The Regular Infantry Regiments of the British Indian Army


The Early Years until 1796

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Contents
- Bengal European -
- Bengal Native -
- Madras European -
- Madras Native -
- Bombay European -
- Bombay Native -
 

- Bengal European -
 
1756 1765 1783 1796
 
The Bengal European Regt 1st Bengal European Regt 1st Bengal European Bn 1st Bengal European Regt
2nd Bengal European Regt 2nd Bengal European Bn 2nd Bengal European Regt
3rd Bengal European Regt 3rd Bengal European Bn 3rd Bengal European Regt
4th Bengal European Bn absorbed by 3rd Bengal European Regt
5th Bengal European Bn absorbed by 1st Bengal European Regt
6th Bengal European Bn absorbed by 2nd Bengal European Regt
 

- Bengal Native -
 

In 1764 the battalions were renumbered according to the seniority of their captains.

In 1775 the battalions were renumbered, those in the 1st Brigade becoming 1st to 7th and so on.

In 1781 six regiments that were serving in Bombay were removed from the list and the others renumbered accordingly.

In 1784 those regiments returned from Bombay and got their place in the numbering back.

In 1796 all three Precidencies reorganised their native infantry into two battalion regiments.

1764 1775 1781 1784 1786 1796
 
1757: 1st Bn BNI 9th Bn BNI 16th Bn BNI 10th Regt BNI 17th Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 12th Regt of Bengal NI
1757: 2nd Bn BNI 1763: destroyed
1758: 3rd Bn BNI 1763: destroyed
1758: 4th Bn BNI 3rd Bn BNI 2nd Bn BNI to Bombay 2nd Regt BNI 1st Bn, 2nd Regt of Bengal NI
1761: 5th Bn BNI 1763: destroyed
1761: 6th Bn BNI 1st Bn BNI 8th Bn BNI 2nd Regt BNI 8th Regt BNI 1st Bn, 8th Regt of Bengal NI
1761: 7th Bn BNI 15th Bn BNI 10th Bn BNI 4th Regt BNI mutinied
1762: 8th Bn BNI 2nd Bn BNI 1st Bn BNI to Bombay 1st Regt BNI 1st Bn, 1st Regt of Bengal NI
1763: 9th Bn BNI 8th Bn BNI 9th Bn BNI 3rd Regt BNI 9th Regt BNI 1st Bn, 9th Regt of Bengal NI
1763: 10th Bn BNI 13th Bn BNI 6th Bn BNI to Bombay 6th Regt BNI 1st Bn, 6th Regt of Bengal NI
1763: 11th Bn BNI 7th Bn BNI Chittagong Local Corps disbanded
1763: 12th Bn BNI 6th Bn BNI 15th Bn BNI 9th Regt BNI 16th Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 7th Regt of Bengal NI
1763: 13th Bn BNI 4th Bn BNI 3rd Bn BNI 1st Regt BNI 3rd Regt BNI 1st Bn, 3rd Regt of Bengal NI
1763: 14th Bn BNI 10th Bn BNI 5th Bn BNI to Bombay 5th Regt BNI 1st Bn, 5th Regt of Bengal NI
1763: 15th Bn BNI 12th Bn BNI 18th Bn BNI 12th Regt BNI 12th Regt BNI 1st Bn, 12th Regt of Bengal NI
1763: 16th Bn BNI 14th Bn BNI 19th Bn BNI 13th Regt BNI 13th Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 1st Regt of Bengal NI
1763: 17th Bn BNI 5th Bn BNI 4th Bn BNI to Bombay 4th Regt BNI 1st Bn, 4th Regt of Bengal NI
1764: 18th Bn BNI 17th Bn BNI 7th Bn BNI to Bombay 7th Regt BNI 1st Bn, 7th Regt of Bengal NI
1764: 19th Bn BNI 18th Bn BNI 12th Bn BNI 6th Regt BNI 11th Regt BNI 1st Bn, 11th Regt of Bengal NI
1764: 20th Bn BNI 16th Bn BNI 11th Bn BNI 5th Regt BNI 10th Regt BNI 1st Bn, 10th Regt of Bengal NI
1764: 21st Bn BNI 11th Bn BNI 17th Bn BNI 11th Regt BNI 18th Regt BNI drafted into 10th Regt of Bengal NI
19th Bn BNI 20th Bn BNI 1780: mutinied
 
