List of regiments of the Indian Army (1903)

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Template:Infobox military unit The Commander-in-Chief of India, Lord Kitchener carried out a reform of the British Indian Army in 1903. These reforms were intended to improve the Army, which had been formed from the separate Bengal, Bombay and Madras presidency armies in 1895 to be replaced by the Bengal, Bombay, Madras and Punjab commands. The localisation of regiments was abolished, and in future every regiment was to have the opportunity of experiencing service on the Frontier.

To signify the unification of the three presidency armies, regiments in all Corps were assigned new designations with distinct numerals. The Bengal, Madras, and Bombay Sappers and Miners were numbered consecutively, with presidency names removed. Cavalry regiments were numbered as follows:

  • Bengal regiments retained their existing numbers.
  • 20 was added to the numbers of Punjab regiments. The word 'Punjab' was replaced by 'Frontier Force'.
  • 25 was added to the numbers of Madras regiments.
  • 1st, 2nd, and 4th Regiments of Cavalry, Hyderabad Contingent were re-numbered as 20th, 29th and 30th.
  • 30 was added to the numbers of Bombay regiments.
  • The Central India Horse regiments were brought into the line with 37 added to their numbers.

Infantry regiments were numbered as follows:

  • Bengal regiments retained their existing numbers. As the 9th, 42nd, 43rd, and 44th regiments were Gurkha Rifle regiments, they were transferred to the Gurkha Line as 9th, 6th, 7th and 8th Gurkha Rifles. Their places were filled by infantry units from Local Corps.
  • 50 was added to the numbers of Sikh Infantry regiments.
  • Punjab regiments, less the 5th Gurkhas, were numbered consecutively as the 55th to 59th; so that, for example, the 2nd and 4th Punjab Infantry became 56th and 57th respectively. The word 'Punjab' was replaced by 'Frontier Force'.
  • 60 was added to the numbers of Madras regiments (53 to that of the 25th regiment of Madras Infantry). The 10th regiment was transferred to the Gurkha Line as the 10th Gurkha Rifles. The remaining Burma regiments were renamed as Punjabis (except the 33rd, which became 93rd Burma Infantry). Regiments which recruited from north-western India were renamed as Punjabis, while those recruiting from southern India were renamed as Carnatic Infantry.
  • 93 was added to the numbers of Hyderabad Contingent regiments.
  • 100 was added to the numbers of Bombay regiments.<ref name="pp">Barthorp, pp.15-42</ref>

By 1903, the total strength of the Indian Army was 240,000 men.<ref name=p85>Perry, p.85</ref> They served in 39 cavalry regiments, 135 infantry battalions (including 17 Gurkha),<ref name=p85/> a joint cavalry-infantry unit the Corps of Guides, three sapper regiments and 12 mountain artillery batteries.<ref name=su3>Sumner p.3</ref> In addition to the regular Indian Army, the armies of the Princely states, and regiments of the Auxiliary force (European volunteers) could also be called on to assist in an emergency.<ref name=su3/> The Princely states had 22,613 men in 20 cavalry regiments and 14 infantry battalions.<ref name=p86>Perry, p.86</ref> The Auxiliary force could field another 40,000 men in 11 regiments of horse and 42 volunteer infantry battalions.<ref name=p85/> Also available were the Frontier Militia and the Military Police, which could field 34,000 men between them.<ref name=p85/>

Cavalry

Bodyguard troops

  • Governor-General's Bodyguard<ref>Quarterly Indian Army List January 1919, p. 262</ref>
  • Governor's Bodyguard, Madras
  • Governor's Bodyguard, Bombay<ref name="cav">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Former Bengal Regiments<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Former Punjab Regiments<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Former Madras regiments<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Former Hyderabad regiments<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Former Bombay regiments<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Former Local Corps<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Cavalry and Infantry

