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The lineage of the Madras Regiment dates back to 250 years - following the exploits of today's surviving battalions is a rather confusing exercise, compounded by changes in title and organisation which occurred so often. The first two battalions were raised on 04 December 1758 and three more were added the following year. Of these, the 2nd was disbanded in 1785, the remaining four becoming the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Madras Infantry. By 1795, the establishment had reached 19 battalions, each consisting of 10 companies, of which the 'flank' companies were termed 'grenadiers'. Each company consisted of One Subedar, Two Jemadars, Six Havildars, Six Naiks and 100 Sepoys. Each battalion was commanded by a Captain with five Lieutenants, five Ensigns and an 'Indian Commandant' (this post was abolished in 1784 but replaced with that of Subedar Major in 1819). The original designation of the battalions was 'Coast Sepoys'. In 1769 changes were made in both name and number, the battalions in the South being called 'Carnatic' and numbering 1 to 13 while those serving in the North were named 'Circar' and numbered 1 to 6. In 1784 the distinction between 'Carnatic' and 'Circar' was abolished and they were known as 'Madras' battalions, the 'Carnatic' battalions taking precedence over the 'Circar' battalions owing to the desires of General Eyre Coote who had a special fondness for the former. | |
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The reorganisation of 1796 saw the establishment of the Madras Infantry finally consisting 11 regiments of two battalions each (45 British and 40 Indian officers and 2,200 other ranks), with 10 of the then existing 36 battalions disbanded. This system remained in place till 1824 when it reverted to single battalion regiments. In the interim, four battalions were raised on the 'Light Infantry' model found so successful in the Peninsular War in Europe (The only surviving battalion of this experiment being the 23rd Wallahjabad Light Infantry which is now the 4th Battalion The Madras Regiment). The new regiments were numbered 1st to 50th Madras Native Infantry (two more were added shortly thereafter), thus the Madras Infantry had risen from two battalions in 1758 to 52 in 1826. From the later part of the nineteenth century, 'downsizing' became the norm and the Madras regiments were reduced to 32 in number by 1882, each with eight companies (the 'grenadier' and 'light' companies having been shed earlier) and each company having 90 other ranks. In 1891, the word 'Native' was dropped. |
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| Between 1890 and 1903, seventeen Madras regiments were converted into Punjab and Gorkha regiments, the former being named the 1st, 2nd and 8th Punjab Regiments and the latter the 1/7th and 1/10th Gorkha Rifles. The great reorganisation of 1903 saw all regiments being renumbered, the Madras Infantry regiments adding 60 to their original number. Thus, at the outbreak of the Great War, all that remained of the old Madras Infantry were eight Carnatic Regiments, the 63rd, 73rd, 75th, 79th, 80th, 83rd, 86th and 88th, and these too with a reduced establishment of 600 as they were intended to perform duties of garrison troops only ! Of course, at the time of the outbreak of the Great War, 'Madrassis' flocked to the Colours and not only were the regiments brought upto the strength, second battalions were added to some. |
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Content last updated on 06 Dec 2025
