2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(March 2013) |
The2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry,commonly shortened to 2nd Rajputs, was aregimentof theBritish Indian Army.Raised in 1798, it was amalgamated with five otherRajputregiments in 1922.
| 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry | |
|---|---|
 ABenet-Merciermachine gunsection of 2nd Rajput Light Infantry in action inFlanders,during the winter of 1914-15 | |
| Active | 1798-1922 |
| Country | Indian Empire |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Part of | Bengal Army(to 1895), Bengal Command |
| Colors | Red; faced buff, 1879 blue. |
| Engagements | Delhi Laswaree Deig 1825 - 26 Bhurtpore Khelet 1838 - 42 Afghanistan Maharajpore 1849 Punjab Chillianwallah Goojerat Central India 1879 - 80 Afghanistan 1885 - 87 Burma 1900 China |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | King Edward VII(1904) |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Brigadier-General F. A. Smith (1921) |
History
editTheBritish East India Companyraised a 2ndBattalionfor the 15th Regiment ofBengal Native Infantry(BNI) in 1798. As such, it fought atDelhi,Laswari,Deeg,andBharatpur.For its service underGeneral Lakeduring theSecond Anglo-Maratha War,the battalion was granted anhonorary colour;an additionaljemadarwas employed on its strength to carry it.
The battalion was separated from the 15th in 1828, to form the 31st Bengal Native Infantry. Its first campaign as a regiment was in 1839, in theFirst Anglo-Afghan War.The regiment fought atKalat,afortresscaptured on 13 November. Threebattle honourswere awarded during theSecond Anglo-Sikh War,two for the battles ofChillianwalaandGujarat.
In theIndian rebellion of 1857,the regiment did notmutinyand fought in theCentral India Campaign,holding a Sangor fort under attack for six months. The Governor General described the regiment as showing unexampled fidelity during this period.[1]Almost the entireBengal Armyhad mutinied and in the ensuing disbandment of its regiments, the 31st became the second most senior. When Queen Victoria becameEmpress of Indiain 1876, the regiment became the2nd (Queen's Own) Regiment of Bengal Native Light Infantry.[2]The regimental badge worn until 1923 comprised a brass bugle with the number 2 between the strings.[3]
The regiment later served in theSecond Afghan Warand contributed to the international force that intervened in theBoxer Rebellionof 1900. Two additional battalions were raised during theFirst World War,the 2nd in 1917 and the 3rd in 1918. The regiment served inEgypt,Mesopotamia,andAfghanistan. [4]
Reorganisation of the Indian Army in 1922 resulted in its amalgamation with the 4th, 7th, 8th, 11th, and 16th Rajputs, to form the7th Rajput Regiment.The 2nd Rajputs, upon becoming the 1st Battalion, retained its title, albeit as a subtitle.[5]AfterIndia's independence,the battalion was elevated to"Guard"status and transferred to theBrigade of the Guardsas its 4th Battalion.
Notable members of the regiment
edit- Field MarshalKodandera Madappa Cariappa
- Field Marshal SirHenry Wylie Norman
- General SirCyril Dupré Noyes
- Major-GeneralCorrie Hudson
Battle honours
editDelhi 1803,Laswaree,Deig,Bhurtpore,Khelat.Afghanistan,Maharajpore,Punjaub,Chillianwallah,Goojerat,Central India,Afghanistan 1879-80,Burma 1885-87,China 1900
References
edit- ^Gaylor, John (1992).Sons of John Company. The Indian & Pakistan Armies 1903-1991.p. 153.ISBN0-946771-98-7.
- ^British Empire: Armed Forces: Units: Indian Infantry: 2nd Rajput Light Infantry
- ^John Gaylor,Sons of John Company,ISBN0-946771-98-7;p. 326
- ^Gaylor, John (1992).Sons of John Company. The Indian & Pakistan Armies 1903-1991.p. 154.ISBN0-946771-98-7.
- ^Gaylor, John (1992).Sons of John Company. The Indian & Pakistan Armies 1903-1991.p. 154.ISBN0-946771-98-7.
- Sumner, Ian (2001).The Indian Army 1914-1947.Osprey Publishing.ISBN1-84176-196-6.
- Barthorp, Michael(1979),Indian Infantry Regiments, 1860-1914,OspreyISBN0-85045-307-0
- "Bharat Rakshak - Brigade of the Guards".bharat-rakshak.com. Archived fromthe originalon 11 April 2009.
- Bharat Rakshak - The Rajput Regiment
- "The Long Long Trail (1914-18) - 1st (Peshawar) Division".1914-1918.net. Archived fromthe originalon 7 October 2008.
- "The Long Long Trail (1914-18) - 7th (Meerut) Division".1914-1918.net. Archived fromthe originalon 24 July 2008.
- "2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry".Regiments.org. Archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2007.