Difference between revisions of "Carnatic European Veteran Battalion"
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| − | The Carnatic European Veteran Battalion was established in May 1811. | + | The '''Carnatic European Veteran Battalion''' was established in May 1811. The Battalion was used in the Madras Presidency for soldiers no longer fit for ordinary service but who were retained on the strength for less rigorous garrison duties. |
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| + | ==Purpose and history== | ||
"These were soldiers who had finished their term of duty with the regular battalions and who were retained in 'Veteran's Battalion' in case they were called upon to defend the Presidency for any reason. In this case, it was the Madras Presidency. At different times, they were called the 'Invalids Battalion' and did, indeed, include men who had been injured sufficiently to exclude them from normal regimental duties but not too severely"<ref>India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/india/2007-04/1177314048 post] by Peter Bailey</ref> | "These were soldiers who had finished their term of duty with the regular battalions and who were retained in 'Veteran's Battalion' in case they were called upon to defend the Presidency for any reason. In this case, it was the Madras Presidency. At different times, they were called the 'Invalids Battalion' and did, indeed, include men who had been injured sufficiently to exclude them from normal regimental duties but not too severely"<ref>India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/india/2007-04/1177314048 post] by Peter Bailey</ref> | ||
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"The battalion was mainly involved in garrison work, that is, guarding the garrison of East India Company units to free up the young and fit men for active duty".<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070807154127/http://members.ozemail.com.au/~clday/bull.htm Bull Family History in India] from Cathy Day’s archived website "Family History in India" </ref> | "The battalion was mainly involved in garrison work, that is, guarding the garrison of East India Company units to free up the young and fit men for active duty".<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070807154127/http://members.ozemail.com.au/~clday/bull.htm Bull Family History in India] from Cathy Day’s archived website "Family History in India" </ref> | ||
| − | The headquarters were at Masulipatam. Two companies, each of 50 men , were at Vizagapatam and Ganjam. More details are in [http://www.archive.org/stream/historymadrasar01wilsgoog#page/n352/mode/1up ''History of the Madras Army Volume 3''], page 343 by W J Wilson 1883 Archive.org | + | The headquarters were at [[Masulipatam]]. Two companies, each of 50 men , were at [[Vizagapatam]] and [[Ganjam]]. More details are in [http://www.archive.org/stream/historymadrasar01wilsgoog#page/n352/mode/1up ''History of the Madras Army Volume 3''], page 343 by W J Wilson 1883 Archive.org |
In 1837 there were 211 men at Vizagapatum,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=8QQHAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA50 "Extracts from the Annual Report by the Medical Board on the Health of the Honorable Company's European Troops serving under the Presidency o Fort St. George for years 1837-8-9"], ''The Madras Quarterly Medical Journal, Volume 3 1841'', page 50 Google Books</ref> 185 in 1838<ref> idem [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8QQHAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA54 page 54]</ref> and in 1839 average strength was 198<ref>idem [http://books.google.com/books?id=8QQHAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA63 page 63]</ref>. | In 1837 there were 211 men at Vizagapatum,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=8QQHAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA50 "Extracts from the Annual Report by the Medical Board on the Health of the Honorable Company's European Troops serving under the Presidency o Fort St. George for years 1837-8-9"], ''The Madras Quarterly Medical Journal, Volume 3 1841'', page 50 Google Books</ref> 185 in 1838<ref> idem [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8QQHAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA54 page 54]</ref> and in 1839 average strength was 198<ref>idem [http://books.google.com/books?id=8QQHAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA63 page 63]</ref>. | ||
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==Also see== | ==Also see== | ||
| − | *[[Madras Native Veteran Battalions]] which advises that "Europeans were in commissioned and non-commissioned officer roles, the latter including lance corporal, corporal, sergeant, sergeant major". These Battalions | + | *[[Madras Native Veteran Battalions]] which advises that "Europeans were in commissioned and non-commissioned officer roles, the latter including lance corporal, corporal, sergeant, sergeant major". These Battalions continued until February 1860. |
==British Library records== | ==British Library records== | ||
Revision as of 23:14, 27 January 2014
The Carnatic European Veteran Battalion was established in May 1811. The Battalion was used in the Madras Presidency for soldiers no longer fit for ordinary service but who were retained on the strength for less rigorous garrison duties.
Contents
Purpose and history
"These were soldiers who had finished their term of duty with the regular battalions and who were retained in 'Veteran's Battalion' in case they were called upon to defend the Presidency for any reason. In this case, it was the Madras Presidency. At different times, they were called the 'Invalids Battalion' and did, indeed, include men who had been injured sufficiently to exclude them from normal regimental duties but not too severely"[1]
"The battalion was mainly involved in garrison work, that is, guarding the garrison of East India Company units to free up the young and fit men for active duty".[2]
The headquarters were at Masulipatam. Two companies, each of 50 men , were at Vizagapatam and Ganjam. More details are in History of the Madras Army Volume 3, page 343 by W J Wilson 1883 Archive.org
In 1837 there were 211 men at Vizagapatum,[3] 185 in 1838[4] and in 1839 average strength was 198[5].
The Battalion was disbanded in 1842[6].
Orphan schools were established at Vizagapatum about the year 1830, as an asylum for the children and descendants of the men of the European veterans at the station[7].This appears to indicate that by this time, the headquarters were at Vizagapatum.
Other European Veteran Battalions
It appears that there were other European Veteran Battalions in existence in February 1860 when the Native Veteran Battalions were disbanded, as the European officers from the Native Veteran Battalions "will be posted to the European veterans"[8]
Also see
- Madras Native Veteran Battalions which advises that "Europeans were in commissioned and non-commissioned officer roles, the latter including lance corporal, corporal, sergeant, sergeant major". These Battalions continued until February 1860.
British Library records
- IOR/F/4/389/9902 Apr 1811-Feb 1812 Content:On the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief, Madras [Lieut General Sir Samuel Auchmuty], the European Garrison Companies of Invalids are formed into a Battalion designated the Carnatic European Veteran Battalion.
- IOR/F/4/635/17309 Mar 1806-Jun 1819 Content:Alterations in the pay and constitution of the Carnatic European Veteran Battalion - division of the Battalion into Artillery and Infantry Wings etc.
External links
- Bull Family History in India from Cathy Day’s archived website "Family History in India". William Bull was in the 19th Light Dragoons, later transferring, in order to remain in India, to the 25th Light Dragoons and the Carnatic European Veteran Battalion. His son-in-law William Drudge joined the 25th Light Dragoons , later transferring, again to remain in India, to the 22nd Light Dragoons, and then the 13th Light Dragoons.
References
- ↑ India List post by Peter Bailey
- ↑ Bull Family History in India from Cathy Day’s archived website "Family History in India"
- ↑ "Extracts from the Annual Report by the Medical Board on the Health of the Honorable Company's European Troops serving under the Presidency o Fort St. George for years 1837-8-9", The Madras Quarterly Medical Journal, Volume 3 1841, page 50 Google Books
- ↑ idem page 54
- ↑ idem page 63
- ↑ East India (education): return to an address of the Honourable the House of Commons, dated 10 February 1859, page 369 Google Books
- ↑ idem page 368
- ↑ "Reduction of the 1st and 2nd Native Veteran Battalions" government order dated 10 February 1860, page 195 Allen’s Indian Mail January-June 1860
