The 10th Bengal Native Infantry was an infantry battalion of the British East India Company that existed from the year 1823 to 1922. It was a part of the Bengal Native Infantry under the Army of the Bengal province. The Bengal Army was the military force of Bengal Presidency and was amongst the 3 principal Presidency Armies in British India. The army unit was also incorporated as a part of the Bengal Command. The 10th Bengal Native Infantry was also known as the 10th Jat Infantry and as the 10th Jats. King Edward VII acted as the Colonel-in-Chief of the battalion in the year 1904. The battalion was formed in the year 1823; and later in 1922 it was developed as the 3rd Battalion 9th Jats regiments.
History of 10th Bengal Native Infantry
The 10th Bengal Native Infantry was formed by the British East India Company as the 1st Battalion, 33rd Bengal Native Infantry in the year 1823. The army unit was re-named several times during its service in the Indian Army. It was designated as the 65th Bengal Native Infantry from 1824 to 1861; the 10th Bengal Native Infantry from 1861 to 1885; the 10th Bengal Infantry from the year 1885 to 1897; the 10th Jat Infantry from 1901 to 1903. The regiment was eventually titled as the 10th Jats regiment after the restructuring of the army in 1903.
Military Operations of 10th Bengal Native Infantry
The army unit served in the military campaign in China during the Second Opium War and later participated in the Third Anglo Burmese War. The 10th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry did not revolt against the British administration during the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857. Later it fought in the Central India Campaign. Most of the regiments in the Army of Bengal Presidency had rebelled and accordingly the units of the armed force were dissolved. The regiment also fought in the First World War and was attached with the 55th Brigade, 18th Indian Division. The unit provided military service in the campaign at Mesopotamia.
After the culmination of the First World War, the British Government of India re-organised and restructured the British army in India. The separate single battalion infantry regiments were merged together to develop regiments consisting of 4 to 6 battalions. As a result, the regiment was re-designated and was modified as the 3rd Battalion 9th Jats regiments.
Development of 10th Bengal Native Infantry
After the nation achieved independence from the rule of the British Empire in India in the year 1947, the nation was divided into the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan through the Partition of India. The British Indian Army was divided amongst the 2 nations and the 10th Bengal Native Infantry was allocated to India.
Designations of 10th Bengal Native Infantry
The 19th Madras Native Infantry regiment comprised of many titles through out its service in the British Indian Army. These are mentioned as follows -
* 1st Battalion, 33rd Bengal Native Infantry - 1823
* 65th Bengal Native Infantry - 1824 to 1861
* 10th Bengal Native Infantry - 1861 to 1885
* 10th Bengal Infantry - 1885 to 1897
* 10th (Jat) Bengal Infantry - 1897 to 1901
* 10th Jat Infantry - 1901 to 1903
* 10th Jats in 1903
* 3rd Battalion 9th Jats in 1922
* Assigned to Indian Army in 1947
