British Indian Army

The British Indian Army, officially called simply the Indian Army (IA), was the army in British India during British rule (1858–1947).^[1][2][3] The Indian Army served as a security force in India itself and fought in battles overseas, particularly during the two World Wars.

The term "Indian Army" was used to describe the presidency armies, especially after the Indian Mutiny. However, the first army officially called the "Indian Army" was raised by the government of India in 1895. In 1903 the Indian Army absorbed the three presidency armies (the Bengal Army, the Madras Army and the Bombay Army).

Between 1903 and 1947 the Army of India consisted of two separate parts: the Indian Army and the British Army in India. The first consisted of Indian Army regiments from India, while the second were British Army regiments from the United Kingdom which were sent to India.

The Army of India defeated the Ottoman Empire and conquered Iraq in the Mesopotamian Campaign of World War I.

1. ↑ Peter Duckers The British Indian Army 1860-1914. Shire Books, ISBN 978-0-7478-0550-2
2. ↑ Indian Army: History Archived 2006-11-16 at the Wayback Machine "the total strength of the British-Indian Army was 90,000"
3. ↑ Brig (Retd) Noor A Husain The Role of Muslims Martial Races of Today's Pakistan in British-Indian Army in World War-II Archived 2005-09-01 at the Wayback Machine