101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers)

Last updated

101st Regiment of Foot
Active1652–1881
Country Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg East India Company (1652–1858)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom (1858–1881)
Branch Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg Bengal Army (1652–1862)
Flag of the British Army.svg  British Army (1862–1881)
Type Infantry
SizeOne battalion (two battalions 1786–1803 and 1822–1829; three battalions 1786–1798)
Garrison/HQ Ballymullen Barracks, Tralee
Engagements Seven Years' War
Campaign against the Mughal Empire
First Rohilla War
Second Anglo-Mysore War
First Anglo-Maratha War
Second Rohilla War
Second Anglo-Maratha War
Third Anglo-Maratha War
First Anglo-Afghan War
First Anglo-Sikh War
Second Anglo-Burmese War
Indian Rebellion
Ambela Campaign

The 101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers) was an infantry regiment of the East India Company and British Army that existed from 1652 to 1881. The regiment was raised in India in 1652 by the East India Company as the company's first non-native infantry regiment. Over the following two centuries, the regiment was involved in nearly all of the East India Company's conflicts which consolidated British rule over India. The Royal Bengal Fusiliers was transferred to the command of the British Army in 1862 following the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and the end of Company rule in India. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 104th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Fusiliers) to form the Royal Munster Fusiliers in 1881.

Contents

History

Lieutenant-General Sir Abraham Roberts, colonel of the regiment in the 1860s Abraham Roberts - Project Gutenberg eText 16528.jpg
Lieutenant-General Sir Abraham Roberts, colonel of the regiment in the 1860s

Formation and consolidation of British rule

Soldiers of the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers, c.1850 1stEuropeanBengalFusilierspre1862.jpg
Soldiers of the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers, c.1850

The regiment was raised by the East India Company as a Guard of Honour in 1652. [1] The regiment was initially involved in guarding the East India Company's factories along the Hugli River in Bengal which was India's richest province. In December 1756 it was renamed the Bengal European Regiment – "European" indicating it was composed of white soldiers, not Indian sepoys - by Robert Clive who amalgamated the existing independent companies of non-Indian troops to form the regiment. [1]

The Mughal Empire, which had dominated India for centuries, was near collapse by the mid-18th century and the East India Company were fighting for supremacy with the growing French presence in India and becoming increasingly involved in local Indian politics. With the outbreak of the Seven Years' War, the regiment were soon fighting against the French and Mughals throughout India and saw action at the Battle of Plassey in June 1757, the Battle of Condore in December 1758 and the Siege of Masulipatam in March 1759. [2] It also fought at the Battle of Buxar in October 1764 during the campaign against the Mughal Empire. [2] The British victories in these battles confirmed their military supremacy in the region and transformed the East India Company from a trading company with a scattered presence in India to the ruling power of Bengal. [3]

The regiment was renamed the 1st Bengal European Regiment, on formation of the 2nd and 3rd Bengal European Regiments, in 1765. [1] With its ruling status in Bengal confirmed, the East India Company began to expand its influence into neighbouring regions and the regiment went to take part in an action at Rohilkhand in April 1774 during the First Rohilla War. [2] It fought at the Battle of Sholinghur in September 1781 during the Second Anglo-Mysore War and at skirmishes around Gujarat in 1782 during the First Anglo-Maratha War. [2] After that it took part in an action at Rohilkhand in October 1794 during the Second Rohilla War. [2]

Early nineteenth century

The regiment went on to fight at the Battle of Deeg in November 1804 during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. [2] With the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, the Royal Bengal Fusiliers would find themselves guarding Britain's interests in Asia for much of the early nineteenth century. Two companies were deployed to Macau in China, which the British had taken over from the Portuguese following the French occupation of Portugal, in September 1808 but returned to India in December 1808. [2] A detachment went to the Dutch East Indies in 1810 and other detachments to Nepal and the Maluku Islands in 1814. [2] The regiment saw some combat in skirmishes with the Pindaris in 1817 during the Third Anglo-Maratha War. [2] After that it took part in operations against the Jat people in December 1825 during the Siege of Bharatpur. [2]

The Victorian era

"The 1st Bengal Fusiliers Marching Down from Dugshai", after George F. Atkinson, 1857. Soldiers are depicted wearing campaign dress of grey shirts and white covered forage caps 1stBengalFusiliersMarchFromDagshaiMay1857.jpg
"The 1st Bengal Fusiliers Marching Down from Dugshai", after George F. Atkinson, 1857. Soldiers are depicted wearing campaign dress of grey shirts and white covered forage caps

The regiment was deployed to Afghanistan in 1838 and saw action at the Battle of Ghazni in July 1839 during the First Anglo-Afghan War. [2] Renamed the 1st Bengal (European) Light Infantry in 1840, [1] it fought at the Battle of Ferozeshah in December 1845 and the Battle of Sobraon in February 1846 during the First Anglo-Sikh War. [2] It became the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers, [1] also referred to in contemporary official papers, with inverted word ordering, as 1st European Bengal Fusiliers, in April 1846. [4] It was deployed to the Province of Pegu in April 1852 during the Second Anglo-Burmese War. [2]

