The regular infantry regiment of the 6th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent was a part of the Presidency Armies in British India of the British East India Company. The regiments of the Hyderabad Contingent were the armed forces of the Nizam of Hyderabad. It was also known as the Nizam`s Army and the Nizam`s Contingent. Eventually the unit became the Kumaon Regiment in the British Indian Army. The 6th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent was also known as the 99th Deccan Infantry regiment.
History of 6th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent
The infantry regiment was raised in the year 1788 as the 1st Battalion of the Ellichpur Brigade for the Princely state of Hyderabad. Later 99th Deccan Infantry came under the administrative authority of the Honourable English East India Company. The army unit became a part of the army of Nizam of Hyderabad after signing of a treaty with the Governor General of India. Consequently the Nizam`s Contingent was re-designated as the Hyderabad Contingent and was included as part of the regular Indian Army.
Military Operations of 6th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent
The 6th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent participated in the Third Anglo Maratha War and fought in the Battle of Mahidpur. The unit later took part in the Siege of Nowah and the Capture of Nowah. The 99th Deccan Infantry was stationed in the North West Frontier during the First World War and provided service in the military operations against the Mahsuds around Sarwakai. Later in April 1917, the British Indian regiment provided valuable service during the Mesopotamia Campaign. The unit later became a part of the Euphrates Defence Force and served in the lines of communication duties by the Euphrates River. Later the troops also fought in 2 military expeditions from Nasiriyeh in the year 1918.
Development of 6th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent
After the First World War I, the British Government of India restructured and reconstituted the entire British Indian army. The single battalion regiments were joined to form multi battalion regiments. The 99th Deccan Infantry regiment was re-designated as the 5th Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment in the year 1922. 6th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent was allocated to the Indian army after the partition of India and the withdrawal of the British administration in India.
Designations of 6th Infantry of Hyderabad Contingent
The army unit occupied many designations during its armed service in the British Indian Army. These are mentioned as follows -
* 2nd Battalion of the Ellichpur Brigade (1788)
* 8th Regiment of Infantry, Nizam`s Army (1826)
* 6th Infantry, Hyderabad Contingent (1854)
* 98th Deccan Infantry (1903)
* 5th Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment (1922)
* Allocated to modern Indian Army (1947)
