Madras Army
Encyclopedia
The Madras Army was the army of the Presidency of Madras, one of the three presidencies of the British India within the British Empire
.
The presidency armies, like the presidencies themselves, belonged to the East India Company
until the Government of India Act 1858
(passed in the aftermath of the Indian Rebellion of 1857
) transferred all three presidencies to the direct authority of the British Crown
.
In 1903 all three presidency armies were merged into the Indian Army
.
The Madras Army of the Honourable East India Company came into being through the need to protect the Company's commercial interests. These were mostly untrained guards, with only some bearing arms. The French
attack and capture of Madras in 1746 forced the British hand. In 1757, a hundred years before Mangal Pandey
came on the scene, the British decided to raise well-trained military units to conduct operations, conquer territory, and force allegiance from local rulers.
The loosely organised military units were later combined into battalions with Indian officers commanding local troops. One of the first major actions fought by these troops was in the battle of Wandiwash
in 1760. The troops were highly praised for their steadiness under fire. Earlier a good part of the force was sent to Bengal
under young Clive, who made history and a personal fortune after the Battle of Plassey
.
The Madras Army officers were in the early years very conscious of the soldiers' local customs, caste rituals, dress, and social hierarchy. Some leading landowners joined the Madras Army, one of whom is recorded as Mootoo (Muthu) Nayak from the nobility in Madura. As the army expanded and new officers came in, mostly from Company sources, the leadership style and care of the men changed for the worse. The most famous incident in the Madras Army was the Vellore mutiny. Looting was an organised activity among the East India Company officers. Lord Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington, was in the Seringapatnam battle. In keeping with the times, he laid down the share of every officer and sepoy from the loot that was organised after Tipu was killed. The defeat of Hyder Ali
and the death of Tipu with the most widespread looting of Seringapatnam rankled with Indians at all levels. After Tipu Sultan was killed, his two sons were held in British custody in Vellore Fort
.
The Madras Army in the 1830s was a professional military force whose use in internal security campaigns was a routine part of the Madras Presidency Government's operations. The Madras Army was a large, modern (for the 1830s), military force organized to defend the state against external and internal enemies. The British officers were aware of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in a multi-ethnic army which could not appeal to patriotism. The Madras Army deliberately attempted to overcome the weaknesses through such programs as encouraging the study of Asian languages by the British officers and providing paternalistic care for the sepoys and their families. The Madras Army was organized to support the civil administration in securing the revenue and maintaining tranquillity. The 1832-1833 campaign in the Vishakhapatnam District included from four to eight hundred troops in the field pursuing two rebel factions, the largest reported group of which numbered seven to eight hundred. Any time the troops brought the rebels to battle, the superior discipline and training of the Madras Army produced a victory.
where all but twelve (out of eighty-four) infantry and cavalry regiments either mutinied or were disbanded, all fifty-two regiments of Madras Native Infantry remained loyal and passed into the new Indian Army when direct British Crown rule replaced that of the Honourable East India Company. Four regiments of Madras Light Cavalry and the Madras Artillery batteries did however disappear in the post-Mutiny reorganisation of all three of the Presidency Armies. The Madras Fusiliers (a regiment of European infantry recruited by the East India Company for service in India) was transferred to the regular British Army.
Madras units subsequently saw active service in the 2nd China War 1857-60, the 3rd Burma War 1885-87, Egypt 1882 and the 1st Sudan War 1884-85.
was raised in 1942, during World War II. Both of these regiments continue to exist in the modern Indian Army.
The gradual phasing out of Madrasi recruitment for the Indian Army in the late 19th century, in favour of Sikhs, Rajputs, Dogras and Punjabi Mussalmans, was justified by General Sir Frederick Roberts
on the grounds that long periods of peace and inactivity in Southern India had rendered the Madras infantry soldier inferior to the Martial Races of the North. The military historians John Keegan
and Philip Mason have however pointed out that under the "watertight" Presidency Army system, Madras regiments had little opportunity of active service on the North-West Frontier
. Accordingly the more ambitious and capable British officers of the Indian Army opted for service with Punjabi and other northern units and the overall efficiency of the Madras Army suffered accordingly.
