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==An overview of the armies in India==
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From the mid-eighteenth century, the [[East India Company]] began to maintain armies at each of its three main stations, or ‘[[Presidencies]]’, in [[India]] at [[Calcutta]] ([[Bengal]]), [[Madras]] and [[Bombay]]. The [[Bengal Army]], [[Madras Army]], and [[Bombay Army]] were quite distinct, each with its own list of [[Regiments]] and cadre of European officers. All three armies contained both European regiments in which both the officers and men were Europeans, and a larger number of ‘Native’ regiments in which the officers were Europeans and the rank and file were Indians. They included [[Artillery]], [[Cavalry]] and [[Infantry]] regiments, so you will come across references to the Bengal/Madras/Bombay Artillery/Cavalry/Infantry (the latter often termed ‘[[Native Infantry]]’ or ‘N.I.’).  
An overview of the armies in British India.


Also from the mid-eighteenth century the [[Crown]] began to despatch regiments of the regular [[British Army]] to India to reinforce the Company’s armies. These troops are often referred to as ‘H.M.’s regiments’ or ‘Royal regiments’.
====Presidency armies====
''<small>Main article: '''[[East India Company Army]]'''</small>''


Following the [[Indian Mutiny]] of 1857-58 and the consequent abolition of the East India Company, its [[European regiments]] were amalgamated in 1860 with the British Army, but its ‘Native’ regiments were not. The three separate [[Presidency Armies]] therefore continued to exist, and their European officers continued to be listed as members of the Bengal, Madras or Bombay Army rather than the British Army. However, the Presidency Armies began to be described collectively as the Indian Army. Another change resulting from the Mutiny was that henceforward artillery was confined to the British Army.  
From the mid-eighteenth century, the [[East India Company]] began to maintain armies at each of its three main stations, or ‘[[Presidencies]]’, in India at [[Calcutta]] ([[Bengal]]), [[Madras]] and [[Bombay]]. The [[Bengal Army]], [[Madras Army]], and [[Bombay Army]] were quite distinct, each with its own list of [[regiments]] and cadre of European officers. All three armies contained both [[European regiments]] in which both the officers and men were Europeans, and a larger number of ‘Native’ regiments in which the officers were Europeans and the rank and file were Indians. They included [[Artillery]], [[Cavalry]] and [[Infantry]] regiments, so you will come across references to the Bengal/Madras/Bombay Artillery/Cavalry/Infantry (the latter often termed ‘[[Native Infantry]]’ or ‘N.I.’).  


In the 1890s, the separate Presidency Armies were at last abolished and a fully unified Indian Army came into being, but as before its British officers were not members of the British Army, though as young [[subalterns]] they did serve for a year with a British Army regiment as part of their training before taking up their permanent commissions with their [[Indian Army]] regiment.  
====British Army====
''<small>Main article: '''[[British Army]]'''</small>''.  This article includes details of the  many '''records  now available online''', particularly on the pay website '''[[findmypast]]'''.


The Crown continued to station British Army regiments in India right up to [[independence]] in 1947.
From the mid-eighteenth century the Crown began to despatch regiments of the regular British Army to India to reinforce the Company’s armies. These troops are often referred to as "HM’s Regiments" or "Royal regiments".  The Crown continued to station British Army regiments in India right up to independence in 1947.
 
====Amalgamation====
 
Following the [[Indian Mutiny]] of 1857-58 and the consequent abolition of the East India Company, its [[European regiments]] were amalgamated in 1860 with the British Army, but its ‘Native’ regiments were not. The three separate [[Presidency Armies]] therefore continued to exist, and their European officers continued to be listed as members of the Bengal, Madras or Bombay Army rather than the [[British Army]]. However, the Presidency Armies began to be described collectively as the Indian Army. Another change resulting from the [[Indian Mutiny]] was that henceforward artillery was confined to the British Army.
 
====Indian Army====
''<small>Main article: '''[[Indian Army]]'''</small>''
 
In the 1890s, the separate Presidency Armies were at last abolished and a fully unified Indian Army came into being, but as before its British officers were not members of the British Army, though as young [[subaltern]]s they did serve for a year with a British Army regiment as part of their training before taking up their permanent commissions with their Indian Army regiment.
 
