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Archiver > INDIA > 2003-09 > 1062506561


From: "Sylvia Murphy" <>
Subject: RE: [India-L] Madras European Infantry vs. Madras Native Infantry?
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 22:42:41 +1000
In-Reply-To: <008b01c36ffd$e3beb0c0$1f2814d0@D2ND5K21>


Lisa

I think that there are many people far more qualified than I to respond to
your question, and no doubt some have already done so. Anyway, you asked
> 1. What is the difference between the Madras European Infantry and the
> Native Infantry? The person I'm seeking is listed as "N.I."

The EIC Regiments in each of the three presidencies all had British/European
officers. Additionally some of the regiments were composed of European
[mostly English, Irish, Welsh, Scots] enlisted men and these are indicated
by their names - as you point out "Madras European Infantry. The Artillery
also usually comprised Europeans, though p. 41 of Boris Mollo's "The Indian
Army" says: "The first troop of Madras Horse Artillery was raised in 1805
and by 1819 this had been built up to two European troops, a rocket troop
and three native troops".
The Native Regiments [always infantry, I think] comprised native men as the
rank and file serving under British Officers.

Clearly the context of your question will relate to available records. I'm
afraid that the EIC and its British officers didn't see any need to keep
records of the native soldiers [sepoys being equivalent to privates] or
certainly they didn't need to send any such records back to London! So, the
muster rolls; embarkation lists, etc will all contain names only of the men
who served in the European Foot Regiments or Artillery and almost all of
which would have been recruited in Britain, though occasionally you can see
mention of a European name recruited locally in India.

I'm not quite sure about the FHL Ref of L/MIL/1-37 as this doesn't seem to
match up with particular items listed in Moir's Guide.

As the person you seek was in the M.N.I. - whether or not you will find more
information will rather depend on his rank - if he was a bandsman,e.g.
bugler, drummer, then odds are even if he appears to have a British or
European type name, that he was in fact a locally born Eurasian and it is
unlikely that there will be records in any of the army lists. However, if
he had any of the commissioned ranks from Ensign or 2nd Lieut upwards, then
there will be plenty of information - he will appear in the annual army
lists and elsewhere.

Hope this about covers what you need to know. Good luck.

Sylvia

Sylvia C M Murphy
PO Box 2379
Carlingford Court
NSW 2118
Australia
email:

> 2. According to the Family History Library, IOL records L/MIL/1-37 are the
> army lists which contain the name, rank and date of a soldier's entry. Is
> there other information to be found on these records?


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