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
The presidency armies, like the presidencies themselves, belonged to the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
until the Government of India Act 1858
Government of India Act 1858
The Government of India Act 1858 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed on August 2, 1858. Its provisions called for the liquidation of the British East India Company and the transference of its functions to the British Crown...
(passed in the aftermath of the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
) transferred all three presidencies to the direct authority of the British Crown
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
.
In 1903 all three presidency armies were merged into the 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...
.
Establishment and early history
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
attack and capture of Madras in 1746 forced the British hand. In 1757, a hundred years before Mangal Pandey
Mangal Pandey
Mangal Pandey was a sepoy in the 34th Regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry of the English East India Company. He is widely known in India as one of its first freedom fighters...
came on the scene, the British decided to raise well-trained military units to conduct operations, conquer territory, and force allegiance from local rulers.
The loosely organised military units were later combined into battalions with Indian officers commanding local troops. One of the first major actions fought by these troops was in the battle of Wandiwash
Battle of Wandiwash
The Battle of Wandiwash was a decisive battle in India during the Seven Years' War. The Count de Lally's army, burdened by a lack of naval support and funds, attempted to regain the fort at Vandavasi near Pondicherry. He was attacked by Sir Eyre Coote's forces and decisively defeated...
in 1760. The troops were highly praised for their steadiness under fire. Earlier a good part of the force was sent to Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
under young Clive, who made history and a personal fortune after the Battle of Plassey
Battle of Plassey
The Battle of Plassey , 23 June 1757, was a decisive British East India Company victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies, establishing Company rule in South Asia which expanded over much of the Indies for the next hundred years...
.
The Madras Army officers were in the early years very conscious of the soldiers' local customs, caste rituals, dress, and social hierarchy. Some leading landowners joined the Madras Army, one of whom is recorded as Mootoo (Muthu) Nayak from the nobility in Madura. As the army expanded and new officers came in, mostly from Company sources, the leadership style and care of the men changed for the worse. The most famous incident in the Madras Army was the Vellore mutiny. Looting was an organised activity among the East India Company officers. Lord Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington, was in the Seringapatnam battle. In keeping with the times, he laid down the share of every officer and sepoy from the loot that was organised after Tipu was killed. The defeat of Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...
and the death of Tipu with the most widespread looting of Seringapatnam rankled with Indians at all levels. After Tipu Sultan was killed, his two sons were held in British custody in Vellore Fort
Vellore Fort
Vellore Fort is a large 16th-century fort situated in Vellore city near Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The Fort was at one point of time the headquarters of the Vijayanagara Empire...
.
The Madras Army in the 1830s was a professional military force whose use in internal security campaigns was a routine part of the Madras Presidency Government's operations. The Madras Army was a large, modern (for the 1830s), military force organized to defend the state against external and internal enemies. The British officers were aware of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in a multi-ethnic army which could not appeal to patriotism. The Madras Army deliberately attempted to overcome the weaknesses through such programs as encouraging the study of Asian languages by the British officers and providing paternalistic care for the sepoys and their families. The Madras Army was organized to support the civil administration in securing the revenue and maintaining tranquillity. The 1832-1833 campaign in the Vishakhapatnam District included from four to eight hundred troops in the field pursuing two rebel factions, the largest reported group of which numbered seven to eight hundred. Any time the troops brought the rebels to battle, the superior discipline and training of the Madras Army produced a victory.
Madras Native Infantry
- 1st Regiment of Madras Native Infantry61st PioneersThe 61st Pioneers were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1758, when they were raised as the 1st Battalion Coast Sepoys....
- 2nd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry62nd PunjabisThe 62nd Punjabis was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was raised in 1759 as the 3rd Battalion of Coast Sepoys, and formed part of the Madras Army. It was designated as the 62nd Punjabis in 1903 and became 1st Battalion 1st Punjab Regiment in 1922. In 1947, it was allocated to...
