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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 [[:Category:Regiments|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.
The Crown continued to station '''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 regiments in India right up to , though as young [[independencesubalterns]] in 1947s 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.
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==An overview of the armies in India==
'''Presidency armies''' 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 [[:Category:Regiments|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''' 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 ‘[["HM’s Regiments]]’ " or ‘Royal regiments’"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.
[[Category:Military]]
[[Category:Armies| ]]
