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==__NOTOC__An overview of the armies in British India==.
'''Presidency 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.’).
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 ====British Army]], ====''<small>Main article: '''[[Madras British Army]], and [[Bombay Army]] were quite distinct, each with its own list of [[:Category:Regiments|Regiments]] and cadre of European officers'''</small>''. All three armies contained both [[European regiments]] in which both the officers and men were Europeans, and a larger number This article includes details of ‘Native’ regiments in which the officers were Europeans and the rank and file were Indians. They included [[Artillery]], [[Cavalry]] and [[Infantry]] regiments many '''records now available online''', so you will come across references to the Bengal/Madras/Bombay Artillery/Cavalry/Infantry (particularly on the latter often termed ‘pay website '''[[Native Infantryfindmypast]]’ 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". The Crown continued to station British Army regiments in India right up to independence in 1947. '''====Amalgamation'''====
'''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 [[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.
→British Army
====Presidency armies====
''<small>Main article: '''[[East India Company Army]]'''</small>''
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.
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>''
==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 ==