==India Office Records at the British Library==
[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/5862ebbd-cbb7-4898-86e2-6eaefeaaffa0 Records of the Military Department] '''IOR/059/IOR/L/MIL''' 1708-1957
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_1&cid=1-1#1-1 Records of the Military Committees of the East India Company and Council of India] '''IOR/L/MIL/1''' 1809-1937
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_1&cid=1-2#1-2  Military Home Correspondence] '''IOR/L/MIL/2''' 1830-1881
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_2-1&cid=1-1#1-1  Military Correspondence with India] '''IOR/L/MIL/3''' 1803-1937
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_2-2&cid=1-1#1-1  India Office Military Department Internal Papers or 'Put By', 'No Reply' and Transfer Papers]  '''IOR/L/MIL/4'''1858-1957
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_2-2&cid=1-2#1-2 Military Compilations and Miscellaneous Records] '''IOR/L/MIL/5'''  1754-1944
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_3-1_2&cid=1-1#1-1 Military Correspondence] '''IOR/L/MIL/6''' 1882-1948
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/5909b5c4-e865-4708-866a-7c0c0eac6e06    Departmental Papers - Military Collections] '''IOR/L/MIL/7''' c1850-1950
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_3-2_2&cid=1-1#1-1 Military Statements] '''IOR/L/MIL/8''' 1785-1859
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/3db131fb-4da6-40af-a7ad-e95279ee2da7  Entry to the military, medical and nursing services of the East India Company's Army (1753-1861) and the Indian Army (1861-1940)] '''IOR/L/MIL/9''' 1753-1940
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/86120e35-0b81-439a-a6e5-dc1bd5f41e9f  Bengal Army Records] '''IOR/L/MIL/10''' 1716-1907
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_6-2_2&cid=1-1#1-1 Madras Army Records] '''IOR/L/MIL/11'''
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_7-2&cid=1-1#1-1 Bombay Army Records] '''IOR/L/MIL/12'''
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_8-1&cid=1-1#1-1 St Helena Records] '''IOR/L/MIL/13''' 1789-1859
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_8-1&cid=1-2#1-2 Indian Army Records] '''IOR/L/MIL/14''' 1866-1948
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_8-1&cid=1-3#1-3 British Army Records] '''IOR/L/MIL/15''' 1806-1930
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_8-1&cid=1-4#1-4 Royal Indian Marine/Navy] '''IOR/L/MIL/16''' c1840 - c1947
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlmil_8-2_4&cid=1-1#1-1 Military Department Library] '''IOR/L/MIL/17'''
 
== External Links ==
[http://web.archive.org/web/20071107112918/www.regiments.org/regiments/southasia/lists/iargts.htm South Asian Armies] www.regiments.org
[[Category:Military]]
[[Category:Armies| ]]

Latest revision as of 10:06, 26 July 2016

An overview of the armies in British India.

Presidency armies

Main article: East India Company Army

From the mid-eighteenth century, the East India Company began to maintain armies at each of its three main stations, or ‘Presidencies’, in India at Calcutta (Bengal), Madras and Bombay. The Bengal Army, Madras Army, and Bombay Army were quite distinct, each with its own list of regiments and cadre of European officers. All three armies contained both European regiments in which both the officers and men were Europeans, and a larger number of ‘Native’ regiments in which the officers were Europeans and the rank and file were Indians. They included Artillery, Cavalry and Infantry regiments, so you will come across references to the Bengal/Madras/Bombay Artillery/Cavalry/Infantry (the latter often termed ‘Native Infantry’ or ‘N.I.’).

British Army

Main article: British Army. This article includes details of the many records now available online, particularly on the pay website findmypast.

From the mid-eighteenth century the Crown began to despatch regiments of the regular British Army to India to reinforce the Company’s armies. These troops are often referred to as "HM’s Regiments" or "Royal regiments". The Crown continued to station British Army regiments in India right up to independence in 1947.

Amalgamation

Following the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58 and the consequent abolition of the East India Company, its European regiments were amalgamated in 1860 with the British Army, but its ‘Native’ regiments were not. The three separate Presidency Armies therefore continued to exist, and their European officers continued to be listed as members of the Bengal, Madras or Bombay Army rather than the British Army. However, the Presidency Armies began to be described collectively as the Indian Army. Another change resulting from the Indian Mutiny was that henceforward artillery was confined to the British Army.

Indian Army

Main article: Indian Army

In the 1890s, the separate Presidency Armies were at last abolished and a fully unified Indian Army came into being, but as before its British officers were not members of the British Army, though as young subalterns they did serve for a year with a British Army regiment as part of their training before taking up their permanent commissions with their Indian Army regiment.

India Office Records at the British Library

Records of the Military Department IOR/059/IOR/L/MIL 1708-1957

External Links

South Asian Armies www.regiments.org

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