On the outbreak of the Indian Rebellion the order to march on Delhi was issued by Army Command in Shimla, and reached the regiment at Dagshai through Major George Ogle Jacob on 13 May 1857. After receiving the order, the regiment marched down from its rest station at Dagshai and was due to reach Umballa that evening. [5] Jacob was mortally wounded at the Siege of Delhi on 14 September 1857. His grave at Rajpura Cemetery, Delhi states: "Sacred to the memory of Major George Ogle Jacob, 1st Bengal Fusiliers, who whilst commanding his Regiment fell mortally wounded at the storming of Delhi, on the 14th September 1857, aged 38 years. This monument is erected by his family." [6] The regiment went on to take part in the Capture of Lucknow in March 1858. [2] Five members of the regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions during the rebellion. [7] [8] [9] [10]

After the Crown took control of the Presidency armies in the aftermath of the Indian Rebellion, the regiment became the 1st Bengal Fusiliers in November 1859 and then the 1st Royal Bengal Fusiliers in May 1861. [1] It was then renumbered as the 101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers) on transfer to the British Army in September 1862. [1] [Note 1] The regiment took part in the Ambela Campaign in 1863 and then embarked for England in late 1868. [2] It was sent to Malta in October 1874 and transferred to Cyprus in July 1878 before setting sail for Halifax, Nova Scotia in November 1878. [2]

As part of the Cardwell Reforms of the 1870s, where single-battalion regiments were linked together to share a single depot and recruiting district in the United Kingdom, the 101st was linked with the 104th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Fusiliers), and assigned to district no. 70 at Ballymullen Barracks in Tralee. [12] On 1 July 1881 the Childers Reforms came into effect and the regiment amalgamated with the 104th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Fusiliers) to form the Royal Munster Fusiliers. [1]

Battle honours

Battle honours awarded to the regiment were: [1]

Victoria Crosses

Colonels of the Regiment

Colonels of the Regiment included: [1]

101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers)

Notes

  1. "Her Majesty's Government have expressed an anxious desire to preserve the proud recollections of distinguished service which belong especially to the older Regiments of each Presidency, and to incorporate with Her Majesty's Army, Corps which have so greatly contributed to the acquisition and maintenance of Her Majesty's Dominions in the East. Her Majesty having graciously determined to mark Her estimation of the services of Her Indian Armies, by conferring the designation of "Royal" upon three of the European Regiments, and by selecting for this honour one Regiment from each Presidency...has much gratification in announcing that the following Regiments will henceforward bear the honourable designation of "Royal" Regiments...The 1st Bengal Fusiliers. The...older Regiments in the several Presidencies will thus be converted into Regiments of Her Majesty's General Army, and will be numbered and designated as follows...The 101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers). [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Rebellion of 1857</span> Uprising against British Company rule

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the form of a mutiny of sepoys of the Company's army in the garrison town of Meerut, 40 mi (64 km) northeast of Delhi. It then erupted into other mutinies and civilian rebellions chiefly in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, though incidents of revolt also occurred farther north and east. The rebellion posed a military threat to British power in that region, and was contained only with the rebels' defeat in Gwalior on 20 June 1858. On 1 November 1858, the British granted amnesty to all rebels not involved in murder, though they did not declare the hostilities to have formally ended until 8 July 1859.

The 102nd Regiment of Foot was a regiment of the British Army raised by the Honourable East India Company in 1742. It transferred to the command of the British Army in 1862. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 103rd Regiment of Foot in 1881 to form the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Adair Butler</span>

Thomas Adair Butler VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Munster Fusiliers</span> British Army regiment

The Royal Munster Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1922. It traced its origins to the East India Company's Bengal European Regiment raised in 1652, which later became the 101st Regiment of Foot. The Royal Munster Fusiliers were formed in 1881 by the merger of the 101st Regiment of Foot and the 104th Regiment of Foot. One of eight Irish regiments raised largely in Ireland, it had its home depot in Tralee and served as the county regiment for Cork, Clare, Limerick and Kerry. At its formation the regiment comprised two regular and two militia battalions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Delhi</span> Conflict of the 1857 Indian Rebellion

The siege of Delhi was one of the decisive conflicts of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry</span> Military unit

The 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry, commonly shortened to 2nd Rajputs, was a regiment of the British Indian Army. Raised in 1798, it was amalgamated with five other Rajput regiments in 1922.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Ghazni</span> 1839 battle of the First Anglo-Afghan War

The Battle of Ghazni took place in the city of Ghazni in central Afghanistan on Tuesday, July 23, 1839, during the First Anglo-Afghan War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">103rd Regiment of Foot (Royal Bombay Fusiliers)</span> Military unit

The 103rd Regiment of Foot (Royal Bombay Fusiliers) was a regiment raised in 1662. It transferred to the command of the Honourable East India Company in 1668 and to the command of the British Army in 1862. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 102nd Regiment of Foot (Royal Madras Fusiliers) to form the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in 1881.

