109th Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 109th Infantry was an infantry
regiment
of the British Indian Army
. The regiment traces its origins to 1768, when it was raised as the 5th Battalion, Bombay Sepoys.
The regiment's first action was during the Mysore Campaign
in the Third Anglo-Mysore War
. It was next involved in the Battle of Seringapatam
in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
, and next used in the Siege of Multan
during the Second Anglo-Sikh War
. Its last campaign in the 19th century was the Second Afghan War. During World War I
it was attached to the Aden Brigade
, which was formed to protect the important naval refueling point at Aden
.
After World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single- to multi-battalion regiments. In 1922, the 109th Infantry became the 4th Battalion 4th Bombay Grenadiers
. After independence
it was one of the regiments allocated to the Indian Army
.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
. The regiment traces its origins to 1768, when it was raised as the 5th Battalion, Bombay Sepoys.
The regiment's first action was during the Mysore Campaign
Mysore (1789-91)
The battle honour of Mysore commemorates the Third Anglo-Mysore War of 1789-92. Tipu Sultan attacked Travancore on 29 December 1789 and this made the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas apprehensive who entered into a "Triple Alliance" with the English. The Third Anglo-Mysore War went on for about...
in the Third Anglo-Mysore War
Third Anglo-Mysore War
The Third Anglo-Mysore War was a war in South India between the Sultanate of Mysore and the British East India Company and its allies, including the Mahratta Empire and the Nizam of Hyderabad...
. It was next involved in the Battle of Seringapatam
Battle of Seringapatam
The Siege of Seringapatam was the final confrontation of the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War between the British East India Company and the Kingdom of Mysore. The British achieved a decisive victory after breaching the walls of the fortress at Seringapatam and storming the citadel. Tippu Sultan, Mysore's...
in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War was a war in South India between the Sultanate of Mysore and the British East India Company under the Earl of Mornington....
, and next used in the Siege of Multan
Siege of Multan
The Siege of Multan was a prolonged contest between the city and state of Multan and the British East India Company. The siege lasted between 19 April 1848, when a rebellion in the city against a ruler imposed by the East India Company precipitated the Second Anglo-Sikh War, and 22 January 1849,...
during the Second Anglo-Sikh War
Second Anglo-Sikh War
The Second Anglo-Sikh War took place in 1848 and 1849, between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company. It resulted in the subjugation of the Sikh Empire, and the annexation of the Punjab and what subsequently became the North-West Frontier Province by the East India Company.-Background...
. Its last campaign in the 19th century was the Second Afghan War. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
it was attached to the Aden Brigade
Aden Brigade
The Aden Brigade was a formation of the British Indian Army formed for service in Aden during World War I. It was commanded by Major General Bell and consisted of the:*Aden Cavalry Troop*1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles*109th Infantry...
, which was formed to protect the important naval refueling point at Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
.
After World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single- to multi-battalion regiments. In 1922, the 109th Infantry became the 4th Battalion 4th Bombay Grenadiers
4th Bombay Grenadiers
The 4th Bombay Grenadiers were an infantry regiment of the pre-independence Indian Army, formed on 1 March 1922 as part of the reforms of the Indian Army that took place after the end of the First World War. Following this, the Regiment spent the next fifteen years serving in British Somaliland in...
. After independence
History of the Republic of India
The history of the Republic of India began on 26 January 1950. The country became an independent dominion within the British Commonwealth 15 August 1947. George VI was King until the Republic was proclaimed in 1950. Concurrently the Muslim-majority northwest and east of British India was separated...
it was one of the regiments allocated to the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
.
Predecessor names
- 5th Battalion, Bombay Sepoys - 1768
- 2nd Battalion, 1st Bombay Native Infantry - 1796
- 9th Bombay Native Infantry - 1824
- 9th Bombay Infantry - 1885
- 108th Infantry - 1903