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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Derek-Glover on Saturday 01 August 15 20:47 BST (UK)

Title: Indian Army
Post by: Derek-Glover on Saturday 01 August 15 20:47 BST (UK)

I have a soldier in the Army in India during the 1850's and he was Pvt in the 2nd Eur E.L.I. can someone please tell what this means?

Title: Re: Indian Army
Post by: KGarrad on Saturday 01 August 15 21:03 BST (UK)

There was no "Indian Army" back then!

I think he would have been a member of the 2nd Madras (European) Light Infantry, or the 2nd Bombay (European) Light Infantry.

See: http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/indianinfantry/indianinfantrypre1857.htm

The Bengal Army (or Army of the Bengal Presidency) didn't have a similar unit.
Only 2nd Bengal (European) Fusiliers, or the 3rd Bengal (European) Light Infantry.

Title: Re: Indian Army
Post by: Derek-Glover on Sunday 02 August 15 14:12 BST (UK)

Hi,
Thank you very much for the information you sent me

Title: Re: Indian Army
Post by: ShaunJ on Thursday 06 August 15 10:00 BST (UK)

Just to add that this was the army of the Honourable East India Company (HEIC) and not the British Army.

You may find some mention of him in the FIBIS database http://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/ or on the British Library's India Office website http://indiafamily.bl.uk/ui/home.aspx