Indian Army

The Indian Army was the successor to the East India Company armies from 1859 and existed until the partition of India in 1947. The East India Company had administered India until 1858, through three Presidencies - Bengal, Madras and Bombay each with its own army. These armies consisted of British regiments and Indian regiments commanded by British officers. Service records for officers and soldiers of the East India Company armies are held in the British Library Asia, Pacific and African Collections, http://www.bl.uk/collections/orientalandindian.html.

The Indian Army consisted of regiments of Indian non-commissioned officers and other ranks, commanded by British officers. Its records are also held in the Asia, Pacific and African Collections, http://www.bl.uk/collections/orientalandindian.html.

We hold some copies of The East India Register and Army List from 1844 to 1860 and The Indian Army List of 1901, 1902 and 1905 to 1939. These are available in our Library and Resource Centre.

A few records are available in The National Archives. Lists of officers of the British regiments from 1796 to 1841 are in WO 25/3215-3219. Registers of officers holding a commission in the Indian Army on 1 November 1871 are in the papers of the Army Purchase Commission. Registers of East India Company and Indian Army Pensions from 1849 to 1876 are in WO 23/17-23. Another register of pensions paid to former soldiers of the East India Company who served between 1824 and 1856 is in WO 25/3137.