- 3rd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry Palamcottah Light Infantry63rd Palamcottah Light InfantryThe 63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment could trace its origins to 1759, when it was raised as the 4th Battalion Coast Sepoys.-History:...
- 4th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry64th PioneersThe 64th Pioneers was a infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1758, when they were the 5th Battalion Coast Sepoys...
- 5th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 6th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry66th PunjabisThe 66th Punjabis was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was raised in 1761 as the 7th Battalion of Coast Sepoys. It was designated as the 66th Punjabis in 1903 and became 2nd Battalion 1st Punjab Regiment in 1922...
- 7th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry67th PunjabisThe 67th Punjabis were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1759, when they were raised as the 8th Battalion Coast Sepoys....
- 8th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 9th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry69th PunjabisThe 69th Punjabis were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1759, when they were raised as the 10th Battalion Coast Sepoys....
- 10th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 11th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 12th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry72nd PunjabisThe 72nd Punjabis were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1759, when they were raised as the 16th Battalion Coast Sepoys....
- 13th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 14th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 16th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 17th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 18th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 19th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 20th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 21st Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 22nd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 23rd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry Wallajahbad Light infantry83rd Wallajahbad Light InfantryThe 83rd Wallajahbad Light Infantry were an infantry regiment in the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1794, when they were raised as the 33rd Madras Battalion....
- 24th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 25th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 26th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 27th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 28th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 29th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 30th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 31st Regiment of Madras Native Infantry Trichinopoly Light Infantry91st Punjabis (Light Infantry)The 91st Punjabis was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment was raised in 1800 as a battalion of Madras Native Infantry. It was designated as the 91st Punjabis in 1903 and became 3rd Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment in 1922...
- 32nd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry92nd PunjabisThe 92nd Punjabis were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment was raised in 1800 as a battalion of Madras Native Infantry. It was designated as the 92nd Punjabis in 1903 and became 4th Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment in 1922...
- 33rd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry93rd Burma InfantryThe 93rd Burma Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment was raised in 1800 as a battalion of Madras Native Infantry. It was designated as the 93rd Burma Infantry in 1903 and became 5th Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment in 1922...
- 34th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry Chicacole Light Infantry
- 35th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 36th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 37th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 38th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 39th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 40th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 41st Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 42nd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 43rd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 44th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 45th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 46th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 47th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 48th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 49th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- 50th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
- Madras Rifle CorpsMadras Rifle CorpsThe Madras Rifle Corps was a light infantry battalion in the service of the Honourable East India Company.-History:The battalion was established in the Madras Presidency of the HEIC on 10 February 1810 as the Madras Volunteer Battalion. Captain W...
Madras European Infantry
- 1st Madras (European) Fusiliers
- 2nd Madras (European) Light Infantry105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry)The 105th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1862 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The King's Own Light Infantry ....
- 3rd Madras (European) Infantry108th Regiment of Foot (Madras Infantry)The 108th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1862 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers....
Madras Light Cavalry
- 1st Madras Light Cavalry8th King George's Own Light CavalryThe 8th King George's Own Light Cavalry was formed in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 26th King George's Own Light Cavalry and the 30th Lancers following a re-organisation of the Indian Cavalry Corps. Both regiments were regular cavalry units that had had long and distinguished records in the...
- 2nd Madras Light Cavalry16th Light CavalryThe 16th Light Cavalry is a regiment of the Armoured Corps, a primary combat arm of the Indian Army. Prior to India gaining independence from the British in 1947, it was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army...
- 3rd Madras Light Cavalry7th Light CavalryThe 7th Light Cavalry, was a regular army cavalry regiment in the British Indian Army which first came into British service with the East India Company and went on to serve on the North West Frontier and in World War I and World War II.-Formation:...
- 4th Madras Light Cavalry
- 5th Madras Light Cavalry
- 6th Madras Light Cavalry
- 7th Madras Light Cavalry
- 8th Madras Light Cavalry
Artillery
- Madras European Foot ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- Madras Native Foot Artillery Golundauze Battalion
- Madras Horse Artillery3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery in the British Army. They are currently based in Caen Barracks, Hohne, Germany.-Current role:...
