117th Mahrattas

117th Mahrattas
Active 1800–1922
Country  British India
Branch  British Indian Army
Type Infantry
Part of Bombay Army (to 1895)
Bombay Command
Colors Red; faced pale yellow, 1882 yellow
Engagements World War I

The 117th Mahrattas were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment traces their origins to 1800, when they were raised as the Bombay Fencible Regiment.

During World War I the regiment was attached to the 6th (Poona) Division and served in the Mesopotamian campaign, delivered a setback at the Battle of Ctesiphon in November 1915. They were forced to withdrew back to Kut, and forced to surrender after the Siege of Kut.[1]

After World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments.[2] In 1922, the 117th Mahrattas became the 5th Battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry. After independence they were one of the regiments allocated to the Indian Army.

Predecessor names

References

  1. Gardner, Nikolas. 2004 'Sepoys and the Siege of Kut-Al-Amara, December 1915-April 1916', War in History (journal) 11(3), pp. 307-326
  2. Sumner p.15

Sources


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