Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search

East India Company Army

2,408 bytes added, 12:29, 8 May 2019
Historical books online
==Europeans in Native Regiments==
The officers of Native Regiments were European.
Mostly a European soldier would be in a European Regiment. However at times a European soldier could be in a role such as Quartermaster Sergeant in a Native Infantry Regiment. <ref>Cutts, Melanie. [http://boards.ancestry.com.au/localities.asia.india.general/2869.1.1.3/mb.ashx ''Siege of Cawnpore 1857''], ''Rootsweb India Mailing ListMessage Board'', 17 May 2014. Retrieved on 18 May 2014.</ref>. For details of records for these soldiers in a Native Infantry Regiment, refer [[Unattached List]].
== FIBIS resources ==
* [https://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=378&s_id=340 War Services of Officers of the Bengal Army 1863]
*[https://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=class_detail&source_class=221 The First Soldiers of the EIC Army]
*[[FIBIS Journals|FIBIS Journals]] - Available to view '''free by members only''' in the [https://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=606&s_id=103 FIBIS database] website or can be purchased online in the [httphttps://shopwww.fibis.org/store/ FIBIS Shop].
**Number 6 (Autumn 2001) ''Monthly Military Musters - Part 1'' by Peter Bailey. Contains information about the women and children classified according to 'European' or 'East Indian'.
**Number 7 (Spring 2002) ''Monthly Military Musters - Part 2'' by Peter Bailey. About the officers and soldiers. Contains a copy of the muster taken for ‘A’ or [[2nd Madras (European) Light Infantry| Captain J. Cramer’s Company, Madras European Infantry]] which was stationed at Bangalore on 1st January 1841.
Also see the '''individual pages for the three Presidency Armies''', mentioned above
[http://searcharchives.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=IAMS_VU2 The British Library’s "Search our Catalogue Archives and Manuscripts"] Search by name, or record reference.
British Library’s Help for Researchers: [https://web.archive.org/web/20160604163347/http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/occupations/europeanofficers/euroofficers.html European Officers] , now an archived webpage.  '''Many relevant records have now been digitised, see [[findmypast]]'''.
Records include
*Cadet Papers (1789-1860) and Cadet Registers (1775-1860 [http://hviewer.bl.uk/IamsHViewer/Default.aspx?mdark=ark:/81055/vdc_100000000047.0x000166 '''IOR/L/MIL/9/107-269''']. Cadet Papers up to about c 1805, may comprise nothing more than a baptism certificate or father's declaration of date of birth. Many of these records have now been digitised and held on the [http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id=201071 findmypast website] under the heading of British India Office Records births and baptisms.
**[[LDS]] microfilm [httphttps://www.familysearch.org/engsearch/librarycatalog/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=687638&disp=East+India+Company+cadet+papers%2C+1789%&columns=*,0,0 catalogue entry] for these Cadet Papers
**[http://isp.ans.com.au/~rampais/genelogy/india/indexes/cadfram.htm List of Cadets who joined the East India Company Armies 1789-1859] with equivalent LDS microfilm number. Bob Holland’s Raimpais website
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/4f3b19a5-4dca-4e41-a965-3f951af74538 The Recruitment of Private Soldiers 1753-1861. '''IOR/L/MIL/9/1-106'''] including
**Registers of Recruits 1817-1860. '''IOR/L/MIL/9/1-28'''
*: FamilySearch digitised microfilm [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/520226 catalogue entry]
**Embarkation records
***Military Depots: Depot Embarkation Lists 1824-1860. '''IOR/L/MIL/9/77-84'''. These records are arranged by ship and generally give name, age, height, place of birth, date and place of enlistment, period of service, previous occupation, and remarks.
*** Embarkation Lists 1753-1861. '''IOR/L/MIL/9/85-106'''. Registers of men embarked, compiled at the port of embarkation. They are arranged by ship, and each volume contains an index of ships' names. The records may include rank, place of birth, trade, age and remarks
*:These records are available on FamilySearch microfilm with this [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/520806 catalogue entry]. ([[FamilySearch Centres#Ordering microfilms|Ordering microfilms]]). For microfilm 1866880, Embarkations 1816-1824, the ships’ names have been transcribed on [http://isp.ans.com.au/~rampais/genelogy/india/indexes/embarks.htm Bob Holland’s Rampais website].