1775 1781 1784 1786 1796
 
1765: 20th Bn BNI 13th Bn BNI 7th Regt BNI 14th Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 10th Regt of Bengal NI
1765: 21st Bn BNI 21st Bn BNI 14th Regt BNI 19th Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 11th Regt of Bengal NI
1766: 22nd Bn BNI 1773: disbanded
1766: 23rd Bn BNI 1773: disbanded
1766: 24th Bn BNI 14th Bn BNI 8th Regt BNI 15th Regt BNI 1795: disbanded
1766: 25th Bn BNI 1773: disbanded
1766: 26th Bn BNI 1773: disbanded
1766: 27th Bn BNI 1773: disbanded
 
1781 1784 1786 1796
 
1776: 22nd Bn BNI 15th Regt BNI mutinied
1776: 23rd Bn BNI 16th Regt BNI 20th Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 6th Regt of Bengal NI
1776: 24th Bn BNI 17th Regt BNI disbanded
1776: 25th Bn BNI 18th Regt BNI 21st Regt BNI drafted into 6th Regt of Bengal NI
1776: 26th Bn BNI 19th Regt BNI 22nd Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 3rd Regt of Bengal NI
1776: 27th Bn BNI 20th Regt BNI 23rd Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 5th Regt of Bengal NI
1776: 28th Bn BNI 21st Regt BNI 27th Regt BNI drafted into 3rd Regt of Bengal NI
1776: 29th Bn BNI 22nd Regt BNI 28th Regt BNI drafted into 2nd Regt of Bengal NI
1776: 30th Bn BNI 23rd Regt BNI 29th Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 9th Regt of Bengal NI
1778: 31st Bn BNI 24th Regt BNI 24th Regt BNI drafted into 7th Regt of Bengal NI
1778: 32nd Bn BNI 25th Regt BNI 25th Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 2nd Regt of Bengal NI
1778: 33rd Bn BNI 26th Regt BNI 26th Regt BNI drafted into 11th Regt of Bengal NI
1778: Ramgarh LI 28th Regt BNI 31st Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 4th Regt of Bengal NI
1779: 34th Bn BNI 27th Regt BNI 30th Regt BNI 2nd Bn, 8th Regt of Bengal NI
1779: 35th Bn BNI 28th Regt BNI 31st Regt 1785: disbanded
1779: 36th Bn BNI 29th Regt BNI 32nd Regt 1785: disbanded
1779: 37th Bn BNI 30th Regt BNI 33rd Regt 1785: disbanded
1779: 38th Bn BNI 31st Regt BNI 34th Regt 1785: disbanded
1779: 39th Bn BNI 32nd Regt BNI 35th Regt 1785: disbanded
1780: 40th Bn BNI 33rd Regt BNI disbanded
1780: 41st Bn BNI 34th Regt BNI disbanded
1780: 42nd Bn BNI 35th Regt 1781: disbanded
36th Regt BNI disbanded
 
1786 1796
 
32nd Regt BNI drafted into 1st Regt of Bengal NI
33rd Regt BNI drafted into 8th Regt of Bengal NI
34th Regt BNI drafted into 9th Regt of Bengal NI
35th Regt BNI drafted into 5th Regt of Bengal NI
36th Regt BNI drafted into 6th Regt of Bengal NI
1795: Marine Bn BNI Marine Bn of BNI
 

- Madras European -
 
1742 1766 1774 1777 1796
 
The Madras Europeans 1st Madras Europeans 1st Madras European Regt
2nd Madras Europeans 2nd Madras European Regt
3rd Madras Europeans{ absorbed by 1st Madras European Regt
and 2nd Madras European Regt
3rd Madras European Regt disbanded
 

- Madras Native -
 

In 1769 the battalions were renumbered, those in the south becoming Carnatic Battalions and those in the north Circar Battalions.

In 1784 all were called Madras Battalions and the Circar ones were numbered after the Carnatic ones.

In 1796 all three Precidencies reorganised their native infantry into two battalion regiments.