The 75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot, was a British Army line infantry regiment, raised in 1787. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 92nd Regiment of Foot to form the Gordon Highlanders in 1881.

The 104th Regiment of Foot was a regiment of the British Army, raised by the Honourable East India Company in 1765. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 101st Regiment of Foot to form the Royal Munster Fusiliers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengal Engineer Group</span> Military unit

The Bengal Engineer Group (BEG) is a military engineering regiment in the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army. The unit was originally part of the Bengal Army of the East India Company's Bengal Presidency, and subsequently part of the British Indian Army during the British Raj. The Bengal Sappers are stationed at Roorkee Cantonment in Roorkee, Uttarakhand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengal Army</span> Army of the Bengal Presidency of British India

The Bengal Army was the army of the Bengal Presidency, one of the three presidencies of British India within the British Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengal Native Infantry</span> Regular infantry component of the Bengal Army in British India

The regiments of Bengal Native Infantry, alongside the regiments of Bengal European Infantry, were the regular infantry components of the East India Company's Bengal Army from the raising of the first Native battalion in 1757 to the passing into law of the Government of India Act 1858. At this latter point control of the East India Company's Bengal Presidency passed to the British Government. The first locally recruited battalion was raised by the East India Company in 1757 and by the start of 1857 there were 74 regiments of Bengal Native Infantry in the Bengal Army. Following the Mutiny the Presidency armies came under the direct control of the United Kingdom Government and there was a widespread reorganisation of the Bengal Army that saw the Bengal Native Infantry regiments reduced to 45.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd (Lahore) Division</span> Military unit

The 3rd (Lahore) Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army and before 1895, the Bengal Army, first organised in 1852. It saw service during World War I as part of the Indian Corps in France before being moved to the Middle East where it fought against troops of the Ottoman Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidency armies</span> Armies of the East India Company

The presidency armies were the armies of the three presidencies of the East India Company's rule in India, later the forces of the British Crown in India, composed primarily of Indian sepoys. The presidency armies were named after the presidencies: the Bengal, Madras, and Bombay Armies. Initially, only Europeans served as commissioned or non-commissioned officers. In time, Indian Army units were garrisoned from Peshawar in the north, to Sindh in the west, and to Rangoon in the east. The army was engaged in the wars to extend British control in India and beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bombay Army</span> Military unit

The Bombay Army was the army of the Bombay Presidency, one of the three presidencies of British India.

The 1st Brahmans was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was raised at Oudh by Captain T Naylor in 1776 for service in the army of Nawab Wazir of Oudh, and was known as the Nawab Wazir's Regiment. It was transferred to the East India Company in 1777. In 1922, it was designated as the 4th Battalion 1st Punjab Regiment. The regiment was disbanded in 1931.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle and theatre honours of the Indian Army</span> Battle honours awarded to the Indian army

The Indian Army has a distinguished history in which they won many battle and theatre honours. The practice of giving battle honours began with the East India Company who awarded these to the units of the native Indian corps in their presidency armies. The practice continued after the advent of the British Crown post-1857 when the armies of the East India Company became part of the British Indian Army and even after India's independence in 1947. The earliest conflict for which a battle honour was awarded was "Plassey" which was awarded in 1829 to the 1st Regiment, Bengal Native Infantry which served the East India Company in Bengal while the latest is "Kargil" in 1999 awarded to units of independent India's army for feats during the Kargil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Bengal Light Cavalry</span> Military unit

The 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry, also known as the 3rd Bengal Native Cavalry, was a locally recruited regiment of the East India Company's Bengal Army. Raised in 1797, the regiment took part in conflicts throughout British India, serving with distinction in the Second Anglo-Maratha War, the First Anglo-Afghan War and the First Anglo-Sikh War, earning various battle honours.

General Sir Alexander Lindsay KCB was an officer in both the British and East India Company armies. Commissioned into the British Army at the age of nine, he was placed on half-pay after the 104th Regiment of Foot was disbanded in 1795.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers)". regiments.org. Archived from the original on 30 March 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers): Locations". Archived from the original on 10 March 2006. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  3. "The East India Company: How a trading corporation became an imperial ruler". History Extra. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  4. For example in the correspondence of Lt.Col. George Gladwin Denniss (1821–1862) (ed. P. Chantler, South Molton, 2010) who invariably placed the word "European" before "Bengal"
  5. Correspondence of Lt.Col. George Gladwin Denniss II, 13/5/1857, ed. P. Chantler, South Molton, 2010
  6. "List of memorials from Indian Mutiny". Archived from the original on 7 February 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  7. "No. 22278". The London Gazette . 21 June 1859. p. 2420.
  8. "No. 22212". The London Gazette . 24 December 1858. p. 5519.
  9. "No. 22357". The London Gazette . 17 February 1860. p. 557.
  10. "No. 22260". The London Gazette . 6 May 1859. p. 1867.
  11. "No. 22514". The London Gazette . 28 May 1861. pp. 2252–2253.
  12. "Training Depots". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 10 February 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2016.

Further reading