*Embarkation records**[http://hviewer.bl.uk/IamsHViewer/Default.aspx?mdark=ark:/81055/vdc_100000000009.0x00003c Military Depots: Depot Embarkation Lists '''IOR/L/MIL/9/77-84Note'''] 1824-1860. These records are arranged by ship and generally give name, age, height, place of birth, date and place of enlistment, period of service, previous occupation, and remarks.**[http://hviewer.bl.uk/IamsHViewer/Default.aspx?mdark=ark:/81055/vdc_100000000047.0x000165 Embarkation Lists '''IOR/L/MIL/9/85-106'''] 1753-1861 Registers of men embarked, compiled at the port of embarkation. They are arranged by shipFamilySearch (LDS) microfilm ordering services has now ceased, however selected microfilms have been digitised and each volume contains an index of ships' names. The records may include rank, place of birth, trade, age and remarks:These records are currently available for viewing on LDS microfilm with this [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/520806?availability=Family%20History%20Library catalogue entry]. (a FamilySearch computer at a [[FamilySearch Centres#Ordering microfilms|Ordering microfilmsFamilySearch Centre]]). For microfilm 1866880, Embarkations 1816-1824, Locate these records through the ships’ names have been transcribed on [http://ispFamilySearch catalogue.ans.com.au/~rampais/genelogy/india/indexes/embarks.htm Bob Holland’s Rampais website]It is expected that in time all microfilms will be similarly available in this format.
====Books and Articles====
*:Editions of ''Burke's Peerage'' are available at major libraries.
**[http://www.thepeerage.com/index.htm The Peerage]. A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain. A free website.
** See [[Peerage and landed gentry genealogical books online]]. Publications contain historical information, so later publications will contain information about earlier periods.
==The difference between rank in the Regiment and rank in the Army==
All officers held dual rank, that is, rank in their regiment and rank in the Army. Their rank in their regiment dictated what they did on a day-to-day basis. The HEIC regiments did not have the purchase system [for rank in the regiment] but based promotions on seniority within the regiment which was one reason why the timing of an officer's rank within the regiment was important. When an officer held a rank in the Army for a period longer than his rank in his regiment this was probably due to him not having actually been posted to his regiment for a period when he was first commissioned. <ref>Christie, Thomas. [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/readlist/india.rootsweb.com/2009-08thread/2239496/1251640318 "Rank in regiment; rank in army."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 30 Aug 2009. Retrieved on 14 April 201431 October 2018.</ref>
Although there was no official purchase system, there was an informal system within the HEIC Army whereby the lower rank officers provided a monetary incentive for a senior officer to retire so that all junior officers could move up a step, but it was not an actual purchase of rank. <ref>Bender, Tim. [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/readlist/INDIAindia.rootsweb.com/2009-12thread/2240360/1259763830 "East India Company Army Purchase of Commissions."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 2 Dec 2009. Retrieved on 14 April 2014 31 October 2018.</ref>
==Advantages of joining an EIC Army compared with the British Army==
===For a soldier===
The army took responsibility for many civil and social activities in the country, particularly in the vicinity of the cantonments. These responsibilities were undertaken by Warrant Officers generally acting through Sergeants of differing titles. These were positions of significant importance and standing and the chance to attain them was one of the attractions of joining the Company's army rather than the King's/Queen's army. <ref> Bailey, Peter [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/readlist/india.rootsweb.com/2000-04thread/12902184/0954667043 "Bazaar Sergeant."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 2 Apr 2000. Retrieved on 14 April 201431 October 2018.</ref> Many NCOs were able to take on other work and attract an extra income. By doing so, they could frequently buy themselves out of their units, could earn more money and qualify for a pension much sooner. <ref>Fuller, Tony. [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/readlist/india.rootsweb.com/thread/1998-1215657808/0913448812 "Prisons"], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 12 Dec 1998. Retrieved on 14 April 2014 31 October 2018.</ref>
==Wives and children==
Marriages between EIC soldiers and [[Anglo Indians]] or [[Native Woman|Native women]], the allowances paid to wives and the army records kept regarding these wives are discussed in "Haemoglobin D (Beta Punjab) in an East Anglian Family", ''The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland'', Vol. 95, No. 2 (Jul. - Dec., 1965), pp. 295-306. .<ref>Macdonnell, Ian. [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/readlist/india.rootsweb.com/thread/2010-011662629/1264031553 "MORE HELPFUL INFORMATION ...Allowance for Eurasianwives."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 21 Jan 2010. Scroll down. Retrieved on 11 April 2014 31 October 2018.</ref>. The [[2nd Madras (European) Light Infantry]] is particularly mentioned as marriage registers were (in 1965) available for the period 1840-1863 showing the race of the bride. The article may be [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2844429 read online] on the website JSTOR for free, but first you must register. Some card holders of participating libraries may also have access, refer [[Miscellaneous tips]] for more about both options. Also available at the [[British Library]].
==See also==
*[http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/untoldlives/2013/08/babes-in-arms.html# Babes in Arms] by Hedley Sutton 13 August 2013 British Library Untold lives blog. 'Minor cadets'. The term relates to a practice which flourished very briefly in India in the last quarter of the eighteenth century, when young boys, including babies, were appointed as cadets.
