/b601be4c-4b76-4323-a87e-70c50a437d2b?src=6&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23110 '''L/MIL/10/70-74''' Bengal Service Army Lists – Medical], c1765-1858
 
**[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/b601be4c-4b76-4323-a87e-70c50a437d2b?src=6&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23110 '''L/MIL/10/70-74''' Bengal Service Army Lists – Medical], c1765-1858
 
**[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/eaa89ddb-91a8-474a-aa22-14302d4147fd?src=6&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23111 '''L/MIL/10/75-102''' Bengal Services], 1860-1893
 
**[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/eaa89ddb-91a8-474a-aa22-14302d4147fd?src=6&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23111 '''L/MIL/10/75-102''' Bengal Services], 1860-1893
**[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/dd87a554-48cb-4242-ba47-664312e0eb6a?src=6&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23114'''IOR/L/MIL/10/122-129''' Registers of Bengal Army European Soldiers  1788-1860] Please note that these records were commenced in 1831 and only contain men still serving in the Army at that date. If a man left the Army prior to 1831 for any reason, including death, he will not appear in these records. The Muster records are an alternative source of information.  
+
**[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/dd87a554-48cb-4242-ba47-664312e0eb6a?src=6&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23114'''IOR/L/MIL/10/122-129''' Registers of Bengal Army European Soldiers  1788-1860] Please note that these records were commenced in 1831 and only contain men still serving in the Army at that date. They are the recommended records to  look at initially for men serving from 1831. If a man left the Army prior to 1831 for any reason, including death, he will not appear in these records. The Muster records are an alternative source of information.  
 
**The Muster Rolls commence [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/43dfa08e-aa5e-4a1e-b974-52796aaa98aa?src=6&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23115 '''IOR/L/MIL/10/130-185''']
 
**The Muster Rolls commence [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/43dfa08e-aa5e-4a1e-b974-52796aaa98aa?src=6&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23115 '''IOR/L/MIL/10/130-185''']
:The [[LDS]] (Mormons) have filmed many of these records. [https://familysearch.org/catalog/search Search the Microfilm catalogue] by entering keywords such as Bengal Army. In particular, “Registers of Bengal Army European soldiers, 1788-1860” and  “Bengal Army muster rolls and casualty returns, 1716-1860” are available.([[FamilySearch Centres#Ordering microfilms|Ordering microfilms]])
+
:The [[LDS]] (Mormons) have filmed many of these records. [https://familysearch.org/catalog/search Search the Microfilm catalogue] by entering keywords such as Bengal Army. In particular, [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/695515?availability=Family%20History%20Library “Registers of Bengal Army European soldiers, 1788-1860”] and  [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/644896?availability=Family%20History%20Library “Bengal Army muster rolls and casualty returns, 1716-1860”] are available.([[FamilySearch Centres#Ordering microfilms|Ordering microfilms]])
 
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/6676bb2e-0366-44b1-8068-b31d156396d2?src=6&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23176 Military Department Library: Bengal Army  '''IOR/L/MIL/17/2''']  1791-1903 includes
 
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/6676bb2e-0366-44b1-8068-b31d156396d2?src=6&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23176 Military Department Library: Bengal Army  '''IOR/L/MIL/17/2''']  1791-1903 includes
 
**[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/4302b8c4-c799-4370-bbc0-6cf4721e4b68?src=7&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23438  Bengal Army List  '''IOR/L/MIL/17/2/1-267''']  1819-1889
 
**[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/4302b8c4-c799-4370-bbc0-6cf4721e4b68?src=7&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23438  Bengal Army List  '''IOR/L/MIL/17/2/1-267''']  1819-1889
 
**[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/17f5f395-08fa-4bc8-bbde-b27bd5545d79?src=7&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23449 Bengal Army: General and Regimental Histories, Biographical Compilations, Indian Mutiny  '''IOR/L/MIL/17/2/474-505''']  1845-1927
 
**[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/17f5f395-08fa-4bc8-bbde-b27bd5545d79?src=7&sk=%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23%23449 Bengal Army: General and Regimental Histories, Biographical Compilations, Indian Mutiny  '''IOR/L/MIL/17/2/474-505''']  1845-1927
 
*Soldiers’ and Officers’ Wills '''IOR/L/AG/34/30''' 1825-1881 (varies according to Presidency and whether a soldier or an officer). These records are available on [[Findmypast|findmypast]]
 
