The 5th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent was a military infantry regiment that operated under the administrative control of the British East India Company. The Hyderabad Contingent was the army of the Nizam of Hyderabad. After the treaty of 1801, the Nizam of Hyderabad was compelled to uphold a military unit at Hyderabad. The regiment was also popular as the Nizam`s Contingent and Nizam`s Army. Later the regiment became a part of the Kumaon Regiment of the British Indian Army. It was one of the Presidency Armies in British India. The armies of the British Indian Presidencies functioned under the British East India Company until the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 but later the various presidency armies were joined together to raise the British Indian Army in 1903. The 5th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent was also known as the 98th Infantry unit. The military unit was also a part of the Madras Command.
History of 5th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent
The 5th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent was formed in the year 1788 as the 1st Battalion of the Ellichpur Brigade. Later the battalion was administered by the Honourable British East India Company and in the year 1854, the military unit was renamed as the 5th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent. The British Indian regiment was again re-designated as the 98th Infantry in 1903 and was eventually titled as the 3rd Battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment in the year 1922. In the year 1945, the army unit became a part of the Kumaon Regiment.
Military Operations of 5th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent
The military battalion participated in the Battle of Mahidpur at the Third Anglo Maratha War. Later the troops took part in the Siege of Nowah and the Capture of Nowah. After the Great Revolt of 1857, the regiment provided military service in the campaign at Central India. In the year 1900, the 5th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent was stationed at China and served as relief force in the Boxer Rebellion. The unit also participated in the First World War and was included as a part of the Indian Expeditionary Force B in British East Africa.
After the Great War, the British administration in India reformed the entire British Indian Army. The single battalion infantry regiments were joined to raise multi battalion regiments. After the nation acquired freedom from the domination of the British Empire in India in the year 1947, the country was separated as a result of the Partition of India. Consequently, two new independent nations were constituted and the various regiments of the former British Indian Army were apportioned among the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. The 98th Infantry unit was delegated to the modern Army of India.
Designations of 5th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent
The 5th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent held a various titles through out its existence during the restructuring of the British Indian Army, like the other regiments. These are listed below -
* 1st Battalion of the Ellichpur Brigade - 1788
* 7th Regiment of Infantry of Nizam`s Army - 1826
* 5th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent - 1854
* 98th Infantry - 1903
* 3rd Battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment - 1922
* Kumaon Regiment - 1945
