Prize and Batta

Prize was the proceeds of items looted during military campaigns, subsequently divided amongst soldiers who were engaged in that action. The size of the share recieved was hierarchical by rank.

Batta was an allowance paid to soldiers in India who were stationed away from their Presidency, supposedly to cover the extra costs of living.

Records

The British Library holds a series of nominal rolls entitled Prize and Batta Rolls IOR/L/MIL/5/142-350 (1793-c1886). A full list of contents can be found here on Access to Archives. Although most of the lists are for unpaid shares of prize money (as this then became of the property of the East India Company, there are lots that do have full lists of names so it is worth checking any you are interested in. A number of the files also consist of various correspondence.

FIBIS resources

• Prize list of the Coorg Campaign (Madras Artillery only) - Transcription of L/MIL/5/258 listing 129 names of soldiers of the Madras Artillery and details of the prize they received for their participation in the Coorg Campaign.

See also

• The Batta Mutiny of 1766
• Banda and Kirwee Prize Money

External links

Historical books online

• Parliamentary papers, Volume 50 - East India (Prize Property) HMSO (1860) containing official correspondence on prize captured by HM and Company forces during Indian Mutiny actions. Details discussion on the origin and distribution of ten different prize funds.