*Soldiers’ and Officers’ Wills '''IOR/L/AG/34/30''' 1825-1881 (varies according to Presidency and whether a soldier or an officer). These records are available on [[Findmypast|findmypast]]
=====Individuals=====
 
*Catalogue entry [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/059fc218-d15d-4342-aab2-0e47e3ee9d4d IOR/F/4/1454/57020 Apr 1831-Dec 1832] Trial, in the Calcutta Supreme Court, of Anne Louisa Ramsay, for the attempted murder, at Delhi Cantonments on 9 Apr 1831, of Lieutenant George Richard Talbot of the 8th Bengal Native Infantry - her husband, Allan Ramsay, formerly a Lieutenant in the 8th Bengal Native Infantry is charged with aiding and abetting the attempted murder - both parties are acquitted (includes a transcript of the proceedings of the original Court of Enquiry, depositions of witnesses, etc).
 
  
 
===Books===
 
===Books===
Line 60: Line 62:
 
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=yWIUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP9 ''An historical account of the rise and progress of the Bengal Native Infantry, from its first formation in 1757, to 1796 when the present regulations took place, together with a detail of the services on which the several battalions have been employed'']  by the late Captain John Williams, Bengal Army, 1817 Google Books. The following coloured illustrations have been noted: [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=yWIUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP8 Subadar], [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=yWIUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA170-IA2 Grenadier Sepoy], [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=yWIUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA330-IA2 Light Infantry Sepoy]
 
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=yWIUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP9 ''An historical account of the rise and progress of the Bengal Native Infantry, from its first formation in 1757, to 1796 when the present regulations took place, together with a detail of the services on which the several battalions have been employed'']  by the late Captain John Williams, Bengal Army, 1817 Google Books. The following coloured illustrations have been noted: [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=yWIUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP8 Subadar], [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=yWIUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA170-IA2 Grenadier Sepoy], [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=yWIUAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA330-IA2 Light Infantry Sepoy]
 
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=scJCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1 ''A collection of facts and documents relative to batta, &c. with other pending questions concerning the Indian Army, compiled from the proceedings of the East India officers A.D. 1793 to 1796, the general orders and other official sources; with short arguments and marginal notes for current use'']. Calcutta , Samuel Smith and Co. 1829 Google Books
 
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=scJCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1 ''A collection of facts and documents relative to batta, &c. with other pending questions concerning the Indian Army, compiled from the proceedings of the East India officers A.D. 1793 to 1796, the general orders and other official sources; with short arguments and marginal notes for current use'']. Calcutta , Samuel Smith and Co. 1829 Google Books
 +
*[http://hdl.handle.net/2027/umn.31951002075593d?urlappend=%3Bseq=17 ''Abstract of General Orders 1817-1840''] compiled by Captain David Thompson, 56th Regiment, Bengal N I Assistant Adjutant General of Division Delhi 1841 Hathi Trust Digital Library
 +
:[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=RZpeAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR10 ''‪Abstract of General Orders from 1846 to 1847 Inclusive''‬] with a preceding [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=RZpeAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP9 Index 1840-1847]  Compiled by Captain O Cavanagh Delhi 1848 Google Books
 +
:[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=WpheAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP7 ''Abstract of General Orders from 1847 to 1849 Inclusive''] Compiled by Captain O Cavanagh Delhi 1851
 +
:[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=g5peAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP5 ''Abstract of General Orders for 1850-1851 with Index''] compiled by Captain O Cavanagh Delhi 1852
 +
*[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=NpdeAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP7 ''Code of Regulations for the Medical Department of the Bengal Establishment''] by James Hutchinson, Secretary to the Medical Board 1838. Google Books
 +
*[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=nZheAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR1 ‪''Selected Papers and Orders, Civil and Military, regarding the march of troops, and the mode of supplying them with carriage, provisions, &c. with an appendix shewing the nature of the arrangements made for the supply of troops on the march in the Cawnpore District''‬] Published by order of … The Lieut. Governor, North Western Provinces. Agra, 1849 Google Books
 
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/historyriseandp00broogoog#page/n8/mode/2up ''History of the Rise and Progress of the Bengal Army, Volume 1''] by Arthur Broome 1850 (www.archive.org)
 
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/historyriseandp00broogoog#page/n8/mode/2up ''History of the Rise and Progress of the Bengal Army, Volume 1''] by Arthur Broome 1850 (www.archive.org)
 
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/presidentialarmi00carnrich#page/n5/mode/2up ''The Presidential Armies of India''] by Colonel S Rivett-Carnac 1890 Archive.org has chapters on the Bengal Army
 