Post-Mutiny history
The Army of the Madras Presidency remained almost unaffected by the Indian Mutiny of 1857-1858. By contrast with the larger Bengal ArmyBengal 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...
where all but twelve (out of eighty-four) infantry and cavalry regiments either mutinied or were disbanded, all fifty-two regiments of Madras Native Infantry remained loyal and passed into the new Indian Army when direct British Crown rule replaced that of the Honourable East India Company. Four regiments of Madras Light Cavalry and the Madras Artillery batteries did however disappear in the post-Mutiny reorganisation of all three of the Presidency Armies. The Madras Fusiliers (a regiment of European infantry recruited by the East India Company for service in India) was transferred to the regular British Army.
Madras units subsequently saw active service in the 2nd China War 1857-60, the 3rd Burma War 1885-87, Egypt 1882 and the 1st Sudan War 1884-85.
End of the separate Madras Army
In 1895 the three separate Presidency Armies were abolished and the Army of India was divided into four commands, each commanded by a lieutenant-general. These comprised Madras (including Burma), Punjab (including the North West Frontier), Bengal and Bombay (including Aden).Disbanding of Madras infantry regiments
While the Madras Army remained in existence as a separate entity until 1895, twelve of the Madras Native Infantry regiments were disbanded between 1862 and 1864. A further eight went in 1882, three between 1902 and 1904, two in 1907 and four in 1922. The remainder were disbanded between 1923 and 1933, leaving the highly regarded Madras Sappers and Miners as the only Madrasi unit in the Indian Army until a new Madras RegimentMadras Regiment
The Madras Regiment is the oldest regiment in the Indian army formed in the 1750s. The regiment has been through many campaigns with both the British Indian Army and the Indian Army.- History :...
was raised in 1942, during World War II. Both of these regiments continue to exist in the modern Indian Army.
The gradual phasing out of Madrasi recruitment for the Indian Army in the late 19th century, in favour of Sikhs, Rajputs, Dogras and Punjabi Mussalmans, was justified by General Sir Frederick Roberts
Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on...
on the grounds that long periods of peace and inactivity in Southern India had rendered the Madras infantry soldier inferior to the Martial Races of the North. The military historians John Keegan
John Keegan
Sir John Keegan OBE FRSL is a British military historian, lecturer, writer and journalist. He has published many works on the nature of combat between the 14th and 21st centuries concerning land, air, maritime, and intelligence warfare, as well as the psychology of battle.-Life and career:John...
and Philip Mason have however pointed out that under the "watertight" Presidency Army system, Madras regiments had little opportunity of active service on the North-West Frontier
North-West Frontier (military history)
The North-West Frontier was the most difficult area, from a military point of view, of the former British India in the Indian sub-continent. It remains the frontier of present-day Pakistan, extending from the Pamir Knot in the north to the Koh-i-Malik Siah in the west, and separating the...
. Accordingly the more ambitious and capable British officers of the Indian Army opted for service with Punjabi and other northern units and the overall efficiency of the Madras Army suffered accordingly.
List of Commanders of the Fort St George garrison
- Lieutenant Jermin (1640-49)
- Lieutenant Richard Minors (1649-51)
- Captain James Martin (1651-54)
- Lieutenant Richard Minors (1654-55)
- Sergeant Thomas Sutton (1655-58)
- Captain Roger Middleton (1658-60)
- Lieutenant William Hull (1660)
- Captain Thomas Axtell (1661-64)
- Lieutenant Francis Chuseman (1664-68)
- Lieutenant Timothy Sutton (1668-73)
- Captain Philip O' Neale (1673-80)
- Captain James Bett (1680-92)
- Captain Francis Seaton (1692-1707)
- Captain Gabriel Poirier (1707-16)
- Major John Roach (1716-19)
- Captain Alexander Fullerton (1719-23)
- Captain Alexander Sutherland (1723-24)
- Major John Roach (1724-29)
- Major David Wilson (1729-38)
- Captain Peter Eckman (1738-43)
- Major Charles Knipe (1743)
- Captain Peter Eckman (1743-46)
List of Commander-in-chiefs
- Major Stringer LawrenceStringer LawrenceMajor-General Stringer Lawrence was an English soldier, the first Commander-in-Chief, India, sometimes regarded as the "Father of the Indian Army"....
