Hanoverian Regiments

In India 1782-1792

Two regiments were raised to serve in India, from the region known as Chur- Hannover or Kurhannover. There is a map shown in Kurhannover (German language Wikipedia)

The troops were also known as Electoral troops, or Hanoverian Electoral troops, a reference to George III who was also Elector of Hannover

Histories

• The Royal Military Calendar, Or Army Service and Commission Book: Third Edition Volume 3, page 97 by John Philippart 1820 Google Books contains a short description of the service of the Regiments in India
• Hannoversche Truppen in Ostindien from Geschichte der churhannoverschen Truppen in Gibraltar: Minorca und Ostindien] by Ernst von dem Knesebeck 1845 Google Books (German language)
  • The 15th and 16th Regiments arrived September 1782 and April 1783, page 135
  • The regiments were renumbered in 1785, following a general renumbering of the Hanoverian Infantry, from 15 and 16 to 14 and 15 page 153
  • Departure in 1792 page 167
  • Actions, including Cuddalore, Cannanore and Polygautcherry (Palghatcherri) are summarised page 168 with details for Cuddalore, page 139, Polygautschery, page 149, and Cananore, page 151
  • List of Officers, page 182
• "Die kurhannoverschen Truppen in Ostindien 1782–92", by Victor Von Diebitsch in Hannoversche Geschichtsblätter, (1898),pages 67–8, 74–5, 82–3, 90–2, 98–9, 106–8, 114–16, 128; (possibly available at the British Library, where the title is in the catalogue, but it is not known if 1898 is held)
• Article "German Voices from India : Officers of the Hanoverian Regiments in East India Company Service" by Chen Tzoref-Ashkenazi, in South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, Volume 32, Issue 2 August 2009 , pages 189 - 211.Details. Available at the British Library
• Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research: Volumes 3-4 1924 page 206 (unclear which volume) .Available at the British Library

Google Books snippet view extract “189. Hanoverian Troops in the East Indies(Madras) 1782-1787. Colonel Sir Lonsdale Hale, speaking at the Royal United Service Institution on 29 October 1913 (Journal of the Royal United Service Institution, Volume 63, page 315) said:-

I find that in 1782, the 15th and 16th Hanoverian Regiments are mentioned (i.e. in Madras Presidency Orders) .Then there comes in later a 14th Hanoverian Regiment." He also quoted a Madras order of 17 July, 1787, as follows : — " Col. Wangenheim will receive certain allowances the day after his arrival at Madras, being the day he assumes the command of the Electoral Troops. ...”

Individuals

• Lieutenant Colonel Charles Best served in the 14th Hanoverian Regiment, appointed June 1781 The Royal Military Calendar, Or Army Service and Commission Book: Third Edition Volume 4 by John Philippart 1820 Google Books

• Major Frederick Breymann served in the 14th Hanoverian Regiment in India October 1786- October 1792, the first two years as a soldier and non commissioned officer. The Royal Military Calendar, Or Army Service and Commission Book Third Edition Volume 5 by John Philippart 1820 Google Books
• Major General Peter Duplat served in the 16th Hanovarian Regiment for its period in India. The Royal Military Calendar, Or Army Service and Commission Book: Third Edition Volume 3 by John Philippart 1820 Google Books
• Anthony Pohlmann Wikipedia. He arrived in India as a sergeant in a Hanoverian regiment and subsequently took employment in the army of the Maratha prince, Daulat Scindia. At the Battle of Assaye in 1803, he effectively commanded all the regular battalions in the Maratha army.

External links

• This India List post and the subsequent post are about the Hanoverian Regiments going to India in 1781.The post advises that they departed in the same convoy as the 78th (Seaforth Highland) Regiment of Foot, later renumbered the 72nd Regiment of Foot