Changes

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 Message Board'', 17 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.</ref>. For details of records for these soldiers in a Native Infantry Regiment, refer [[Unattached List]].

'''Many relevant records have now been digitised, see [[findmypastFindmypast]]'''.

*Cadet Papers (1789-1860) and Cadet Registers (1775-1860 [httphttps://hviewerdiscovery.blnationalarchives.gov.uk/IamsHViewer/Default.aspx?mdark=ark:details/81055r/vdc_100000000047.0x000166 e0ba0a55-f9e1-4cb5-beff-bf97e333afb9 '''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 Findmypast website] under the heading of British India Office Records births and baptisms.

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. [https://web.archive.org/web/20200813061130/https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/india.rootsweb.com/thread/2239496/ "Rank in regiment; rank in army."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 30 Aug 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2018, archived.</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. [https://web.archive.org/web/20200813064734/https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/india.rootsweb.com/thread/2240360/ "East India Company Army Purchase of Commissions."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 2 Dec 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2018, archived.</ref>

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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20200813062252/https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/india.rootsweb.com/thread/12902184/ "Bazaar Sergeant."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 2 Apr 2000. Retrieved 31 October 2018, archived.</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. [https://web.archive.org/web/20200805161945/https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/india.rootsweb.com/thread/15657808/ "Prisons"], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 12 Dec 1998. Retrieved 31 October 2018, archived.</ref>

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. [https://web.archive.org/web/20200813060724/https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/india.rootsweb.com/thread/1662629/ "MORE HELPFUL INFORMATION ...Allowance for Eurasianwives."], ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'', 21 Jan 2010, archived. Scroll down. Retrieved 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]].