1769 1770 1784 1785 1796
 
1758: 1st Bn of Coast Sepoys 1st Carnatic Bn 1st Madras Bn 1st Bn, 1st Regt of Madras NI
1758: 2nd Bn of Coast Sepoys 1st Circar Bn 22nd Madras Bn disbanded
1759: 3rd Bn of Coast Sepoys 2nd Carnatic Bn 2nd Madras Bn 1st Bn, 2nd Regt of Madras NI
1759: 4th Bn of Coast Sepoys 4th Carnatic Bn 3rd Carnatic Bn 3rd Madras Bn 1st Bn, 3rd Regt of Madras NI
1759: 5th Bn of Coast Sepoys 5th Carnatic Bn 4th Carnatic Bn 4th Madras Bn 1st Bn, 4th Regt of Madras NI
1759: 6th Bn of Coast Sepoys 6th Carnatic Bn 5th Carnatic Bn 5th Madras Bn 1st Bn, 5th Regt of Madras NI
1761: 7th Bn of Coast Sepoys 7th Carnatic Bn 6th Carnatic Bn 6th Madras Bn 1st Bn, 6th Regt of Madras NI
1761: 8th Bn of Coast Sepoys 8th Carnatic Bn 7th Carnatic Bn 7th Madras Bn 1st Bn, 7th Regt of Madras NI
1761: 9th Bn of Coast Sepoys 9th Carnatic Bn 8th Carnatic Bn 8th Madras Bn 1st Bn, 8th Regt of Madras NI
1762: 10th Bn of Coast Sepoys 10th Carnatic Bn 9th Carnatic Bn 9th Madras Bn 1st Bn, 9th Regt of Madras NI
1765: 11th Bn of Coast Sepoys disbanded
1765: 12th Bn of Coast Sepoys 2nd Circar Bn 23rd Madras Bn disbanded
1765: 13th Bn of Coast Sepoys 3rd Circar Bn 24th Madras Bn disbanded
1766: 14th Bn of Coast Sepoys 11th Carnatic Bn 10th Carnatic Bn 10th Madras Bn 1st Bn, 10th Regt of Madras NI
1767: 15th Bn of Coast Sepoys 12th Carnatic Bn 11th Carnatic Bn 11th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 9th Regt of Madras NI
1767: 16th Bn of Coast Sepoys 13th Carnatic Bn 12th Carnatic Bn 12th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 8th Regt of Madras NI
1767: 17th Bn of Coast Sepoys 3rd Carnatic Bn disbanded
1767: 18th Bn of Coast Sepoys 4th Circar Bn 25th Madras Bn disbanded
1767: 19th Bn of Coast Sepoys 5th Circar Bn 26th Madras Bn disbanded
6th Circar Bn 27th Madras Bn disbanded
 
1784 1785 1796
 
1776: 13th Carnatic Bn 13th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 3rd Regt of Madras NI
1776: 14th Carnatic Bn 14th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 6th Regt of Madras NI
1776: 15th Carnatic Bn 15th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 4th Regt of Madras NI
1776: 16th Carnatic Bn 16th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 5th Regt of Madras NI
1776: 7th Circar Bn 28th Madras Bn disbanded
1776: 8th Circar Bn 29th Madras Bn disbanded
1777: 17th Carnatic Bn 17th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 1st Regt of Madras NI
1777: 18th Carnatic Bn 18th Madras Bn drafted into 8th Regt of Madras NI
1777: 19th Carnatic Bn 19th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 10th Regt of Madras NI
1777: 20th Carnatic Bn 20th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 7th Regt of Madras NI
1777: 21st Carnatic Bn 21st Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 2nd Regt of Madras NI
1781: 22nd Carnatic Bn 30th Madras Bn disbanded
1781: 23rd Carnatic Bn 31st Madras Bn disbanded
1782: 24th Carnatic Bn 32nd Madras Bn disbanded
1782: 25th Carnatic Bn 33rd Madras Bn disbanded
1782: 26th Carnatic Bn 34th Madras Bn disbanded
1782: 27th Carnatic Bn 35th Madras Bn disbanded
Madras Grenadier Bn 1788: disbanded
 