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/presidentialarmi00carnrich#page/n5/mode/2up ''The Presidential Armies of India''] by Colonel S Rivett-Carnac 1890 Archive.org has chapters on the Bengal Army
 
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=z1MBAAAAQAAJ ''The Officer's Complete Guide''] by Lieut. Archibald Swiney Haig 55th Regiment Bengal Infantry (published 1856) - contains General Orders, pay regulations etc (Google Books)
 
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=z1MBAAAAQAAJ ''The Officer's Complete Guide''] by Lieut. Archibald Swiney Haig 55th Regiment Bengal Infantry (published 1856) - contains General Orders, pay regulations etc (Google Books)
 +
*''Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire into the Sanitary State of the Army in India : with Abstract of Evidence, and of Reports Received from Indian Military Stations'' 1864 Archive.org
 +
**[https://archive.org/stream/b21452404#page/344/mode/2up Abstract of Sanitary Details in Reports from Principal Military Stations in India. Bengal Presidency] page 345
 +
**[https://archive.org/stream/b21452404#page/522/mode/2up Remarks on the Climate of Stations. Bengal Presidency] page 523. Note that [[Singapore]] and [[Penang]] appear in this latter section, together with the military stations in [[Burma]].  However, a detailed description of the stations in Burma appears in the section on the [[Madras Army|Madras Presidency]].
 
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=lYQIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP7  ''First Annual Report of the Sanitary Commission for Bengal, 1864-65''] Google Books. Mainly in respect of the Army
 
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=lYQIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP7  ''First Annual Report of the Sanitary Commission for Bengal, 1864-65''] Google Books. Mainly in respect of the Army
 
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/medicalandsanit00unkngoog#page/n4/mode/1up  ''Medical And Sanitary Report of the Native  Army of Bengal for the year 1875''] Archive.org
 
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/medicalandsanit00unkngoog#page/n4/mode/1up  ''Medical And Sanitary Report of the Native  Army of Bengal for the year 1875''] Archive.org
Line 73: Line 84:
 
*''From Cadet to Colonel: the Record of a Life of Active Service'' by Sir Thomas Seaton 1866 Google Books [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=bUEoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR5 Volume 1] He  arrived in Calcutta on 1 January 1823 to join the Bengal Army [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=RkEoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR5 Volume 2] includes the Indian Mutiny. The author  retired 1 June 1859
 
*''From Cadet to Colonel: the Record of a Life of Active Service'' by Sir Thomas Seaton 1866 Google Books [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=bUEoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR5 Volume 1] He  arrived in Calcutta on 1 January 1823 to join the Bengal Army [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=RkEoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR5 Volume 2] includes the Indian Mutiny. The author  retired 1 June 1859
 
*[https://archive.org/details/myserviceinindi00vauggoog  ''My service in the Indian Army – and after''] by  General Sir John Luther Vaughan 1904 Archive.org. He joined the Bengal Army in 1841 and had to retire c 1870 as there was no position for him. At the start of the [[2nd Afghan War]]  he became special military correspondent for the war for ''The Times''  
 
*[https://archive.org/details/myserviceinindi00vauggoog  ''My service in the Indian Army – and after''] by  General Sir John Luther Vaughan 1904 Archive.org. He joined the Bengal Army in 1841 and had to retire c 1870 as there was no position for him. At the start of the [[2nd Afghan War]]  he became special military correspondent for the war for ''The Times''  
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=iQ8NAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP7 ''Narrative of the mutiny of the officers of the army in Bengal, in the year 1766''] Sir Henry Strachey, 1773 Google Books
+
*[https://archive.org/details/incidentsinindia00pittiala ''Incidents in India and Memories of the Mutiny, with some records of Alexander's Horse and the 1st Bengal Cavalry''] Edited by F W Pitt 1896 Archive.org. The subject of the book is General W R E Alexander, a Commander of the 1st Bengal Cavalry. He took part in the [[2nd Sikh War]], the [[2nd Burma War]] and the [[Indian Mutiny]], and retired in 1876.
 +
*[https://archive.org/details/chinajiminciden00harrgoog '''China Jim', Incidents and Adventures in the Life of an Indian Mutiny Veteran''] by Major General  J T Harris 1912 Archive.org.  He joined the Bengal Army in 1849. He probably retired c late 1870s. He took part in the [[2nd Burma War]], the [[Indian Mutiny]] and the [[2nd China War]].
 
