Sepoy, 23rd Regiment of Bombay (Light) Infantry, 1890 (c)

Watercolour by Alfred Crowdy Lovett (1862-1919), 1890 (c).

The 23rd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry was formed in 1824 from the 12th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. The regiment served in the 3rd Maratha (1816-1819) and the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842). The regiment was designated as a light infantry regiment in 1841. It remained loyal to the British during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859) and fought in the Persian War (1856-1857) and the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880).

The term 'Native' was dropped from its title in 1885 and became a rifle regiment in 1889. With reform of the Indian Army the regiment was renamed the 23rd Bombay Rifles in 1901 and the 123rd Outram's Rifles in 1903, the latter in honour of Sir James Outram (1803-1863).