  • Queen's Own Corps of Guides: Renamed Queen’s Own Corps of Guides (Lumsden’s) in 1904; Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Guides (Frontier Force) (Lumsden’s) in 1911. Cavalry and Infantry units separated in 1922.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Infantry

Former Bengal Regiments<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Former Punjab Regiments<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Former Madras Regiments<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Former Hyderabad Regiments<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Former Bombay Regiments<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Former Local Corps<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Gurkha Line<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

  • 1st Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment): Late 66th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. Renamed 1st Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment) in 1906; 1st King George's Own Gurkha Rifles (the Malaun Regiment) in 1910.
    • 1st Battalion: Raised 1815.
    • 2nd Battalion: Raised 1886.
  • 2nd (the Prince of Wales's Own) Gurkha Rifles (the Sirmoor Rifles): Renamed 2nd King George's Own Gurkha Rifles (the Sirmoor Rifles) in 1906.
    • 1st Battalion: Raised 1815.
    • 2nd Battalion: Raised 1886.
  • 3rd Gurkha Rifles: Renamed 3rd (The Queen's Own) Gurkha Rifles in 1907; 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles in 1908.
    • 1st Battalion: Raised 1815.
    • 2nd Battalion: Raised 1891.
  • 4th Gurkha Rifles
    • 1st Battalion: Raised 1857.
    • 2nd Battalion: Raised 1886.
  • 5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force): Late 25th Regiment of Punjab Infantry. Renamed 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) in 1921.
    • 1st Battalion: Raised 1858.
    • 2nd Battalion: Raised 1886.
  • 6th Gurkha Rifles
    • 1st Battalion: Raised 1817.
    • 2nd battalion: Raised 1904.
  • 7th Gurkha Rifles: Late 43rd Regiment of Bengal Infantry
    • 1st Battalion: Raised as 1/8th Gurkha Rifles in 1902. Became 2/10th Gurkha Rifles in 1903; 1/7th Gurkha Rifles in 1907.
    • 2nd Battalion: Raised 1907.
  • 8th Gurkha Rifles: Late 44th Regiment of Bengal Infantry
    • 1st Battalion: Raised 1824.
    • 2nd Battalion: Raised 1835. Became 1/7th Gurkha Rifles in 1903; 2/8th Gurkha Rifles in 1907.
  • 9th Gurkha Rifles: Late 63rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry
    • 1st Battalion: Raised 1817.
    • 2nd Battalion: Raised 1904.
  • 10th Gurkha Rifles: Late 10th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
    • 1st Battalion: Re-raised in 1890.
    • 2nd Battalion: Raised 1908.

Support Arms

Indian Mountain Artillery

Engineers

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Services

Imperial Service Troops

Volunteer Corps

Cavalry

Artillery

Engineers

  • Calcutta Company<ref name=Gaylorp37/>
  • Bombay Company<ref name=Gaylorp33/>
  • Karachi Company<ref name=Gaylorp34/>

Infantry

Frontier Corps and Para-Military Units

North-West Frontier and Baluchistan

North-East Frontier and Burma

Units formed in World War I

Cavalry

Artillery

Infantry

Paramilitary

See also

Footnotes

Template:Reflist

References

  • Template:Cite book
  • Gaylor, John. Sons of John Company - The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903-91. Parapress. Tunbridge Wells, Kent, 1996. Template:ISBN.
  • Jackson, Maj. Donovan. India's Army. Sampson Low. London, 1940.
  • Template:Cite book
  • Template:Cite book
  • The Indian Army List October 1903. Army Headquarters, India. Calcutta, 1903.
  • The Indian Army List October 1904. Army Headquarters, India. Calcutta, 1904.
  • The Indian Army List July 1907. Army Headquarters, India. Calcutta, 1907.
  • The Indian Army List January 1922. Army Headquarters, India. Calcutta, 1922.
  • The Third Afghan War 1919 Official Account. Army Headquarters, India. Calcutta, 1926.

Online

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