South Indian Railway Battalion

The South Indian Railway Battalion was one of the auxiliary infantry regiments which were raised by the British Empire in India. The unit was formed on 5th August 1884 as the South Indian Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps. It was raised under the British Colonial Auxiliary Forces in India. The regiment of volunteer corps served under the administrative authority of the Madras Army. The Army of Madras Presidency was one of the 3 major Presidency Armies in British India and was formed with the objective of defending the commercial interests of the British East India Company.

The South Indian Railway Battalion included personnel from the South Indian Railway. The railway company was established in the year 1874 by the amalgamation of the Great Southern of India Railway and the Carnatic Railway. In 1901, the headquarters of the battalion was set up in Negapatam (Nagapattinam in the state of Tamil Nadu). The troops wore formal khaki drill uniform.

The detached companies of the South Indian Railway Battalion were posted at various military camps at Pakala, Nellore, Madras (Chennai), Tuticorin, Madurai, Villipuram, Cuddalore, Trichinopoly and Tanjore (Thanjavur).

The South Indian Railway Battalion was re-designated as the 29th South Indian Railway Battalion on 1st April 1917. Eventually it was titled as the South Indian Railway Battalion on 1st October 1920

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