*[http://hdl.handle.net/2381/8425 ''The Civil and Military Patronage of the East India Company, 1784-1858''] by John Michael Bourne 1977 PhD thesis, University of Leicester.
====Historical books on-lineonline====
*Also see [[Directories online]] and [[ Military periodicals online]] for online Army Lists
*[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Bq1BAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR1 ''An Historical Account of the British Army, and of the Law Military, as declared by the ancient and modern Statutes and Articles of War for its Government: with a free commentary on the Mutiny Act, etc''] by E Samuel 1816. [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Bq1BAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR9 Contents] Includes [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Bq1BAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA665 "Troops in the East Indies"] page 665. Google Books. [http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_0000000132D8 British Library Digital version].
*[http://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89070497664?urlappend=%3Bseq=372 "Indian Army"] page 352 ''Considerations on the state of British India, embracing the subjects of colonization; missionaries; the state of the press; the Nepaul and Mahrattah wars; the civil government; and Indian Army'' by Lieutenant A. White, of the Bengal Native Infantry. 1822 Hathi Trust Digital Library
*''The East India Military Calendar: Containing the Services of General and Field Officers of the Indian Army'' by John Philippart. Contain the biographies of many officers. [[Google Books]]:
:*[http://books.google.com/books?id=fUfRAAAAMAAJ Volume 2], published 1824, index [http://books.google.com/books?id=fUfRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA565 page 565]
:*[http://books.google.com/books?id=srUIAAAAQAAJ Volume 3], published 1826, index [http://books.google.com/books?id=srUIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA535 page 535]
*[https://books.google.com.au/books?id=BIteAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR3 ''Remarks on the Exclusion of Officers of His Majesty's Service from the Staff of the Indian Army, and on the Present State of the European Soldier in India…''] by a King’s Officer 1825 Google Books
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=scJCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1 ''A collection of facts and documents relative to batta, &c. with other pending questions concerning the Indian Army, compiled from the proceedings of the East India officers A.D. 1793 to 1796, the general orders and other official sources; with short arguments and marginal notes for current use'']. Calcutta , Samuel Smith and Co. 1829 Google Books
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=lYTcRScE2JQC&pg=PR1 ''Inquiry into the state of the Indian Army : with suggestions for its improvement and the establishment of a military police for India''] by Walter Badenach. Captain, Bengal Army 1826 Google Books
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=jIUEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP7 ''Memoirs of the early life and service of a field officer on the retired list of the Indian army''] by Major David Price 1839 Google Books. Recruitment into the East India Company Army in London in 1780 is mentioned on [http://books.google.com/books?id=jIUEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA11 page 11]
*[https://archive.org/details/nedfortescueorro00forruoft ''Ned Fortescue; or, Roughing it through life; a story founded on fact''] by EW Forrest, late Her Majesty’s Indian Army. 1869 Archive.org. It seems likely that the author arrived in India c 1841 and took part in actions during the 1840s and 1850s, from the [[Sind Campaign]] to the [[Indian Mutiny]]. Ned meets a recruiting party for the East India Company on [https://archive.org/stream/nedfortescueorro00forruoft#page/26/mode/2up page 26]
*[https://archive.org/details/britishofficerh00stocgoog/page/n6 ''The British Officer: his Position, Duties, Emoluments and Privileges…''] by J H Stocqueler 1851 Archive.org. Includes "Part VI The East India Company’s Service", from page 260. [https://archive.org/details/britishofficerh00stocgoog/page/n18/mode/1up Contents, Part VI]
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=yE0MAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1 ''Remarks on the Native Troops of the Indian Army''] by Major John Jacob 1854 Google Books
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=B_Y2AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1 ''Opinions on the Indian Army : (originally published at Meerut in 1850, under the title of "Musings on military matters.")''] by Colonel John Studholme Hodgson Bengal Army. Brigadier, late Commanding the Punjab Irregular Force 1857 Google Books
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=OyBYAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA1 ''Amalgamation of the Indian Army with her Majesty's Service. [Extracted verbatim from the Calcutta Government Gazette''<nowiki>]‬</nowiki>] 1861 Google Books
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/catalogueofbooks00cockrich#page/n1/mode/2up ''A catalogue of books relating to the military history of India''] drawn up by Maurice J.D. Cockle 1901 Archive.org
*[https://archive.org/details/decisivebattleso00mallrich ''The Decisive Battles of India : from 1746 to 1849 inclusive''] by Colonel GB Malleson Fourth Edition, New, 1914, first published 1883. With maps. [https://archive.org/details/decisivebattleso00malluoft 2nd edition 1885] Darker text, but lacks some maps. Archive.org.
*[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.503252 ''Vignettes From Indian Wars''] by Lieut-General Sir George MacMunn, Colonel Commandant Royal Artillery 1932 Archive.org, Digital Library of India Collection.
*Fiction
29,493
edits

Navigation menu