The 3rd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry was an infantry unit of the former British Indian Army. It was founded as the 2nd Battalion, Bombay Sepoys in the year 1768 and remained in active military service till 1922. It was a part of the Bombay Native Infantry. The military unit acted under the Bombay Army of Bombay Presidency till 1895. The Bombay Army was one of the three major Presidency Armies in British India. The 3rd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, also known as the 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry regiment, was also a division of the Bombay Command.
Military Operations of 3rd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry
The first mission of the unit was during the Third Mysore War where the troops took part in the Mysore Campaign. The 3rd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry then fought in the Battle of Seringapatam and the Battle of Seedaseer during the Fourth Mysore War. The infantry battalion was later utilised in the Beni Boo Alli campaign against the bandits in Eastern Arabia and Persian Gulf in the year 1821. Next they took part in the Siege of Kahun in the First Afghan War.
Later the 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry was sent to China to fight in the Second Opium War. The troops then supported the force that participated in the Second Burmese War.
Development of 3rd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry
After the conclusion of World War I, the British Indian Government reformed and re-numbered the regiments of the army in British India in 1922. As an effect, various single infantry regiments were amalgamated together in order to raise multi battalion infantry units that consisted four to six battalions. Accordingly, the regiment was renamed as the 2nd Battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry.
After the withdrawal of the British Crown from the nation on 15th August 1947, the former British India was divided by the Partition of India. Subsequently, the regiments of the British Indian Army were also divided amongst the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. The 3rd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry unit was assigned to the modern Indian Army.
Designations of 3rd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry
The 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry unit of the British Indian Army held many titles through out the reorganisation of the army. These are listed as follows -
* 3rd Battalion, Bombay Sepoys in 1788
* 1st Battalion, 3rd Bombay Native Infantry in 1796
* 5th Bombay Native Infantry in 1824
* 5th Bombay Native (Light) Infantry in 1841
* 5th Bombay (Light) Infantry in 1885
* 5th Bombay Light Infantry in 1901
* 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry in 1903
* 2nd Battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1922
