120th Rajputana Infantry

120th Rajputana Infantry
A painting depicting members of the Rajputanta Rifles, of all ranks and uniforms. circa. 1911
Active 1817–1922
Country  British India
Branch Army
Type Infantry
Part of Bombay Army (to 1895)
Bombay Command
Colors Red; faced yellow
Engagements Anglo-Persian War
World War I

The 120th Rajputana Infantry were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment traces their origins to 1817, when they were raised as the 2nd Battalion, 10th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry.

The regiments first action was during the Anglo-Persian War in 1856, for which they were awarded the battle honours of Persia, Reshire, Bushire and Koosh-ah. During World War I they were attached to the 6th (Poona) Division and served in the Mesopotamian campaign. They fought in the Battle of Basra, the Battle of Qurna, the Battle of Es Sinn before being delivered a setback at the Battle of Ctesiphon. Following this engagement, they withdrew to Kut. Trapped in the city during the Siege of Kut they were forced to surrender after 147 days.[1] A second battalion was raised from men on leave and reinforcements and sent to Mesopotamia.[2]

After World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments.[3] In 1922, the 120th Rajputana Infantry became the 2nd (Prince of Wales's Own), 6th Rajputana Rifles.[4] After independence they were one of the regiments allocated to the Indian Army.

Predecessor names

  • 2nd Battalion, 10th Regiment of Bombay Native infantry - 1817
  • 20th Bombay Native infantry - 1824
  • 20th Bombay infantry - 1885
  • 120th Rajputana Infantry - 1903

References

  1. ↑ See Gardner, Nikolas. 2004 'Sepoys and the Siege of Kut-Al-Amara, December 1915-April 1916', War in History (journal) 11(3), pp. 307-326
  2. ↑ Sharma, p.158
  3. ↑ Sumner p.15
  4. ↑ Sharma,p.159

Sources

  • Barthorp, Michael; Burn, Jeffrey (1979). Indian infantry regiments 1860-1914. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 0-85045-307-0.
  • Rinaldi, Richard A (2008). Order of Battle British Army 1914. Ravi Rikhye. ISBN 0-9776072-8-3.
  • Sharma, Gautam (1990). Valour and sacrifice: famous regiments of the Indian Army. Allied Publishers. ISBN 81-7023-140-X.
  • Sumner, Ian (2001). The Indian Army 1914-1947. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-196-6.
  • Moberly, F.J. (1923). Official History of the War: Mesopotamia Campaign, Imperial War Museum. ISBN 1-870423-30-5
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