British Indian Army facts for kids
The British Indian Army, officially called simply the Indian Army (IA), was the army in British India during British rule (1858–1947). The Indian Army served as a security force in India itself and fought in battles overseas, particularly during the two World Wars.
The term "Indian Army" was used to describe the presidency armies, especially after the Indian Mutiny. However, the first army officially called the "Indian Army" was raised by the government of India in 1895. In 1903 the Indian Army absorbed the three presidency armies (the Bengal Army, the Madras Army and the Bombay Army).
Between 1903 and 1947 the Army of India consisted of two separate parts: the Indian Army and the British Army in India. The first consisted of Indian Army regiments from India, while the second were British Army regiments from the United Kingdom which were sent to India.
The Army of India defeated the Ottoman Empire and conquered Iraq in the Mesopotamian Campaign of World War I.
Organization
The Indian Army was formed after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 when the government of Britain took over rule from the British East India Company. Before that the Company had their own army units, paid for by their profits and these joined with British Army units.
The army of the British East India Company recruited mostly Muslims in the Bengal Presidency (which consisted of Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh), and high caste Hindus mainly from the rural plains of Oudh. These troops rebelled against the British in 1857.
After the rebellion, the British started recruiting what the British called the "martial races," particularly Punjabi Muslims, Marathas, Rajputs, Sikhs, Gurkhas, Pashtuns, Garhwalis, Mohyals, and Dogras.
After World War II
After World War II, the British formations and units that had been part of the British Army of India were divided between India and Pakistan.
Soon after the Partition of India, both the newly formed armies fought each other in the First Kashmir War from 1947 - '48 which begun the bitter rivalry that has continued into the 21st century.
Images for kids
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117th Mahrattas at a fort in the North West Frontier, India, 1909.
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The Queen's Own Madras Sappers and Miners, 1896.
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No. 4 (Hazara) Mountain Battery with RML 7-pounder Mountain Gun ("Steel Gun") in Review Order. Left to right Subadars (Sikhs) and Gunners (Punjabi Musalman) c. 1895.
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Sikh Soldier with medals and Pharla
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16th Bengal Lancers at the Temple of Heaven during the Boxer Rebellion, Peking, 1900.
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Flag party of the 52nd Sikhs (Frontier Force) at Kohat, with their regimental colours in 1905
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Old Sikh Gurdwara in Shanghai, China for Sikh Policemen in China. They were referred as 'Black Lions' in Germany, France, China, Singapore and Japan during the World Wars.
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King George V inspecting Sikh and Rajputs troops attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery at Le Cateau, 2 December 1918.
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The 15th Sikh Regiment arrive in Marseille, France, on their way to fight the Germans during the First World War.
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A Benét–Mercié machine gun section of 2nd Rajput Light Infantry in action in Flanders, during the winter of 1914–15.
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Frederick Stanley Maude with British Indian Army entering Baghdad in 1917.
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Infantrymen of the 1/5 Mahratta Light Infantry during training, Florence, Italy, August 28, 1944
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King George VI is driven past cheering Indian troops on his way to a ceremony to invest Sepoy Kamal Ram with the Victoria Cross, Italy, 26 July 1944.
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Indian Army Sikh personnel in action during the successful Operation Crusader in December 1941.
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Sikh soldier with captured Nazi Swastika flag
See also
In Spanish: Ejército del Raj británico para niños
