13th Rajputs (The Shekhawati Regiment)
Encyclopedia
The 13th Rajputs was an infantry regiment of the Bengal Army
, and later of the British Indian Army
. They could trace their origins to the Shekhawati Regiment raised in 1835, as part of the Jaipur
contingent of the Honourable East India Company and were taken into the Company's service as a local battalion 8 years later. They fought in the Battle of Aliwal
in the First Anglo-Sikh War
. Remaining loyal during the Indian Mutiny, they were taken into the Bengal Army as the 13th Bengal Native Infantry in 1861. There followed a number of different name changes the 13th (Shekhawati) Bengal Native Infantry 1884–1897, the 13th (Shekhawati) Rajput Regiment of Bengal Infantry 1897–1901, the 13th (Shekhawati) Rajput Infantry 1901–1903. Then finally in 1903, after the Kitchener reforms
of the Indian Army the 13th Rajputs (The Shekhawati Regiment).
During World War I
they were part of the Imperial Service Infantry Brigade assigned to the Indian Expeditionary Force B that was sent to British East Africa.
After World War I the Indian government reformed the army again moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments. The 13th Rajputs (The Shekhawati Regiment) now became the 10th (Shekhawati) Battalion 6th Rajputana Rifles
(1922 - 1947). After independence this was one of the regiments allocated to the new Indian Army
.
was 21 years old, and a lieutenant
in the 13th Bengal Native Infantry, Bengal Army
during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
Bengal Army
The Bengal Army was the army of the Presidency of Bengal, one of the three Presidencies of British India, in South Asia. Although based in Bengal in eastern India, the presidency stretched across northern India and the Himalayas all the way to the North West Frontier Province...
, and later of the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
. They could trace their origins to the Shekhawati Regiment raised in 1835, as part of the Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
contingent of the Honourable East India Company and were taken into the Company's service as a local battalion 8 years later. They fought in the Battle of Aliwal
Battle of Aliwal
The Battle of Aliwal was fought on 28 January 1846 between the British and the Sikhs. The British were led by Sir Harry Smith, while the Sikhs were led by Ranjodh Singh Majithia...
in the First Anglo-Sikh War
First Anglo-Sikh War
The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company between 1845 and 1846. It resulted in partial subjugation of the Sikh kingdom.-Background and causes of the war:...
. Remaining loyal during the Indian Mutiny, they were taken into the Bengal Army as the 13th Bengal Native Infantry in 1861. There followed a number of different name changes the 13th (Shekhawati) Bengal Native Infantry 1884–1897, the 13th (Shekhawati) Rajput Regiment of Bengal Infantry 1897–1901, the 13th (Shekhawati) Rajput Infantry 1901–1903. Then finally in 1903, after the Kitchener reforms
Kitchener Reforms
The Kitchener Reforms of the Indian Army began in 1903 when Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, newly appointed Commander-in-Chief, India, completed the unification of the three armies of the former Presidencies , and also the Punjab Frontier Force, the Hyderabad Contingent and other local forces, into one...
of the Indian Army the 13th Rajputs (The Shekhawati Regiment).
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
they were part of the Imperial Service Infantry Brigade assigned to the Indian Expeditionary Force B that was sent to British East Africa.
6th Rajputana Rifles
The 6th Rajputana Rifles were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They were formed in 1922, after the Indian government reformed the army. They moved away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
(1922 - 1947). After independence this was one of the regiments allocated to the new Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
.
Victoria Cross
William George CubittWilliam George Cubitt
Colonel William George Cubitt VC DSO was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
was 21 years old, and a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 13th Bengal Native Infantry, Bengal Army
Bengal Army
The Bengal Army was the army of the Presidency of Bengal, one of the three Presidencies of British India, in South Asia. Although based in Bengal in eastern India, the presidency stretched across northern India and the Himalayas all the way to the North West Frontier Province...
during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.