The infantry regiment of the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry was a part of the Bombay Native Infantry. It was a part of the former British Indian Army. It was established as the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in the year 1818 and remained in active military service till 1922. The military unit served under the Bombay Army of Bombay Presidency till 1895. The Bombay Army was one of the three major Presidency Armies in British India. The 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, also known as the 122nd Rajputana Infantry regiment, was also a division of the Bombay Command.
History of 22nd Bombay Native Infantry
The native infantry was re-designated a number of times during the re-organisations of the army regiments. After the reforms of Lord Kitchener, it was renamed as the 122nd Rajputana Infantry in the year 1903. The first official operation of the battalion was during the Boxer Rebellion. The troops also actively served during the First World War. After the end of the Great War, the British Government of India reformed and re-numbered the regiments of the army in British India. As a result, various single infantry regiments were amalgamated together in order to raise multi battalion infantry units that consisted four to six battalions. In 1922, the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry regiment was designated as the 3rd (Prince of Wales`s Own), 6th Rajputana Rifles.
Development of 22nd Bombay Native Infantry
After the withdrawal of the British Crown from India and the Partition of India on 15th August 1947, the nation was divided into the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. Subsequently, the regiments of the British Indian Army were also divided amongst the India Army and the Pakistan Army. The 22nd Bombay Native Infantry unit was assigned to the modern Indian Army.
Designations of 22nd Bombay Native Infantry
The 122nd Rajputana Infantry unit of the British Indian Army held many titles through out the reorganisation of the army. These are listed as follows -
* 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1818
* 22nd Bombay Native Infantry in 1824
* 22nd Bombay Infantry in 1885
* 122nd Rajputana Infantry in 1903
* 3rd (Prince of Wales`s Own), 6th Rajputana Rifles in 1922