2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry
| 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry | |
|---|---|
A Benet-Mercier machine gun section of 2nd Rajput Light Infantry in action in Flanders, during the winter of 1914-15
|
|
| Active | 1798-1922 |
| Country | Indian Empire |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Part of |
Bengal Army (to 1895), Bengal Command |
| Colors | Red; faced buff, 1879 blue. |
| Engagements |
Delhi 1900 China |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | King Edward VII (1904) |
| Colonel of the Regiment |
Brigadier-General F. A. Smith (1921) |
Delhi
Laswaree
Deig
1825 - 26 Bhurtpore
Khelet
1838 - 42 Afghanistan
Maharajpore
1849 Punjab
Chillianwallah
Goojerat
Central India
1879 - 80 Afghanistan
The 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry, commonly shortened to 2nd Rajputs, was a regiment of the British Indian Army, with an origin in 1798 and amalgamated with five other Rajput regiments in 1922.
The British East India Company raised a 2nd Battalion for the 15th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) in 1798. As such, it fought at Delhi, Laswari, Deeg, and Bharatpur. For its service under General Lake during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, the battalion was granted an honorary colour; an additional jemadar was employed on its strength to carry it.
The battalion was separated from the 15th in 1828, to form the 31st Bengal Native Infantry. Its first campaign as a regiment was in 1839, in the First Anglo-Afghan War. The regiment fought at Kalat, a fortress captured on 13 November. Three battle honours were awarded during the Second Anglo-Sikh War, two for the battles of Chillianwala and Gujarat.
In the Indian rebellion of 1857, the regiment did not mutiny and fought in the Central India Campaign. Almost the entire Bengal Army had mutinied and in the ensuing disbandment of its regiments, the 31st became the second most senior. When Queen Victoria became Empress of India in 1876, the regiment became the 2nd (Queen's Own) Regiment of Bengal Native Light Infantry. The regimental badge worn until 1923 comprised a brass bugle with the number 2 between the strings.
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