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=V50bAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA445 "Baggage of the Indian Army"] ''Calcutta Review, Volume 11 January-June 1849'', page 445 Google Books
 
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=V50bAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA445 "Baggage of the Indian Army"] ''Calcutta Review, Volume 11 January-June 1849'', page 445 Google Books
 
*[https://archive.org/details/tomrawgriffinbur00doylrich ''Tom Raw, the Griffin: a burlesque poem, in twelve cantos: illustrated by twenty-five engravings, descriptive of the adventures of a cadet in the East India company's service, from the period of his quitting England to his obtaining a staff situtation in India''] by “a Civilian and an Officer on the Bengal Establishment” (Sir Charles D'Oyly)  1828 Archive.org
 
*[https://archive.org/details/tomrawgriffinbur00doylrich ''Tom Raw, the Griffin: a burlesque poem, in twelve cantos: illustrated by twenty-five engravings, descriptive of the adventures of a cadet in the East India company's service, from the period of his quitting England to his obtaining a staff situtation in India''] by “a Civilian and an Officer on the Bengal Establishment” (Sir Charles D'Oyly)  1828 Archive.org

Revision as of 07:06, 29 July 2015

Bengal Army
5th & 6th Lt. Infantry.jpg
Bengal Army
List of Bengal Army Regiments
Bengal Infantry Regiments
Bengal Infantry Finder tool
Bengal Artillery
Bengal Horse Artillery
Bengal Sappers and Miners
East India Company Army

The Bengal Army was one of the three Presidency Armies of the East India Company.

A list of Bengal Army regiments can either be found in the Bengal Army Category or alphabetically, by type, in Bengal Army Regiments.

Divisions

FIBIS resources

See Also

The Batta Mutiny of 1766

Records

Main article: East India Company Army

British Library

Records available in the British Library India Office holdings include:

The LDS (Mormons) have filmed many of these records. Search the Microfilm catalogue by entering keywords such as Bengal Army. In particular, “Registers of Bengal Army European soldiers, 1788-1860” and “Bengal Army muster rolls and casualty returns, 1716-1860” are available.(Ordering microfilms)

Books

  • Lives of the Officers of the Bengal Army, 1758-1834 by V. C .P. Hodson, 4 vols. (London, 1927-47) Note that the dates refer to the date of joining the Army. Alphabetically arranged and annotated with biographical and genealogical notices, giving details of: (1) rank and brief career history (2) family information (3) service records: regiments or battalions in which the officer served (4) references to wills if they exist, to monumental inscriptions, or to mentions in publications. The British Library shelfmark is OIR.355.332.
    A description of the fascinating information contained in the appendices is explained in Bengal army officers names nationalities fatalities and a phantom Untold Lives blog of the British Library.
    FIBIS has transcribed the indexes of these books, which are available on the FIBIS database.
    The LDS (Mormon) Family History Library has filmed the above books (Library Catalogue entry). It has been recommended that all three LDS films be ordered, as there is a lot of cross referencing. [2]
  • Savannah Publications, London has reprinted Ubique: War Services of Officers of the Bengal Army by T.C. Anderson, originally published 1863. Index data from this book is available on the FIBIS database, refer above


External Links

Historical books online

‪Abstract of General Orders from 1846 to 1847 Inclusive with a preceding Index 1840-1847 Compiled by Captain O Cavanagh Delhi 1848 Google Books
Abstract of General Orders from 1847 to 1849 Inclusive Compiled by Captain O Cavanagh Delhi 1851
Abstract of General Orders for 1850-1851 with Index compiled by Captain O Cavanagh Delhi 1852
Part 1– Appointed 1768, Part 2- Sir Eyre Coote's Campaigns of 1781, 1782, and 1783, Part 3- Campaigns in India –includes General Stuart's Operations; General Goddard's March; and the Proceedings of the Bombay Army and its Government, Part 4- includes Popham’s Capture of Gwalior; General Goddard’s Operations, Campaigns of Lord Cornwallis, Siege of Bangalore, Part 5 March to Seringapatum, Part 6, Part 7
"Lieutenant -Colonel Richard Scott" from The East India Military Calendar: Containing the Services of General and Field Officers of the Indian Army, Volume 1, page 315 by by John Philippart 1823 Google Books

References

  1. Bailey, Peter Army Records Rootsweb India Mailing List 20 March 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  2. Murphy , Sylvia Author - Major VCP Hodson Rootsweb India Mailing List Sept 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2014