Difference between revisions of "Armies in India"
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| + | An overview of the armies in British India. | ||
| + | ====Presidency armies==== | ||
| + | ''<small>Main article: '''[[East India Company Army]]'''</small>'' | ||
| − | + | 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==== | |
| + | ''<small>Main article: '''[[British Army]]'''</small>'' | ||
| + | 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". The Crown continued to station British Army regiments in India right up to independence in 1947. | ||
| − | + | ====Amalgamation==== | |
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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. | 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. | |
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| − | In the 1890s, the separate Presidency Armies were at last abolished and a fully unified | ||
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== External Links == | == External Links == | ||
Revision as of 22:20, 13 October 2009
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
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". 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.
External Links
South Asian Armies www.regiments.org
