Collar badge, officer, 62nd Punjabis, 1920

Silver badge, hallmarked 1920, in the form of a left facing elephant and a left facing dragon, surmounted by a King's Crown.

The 62nd Punjabis was an Indian Army regiment that originated as an East India Company unit, the 3rd Battalion of Coast Sepoys. As the 1st Battalion 2nd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry, the unit fought in the Mysore and Maratha wars, gaining the elephant insignia for its conduct at the Battle of Assaye in 1803. Overseas service followed, as the 2nd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry fought in the 1st China War (1839-1842), gaining the golden dragon as an additional insignia for their colour.

In 1903 the unit was renamed the 62nd Punjabis as part of wider reform of the Indian Army. The regiment fought in the Middle East during World War One (1914-1918), after which the unit became the 1st Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment. After service in North Africa and Burma during World War Two (1939-1945) the unit became part of the new Pakistan Army in 1947.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.