5 Mahratta LI, Burma Rifles and Kumaon Rifles Badges

Good day folks

Here are some groups of badges for post 1922 Indian Army Regiments.

5 Mahratta Light Infantry showing the officers cord boss, regular cap badge and 2 versions of the shoulder title.

20 Burma rifles - Cord boss, hat badge and shoulder title

Kumaon Regiment - cord boss, hat and shoulder titles. Are these post partition?

Thanks

James

[Khyber]

Good stuff, James!

[Wmr-RHB]

Originally Posted by jamesmilitaria

Kumaon Regiment - cord boss, hat and shoulder titles. Are these post partition?

In general partition in 1947 is not the deciding moment. India becoming a republic in 1950 (and Pakistan in 1956) is the reason why titles and badges changed.

I am at loss about the badge of the 19th Kumaon Regiment - The Kumaon Regiment (number dropped in 1945). The 19th Kumaon Regiment was a redesignation from the 19th Hyderabad Regiment. As the badge of the Hyderabad Regiment had a scroll HYDERABAD, I can imagine that a new badge was adopted. That could be the bugle badge you show.

The modern Indian republic badge is the half lion with scroll KUMAON. Probably adopted after 1950.

I am very interested in any corrections, clarifications, etc. on this my vague story.

[Wmr-RHB]

A second possibility struck me.

In 1922 the two battalion 50th Kumaon Rifles became battalions of 19th Hyderabad Regiment as 1st and 2nd Kumaon Rifles (different type of naming than the 1st - 5th and 10th (Training) Battalion).

It is very much possible that they not only kept that special title, but also used a cap badge different from the other battalions.

As KR can stand for Kumaon Rifles as well as for Kumaon Regiment ..................

[peter monahan]

Originally Posted by Wmr-RHB

A second possibility struck me.

In 1922 the two battalion 50th Kumaon Rifles became battalions of 19th Hyderabad Regiment as 1st and 2nd Kumaon Rifles (different type of naming than the 1st - 5th and 10th (Training) Battalion).

It is very much possible that they not only kept that special title, but also used a cap badge different from the other battalions...................

I think Henk may be on to something. I'm away from home and my sources but I'm fairly sure that I recall at least one other regiment - one of the Piffer units, I think - whose 10th battalion wore a different cap badge.

The point about 'KR' is also worth noting.

Peter

Thanks folks

Some very interesting points raised there.

You guys are amazing. Such a good source of learning.

J

[koi_hai]

It is the badge of the 1st Kumaon Rifles 1922-47. Raised during WW1 as the 50th Kumaon Rifles it was incorporated into the 19th Hyderabad Regt in about 1923 but continued wearing its own badges. It is today 3rd Bn Kumaon Regt (Rifles) and still wears a blackened brass shoulder title.

[Wmr-RHB]

Thanks for the confirmation.

But are you sure about 1922-1947? I would assume 1922-1950, because 1950 was not only the year that India became a republic (and thus removed all royal connections from titles and badges), but it is also the year that the 1st Kumaon Rifles, The Kumaon Regiment became 3rd (Rifles) Battalion, The Kumaon Regiment.

[koi_hai]

You are right. 1922-50 would be the correct dates.