The 37th Bengal Native Infantry remained in service from the year 1887 to 1922. It was an infantry battalion raised by the British East India Company. The battalion was incorporated as a part of the Bengal Command. The battalion was under the Bengal Native Infantry, a sub division of the Army of the Bengal province. The Bengal Army was the military of Bengal Presidency and one of the 3 main Presidency Armies in British India and. The infantry regiments were reformed and re-structured a number of times. All the regiments of the Bengal Army functioned under the administrative control of British East India Company.
Later the British Empire took charge of the East India Company and the Presidency Armies, which included the Madras Army, the Bombay Army and the Bengal Army, after the Government of India Act 1858 was established. The regiment was also known as the 37th Dogras.
History of 37th Bengal Native Infantry
The 37th Bengal Native Infantry was formed in the year 1887 as the 37th (Dogra) Bengal Infantry by the Honourable English East India Company. Later the unit was re-designated as the 37th Dogra Infantry in the year 1901.
Military Operations of 37th Bengal Native Infantry
In 1895, the armed unit participated in the Chitral Expedition and also provided significant service during the First World War. The 37th Bengal Native Infantry served as part of the 14th Indian Division during World War I. the troops also fought in the Second Battle of Kut and participated in the Capture of Baghdad during 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 united together to form regiments that consisted of 4 to 6 battalions. Consequently, the regiment was re-designated and was modified as the 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales` Own) 17th Dogra Regiment in 1922.
Development of 37th Bengal Native Infantry
After the nation acquired independence from the supremacy of the British Empire in India in 1947, the country was formally divided through the Partition of India into the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. The British Indian Army was shared among the 2 nations and the 37th Bengal Native Infantry was allocated to newly formed Indian Army.
Designations of 37th Bengal Native Infantry
The 37th Bengal Native Infantry regiment consisted of various titles during its service in the British Indian Army. These are mentioned as follows -
* 37th (Dogra) Bengal Infantry in 1887
* 37th Dogra Infantry in 1901
* 37th Dogras in 1903
* 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales` Own) 17th Dogra Regiment in 1922
* Assigned to Indian Army in 1947
