16th Bombay Native Infantry

The erstwhile regiment of the 16th Bombay Native Infantry was raised as 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry the in the year 1800 and remained in service till the year 1922. The unit was a part of the Bombay Native Infantry, which included of many regiments that operated under Bombay Army. The Bombay army was one of the Presidency Armies in British India and was the official military force of Bombay Presidency. The 16th Bombay Native Infantry initially served under the Honourable British East India Company. But after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, it came under the administration of the United British Indian Army. The military battalion was also designated as the 116th Mahrattas regiment.

Military Operations of 16th Bombay Native Infantry
The 16th Bombay Native Infantry was amalgamated with the 18th Indian Division during the First Wold War. The army men valiantly participated in the Campaign to Mesopotamia during the Great War. The regiment was also engaged in the military operations at the Fat-ha Gorge, as well as on the Little Zab. The troops also fought in the Battle of Sharqat in October 1918.

Development of 16th Bombay Native Infantry
After the end of World War I, the British Indian Government restructured the military force. The single battalion infantry regiments were merged together and converted to larger multi battalion infantry regiments. In the year 1922, the 116th Mahrattas regiment was re-designated as the 4th Battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry.

After India attained freedom from the political rule of the British Empire, the country was divided into 2 geographical divisions. As a outcome of the Partition of India, the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan were created. Consequently, several regiments of the British Indian Army were also divided among the modern armies of Pakistan and India. The 16th Bombay Native Infantry was allocated to the independent army of India in 1947.

Designations of 16th Bombay Native Infantry
The 16th Bombay Native Infantry underwent many changes in the designation and title during the re-grouping and reorganisation of the British Indian Army. They are mentioned as follows-
* 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1800
* 16th Bombay Native Infantry in 1824
* 16th Bombay Infantry in 1885
* 116th Mahrattas in 1903
* 4th Battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1922