The 14th Madras Native Infantry was an infantry battalion of the British East India Company, which existed from the year 1776 to 1922. It was under the Madras Native Infantry of the Madras Army, before the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The Madras Army was the armed forces of Madras Presidency and was established with the purpose of protecting the commercial interests of the British East India Company. It was amongst the 3 main Presidency Armies in British India. The British Empire took control over the British East India Company and the 3 British Presidency Armies, including the Bombay Army, the Madras Army and the Bengal Army, when the Government of India Act 1858 was authorized after the Great Revolt in 1857. The military regiment was also included as a part of the Madras Command. Later the 14th Madras Native Infantry was renamed as the 74th Punjabis unit.
History of 14th Madras Native Infantry
The British Indian infantry regiment was raised as the 14th Carnatic Battalion in the year 1776 under the East India Company. The military unit took part in the Carnatic Wars and later provided service in the Battle of Sholinghur during the Second Mysore War. The 14th Madras Native Infantry also fought at the Battle of Mahidpur during the Third Mysore War. Later the battalion was posted in China and fought in the Opium Wars. The 74th Punjabis also fought in the Third Burmese War in the year 1885. The army battalion served during the First World War and was included as a part of the 8th Lucknow Division. The unit primarily remained in British India and provided services on training and internal security duties. Later in the year 1918, the infantry regiment became a part of the 10th (Irish) Division and participated in the military campaigns to Palestine and Sinai.
Dissolution of 14th Madras Native Infantry
After the end of World War I, the British Government of India renumbered and re-structured the British army in India. The separate single battalion infantry regiments were joined together in order to create multi battalion regiments. In the year 1922, the 14th Madras Native Infantry was renamed as the 4th Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment. The new army unit was eventually dissolved in the year 1947.
Designations of 14th Madras Native Infantry
The 14th Madras Native Infantry regiment consisted of various designations through out its service in the British Indian Army. These are mentioned as follows -
* 14th Carnatic Battalion in 1776
* 14th Madras Battalion in 1784
* 2nd Battalion, 6th Madras Native Infantry in 1796
* 14th Madras Native Infantry in 1824
* 14th Madras Infantry in 1885
* 74th Punjabis in 1903
* 4th Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment in 1922