(1746–49) - Captain Rodolphus de Gingens (1749–52)
- Stinger Lawrence (2nd term) (1752–54)
- Lieutenant-Colonel John AdlercronJohn AdlercronLieutenant General John Adlercron was Commander-in-Chief, India.-Military career:Born into a Huguenot family who had taken refuge in Dublin at the end of the seventeenth century, Adlercron joined the Royal Army: in 1754 he went to India as Commanding Officer of the 39th Regiment of Foot to...
(1754–57) - Lieutenant-Colonel Stringer Lawrence (3rd term) (1757–59)
- Colonel Eyre CooteEyre Coote (East India Company officer)Lieutenant-General Sir Eyre Coote, KB was an Irish soldier. He is best known for his many years of service with the British Army in India. His victory at the Battle of Wandiwash is considered a decisive turning point in the struggle for control in India between British and France...
(1759–61) - Major-General Stringer Lawrence (4th term) (1761–66)
- ...
- Lieutenant-General Sir Samford WhittinghamSamuel Ford WhittinghamLieutenant General Sir Samuel Ford Whittingham , whose Christian names were contracted by himself and his friends into "Samford", was a British and Spanish army officer during the Napoleonic Wars. Postbellum he served in the British Army predominately in India.Whittingham entered mercantile house...
September 1839, (arrived 1 August 1840), died 19 January 1841 - ...
- James Hope GrantJames Hope GrantGeneral Sir James Hope Grant GCB , British general, was the fifth and youngest son of Francis Grant of Kilgraston, Perthshire, and brother of Sir Francis Grant, President of the Royal Academy.-Military career:...
(1861–64) - John Caspard Lee Marchant (1864–67)
- William Anson McClevertyWilliam Anson McClevertyLieutenant-General William Anson McCleverty was a British soldier who served as the Commander-in-chief of the Madras Army from 1867 to 1871.- Early life :...
(1867–71) - Frederick HainesFrederick HainesField Marshal Sir Frederick Paul Haines, GCB, GCSI, CIE was a British army officer.-Military career:Haines was commissioned into the 4th Regiment of Foot in 1839. Haines served in the Crimean War and as the senior officer at the Battle of Inkerman in 1854 held the barrier for six hours...
(1871–75) - Neville Bowles ChamberlainNeville Bowles ChamberlainField Marshal Sir Neville Bowles Chamberlain GCB GCSI was a British soldier who served in India.-Military career:...
(1875–80) - Frederick S. RobertsFrederick Roberts, 1st Earl RobertsField Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on...
(1880–85) - Charles George ArbuthnotCharles George ArbuthnotSir Charles George Arbuthnot GCB was a British Army officer. He served in the Royal Artillery in the Crimean War and rose to become a lieutenant general in British India....
(1885–90) - James Charlemagne DormerJames Charlemagne DormerLieutenant General James Charlemagne Dormer KCB was a British army officer who served as the Commander-in-chief of the Madras Army and thus, a member of the Madras Legislative Council....
(1890–91) - Charles Mansfield ClarkeSir Charles Clarke, 3rd BaronetGeneral Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke, 3rd Baronet GCB GCVO was Quartermaster-General to the Forces.-Military career:Educated at Eton College, Clarke was commissioned into the 57th Regiment of Foot in 1856....
(1891–95)
See also
- Presidency armiesPresidency armiesThe presidency armies were the armies of the three presidencies of the East India Company's rule in India, later the forces of the British Crown in India...
- Bengal ArmyBengal ArmyThe 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...
- Bombay ArmyBombay ArmyThe Bombay Army was the army of the Bombay Presidency, one of the three Presidencies of British India, in South Asia.The Presidency armies, like the presidencies themselves, belonged to the East India Company until the Government of India Act 1858 transferred all three presidencies to the direct...