The 23rd Madras Native Infantry was an infantry battalion of the British East India Company, which existed from the year 1794 to 1922. It was a part of the Madras Native Infantry under the Army of the Madras province, before the beginning of the Great Revolt of 1857. The Madras Army was the armed forces of Madras Presidency and one of the 3 major Presidency Armies in British India. The Army of Madras Presidency was established with the purpose of shielding the commercial interests of the British East India Company. The British Presidency Armies belonged to the British East India Company until the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Later in the year 1903, the 3 separate presidency armies were merged to form the United British Indian Army.
The army unit was also incorporated as a part of the Madras Command. The 23rd Madras Native Infantry was also known as the 83rd Wallajahbad Light Infantry regiment.
History of 23rd Madras Native Infantry
The 23rd Madras Native Infantry was raised as the 33rd Madras Battalion in the year 1794 by the Honourable British India Company. The military unit fought in the Battle of Seringapatam during the Fourth Anglo Mysore War. The regiment later participated at the Second Burmese War.
Following the First World War, the British Government of India renumbered and re-structured the British army in India. Subsequently, the different single battalion infantry regiments were converted to create multi battalion regiments. Later the 83rd Wallajahbad Light Infantry regiment was re-designated as the 1st Battalion, 3rd Madras Regiment. In the year 1922, the 13th Madras Native Infantry was dissolved.
Designations of 23rd Madras Native Infantry
The 23rd Madras Native Infantry regiment held various titles through out its service in the British Indian Army. These are mentioned as follows -
* 33rd Battalion of Madras Native Infantry in 1794
* 1st Battalion, 12th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry in 1797
* 12th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry, or Wallajahbad Light Infantry in 1812
* 23rd Madras Native Infantry, or Wallajahbad Light Infantry in 1824
* 23rd (Wallajahbad) Regiment of Madras (Light) Infantry in 1885
* 23rd (Wallajahbad) Madras Light Infantry in 1901
* 83rd Wallajahbad Light Infantry in 1903
* 1st Battalion, 3rd Madras Regiment in 1922
