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Bombay Army

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Bombay Army
Flag of the British East India Company (1801)
Active 1662–1895 (as the Bombay Army)
1895–1908 (as the Bombay Command of the Indian Army)
Branch British Raj British Indian Army
Type Command
Size 44,000 (1876)[1]
Garrison/HQ Pune, Pune district

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

The presidency armies, like the presidencies themselves, belonged to the East India Company until the Government of India Act 1858 (passed in the aftermath of the Indian Rebellion of 1857) transferred all three presidencies to the direct authority of the British Crown.

In 1895 all three presidency armies were merged into the Indian Army.

History[]

The Bombay Army originates from its European Regiment which was formed from independent companies in 1662.[1] The Bombay Army was heavily involved in the defeat of Tipu Sultan of Mysore in 1799 and also took part in later campaigns such as the First Anglo-Afghan War between 1839 and 1842. Only two Bombay Army battalions rebelled during the Indian Mutiny.[1]

In 1895 the three separate Presidency Armies were abolished and the Army of India was divided into four commands, each commanded by a lieutenant-general. These comprised Madras (including Burma), Punjab (including the North West Frontier), Bengal and Bombay (including Aden).[2]

Havildar of Bombay Presidency Army Artillery

A havildar of Bombay Presidency Army Artillery, 1882

Composition[]

Prestigious units of the Bombay Army include the Bombay Grenadiers (now called the Grenadiers) raised in 1784 from grenadier companies of existing regiments, and the Maratha Light Infantry.

Commanders in Chief[]

Commanders-in-Chief included:[3]
Commander-in-Chief, Bombay Army

Commander-in-Chief, Bombay Command

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Raugh, p. 55
  2. ↑ "Northern Command". http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=rOVaZ1oDN4Y+6g+B7wVzFA==&ParentID=pR6rWvPTFCtsMyihEuBwFg==. Retrieved 5 July 2013. 
  3. ↑ The India List and India Office List

Sources[]

See also[]

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