1796
 
1786: 22nd Madras Bn drafted into 3rd Regt of Madras NI
1786: 23rd Madras Bn drafted into 1st Regt of Madras NI
1786: 24th Madras Bn drafted into 2nd Regt of Madras NI
1786: 25th Madras Bn drafted into 4th Regt of Madras NI
1786: 26th Madras Bn drafted into 7th Regt of Madras NI
1786: 27th Madras Bn drafted into 9th Regt of Madras NI
1786: 28th Madras Bn 1st Bn, 11th Regt of Madras NI
1788: 29th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 11th Regt of Madras NI
1788: 30th Madras Bn drafted into 5th Regt of Madras NI
1793: 31st Madras Bn drafted into 6th Regt of Madras NI
1793: 32nd Madras Bn drafted into 10th Regt of Madras NI
1794: 33rd Madras Bn 1st Bn, 12th Regt of Madras NI
1794: 34th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 12th Regt of Madras NI
1794: 35th Madras Bn 1st Bn, 13th Regt of Madras NI
1794: 36th Madras Bn 2nd Bn, 13th Regt of Madras NI
 
 

- Bombay Europeran -
 
1668 1688 1788 1796
 
The Bombay Regt The Bombay (European) Regt
2nd Bombay Light Infantry disbanded
 

- Bombay Native -
 

The 1788 expansion and reorganisation renumbered the regiments with no regard of previous seniority.

In 1796 all three Precidencies reorganised their native infantry into two battalion regiments.

1788 1796
 
1768: 1st Regt of Bombay Sepoys 7th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 2nd Bn, 4th Regt of Bombay NI
1768: 2nd Regt of Bombay Sepoys 2nd Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1st Bn, 2nd Regt of Bombay NI
1769: 3rd Regt of Bombay Sepoys { drafted into 10th Regt of Bombay Sepoys
and 11th Regt of Bombay Sepoys
1770: 4th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 12th Regt of Bombay Sepoys{ drafted into 2nd Bn, 3rd Regt of Bombay NI
and 2nd Bn, 4th Regt of ByNI
1775: 5th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 9th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 2nd Bn, 2nd Regt of Bombay NI
1775: 6th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 2nd Bn, 3rd Regt of Bombay NI
1777: The Marine Bn of Bombay Sepoys The Marine Bn of Bombay NI
1778: 7th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1785: disbanded
1778: 8th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1783: 8th Grenadier Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1st Grenadier Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1st Grenadier Bn, 1st Regt of Bombay NI
1780: 9th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1784: absorbed into 5th Regt of Bombay Sepoys
1780: 10th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1785: disbanded
1780: 11th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1784: disbanded
1780: 12th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1784: drafted into 1st Regt of Bombay Sepoys
1780: 13th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1784: drafted into 1st Regt of Bombay Sepoys
1780: 14th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1784: drafted into 1st Regt of Bombay Sepoys
1780: 15th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1784: drafted into 1st Regt of Bombay Sepoys
3rd Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1st Bn, 3rd Regt of Bombay NI
4th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1st Bn, 4th Regt of Bombay NI
5th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 2nd Bn, 1st Regt of Bombay NI
8th Regt of Bombay Sepoys{ drafted into 1st Bn, 3rd Regt of Bombay NI
and 1st Bn, 4th Regt of ByNI
10th Regt of Bombay Sepoys{ drafted into 2nd Bn, 1st Regt of Bombay NI
and 2nd Bn, 2nd Regt of ByNI
11th Regt of Bombay Sepoys{ drafted into 1st Bn, 2nd Regt of Bombay NI
and 2nd Bn, 2nd Regt of ByNI
1796: 13th Regt of Bombay Sepoys 1st Bn, 5th Regt of Bombay NI
 

The Reorganisation of 1796

The Two Battalion Regiments 1796 - 1824

From the Reorganisation of 1824 to the Mutiny

From the The Mutiny to the Indian Army

The Regiments in 1885

The Regiments in 1902

From 1903 to the Large Regiments of 1922

The Regiments in 1914

The 1922 Reorganisation into Large Regiments

The Regiments in 1922

The Second World War and Independence

The Indian Regiments since 1950

The Pakistani Regiments since 1956