Button, 72nd Punjabis, 1903-1922

Medium-sized, brass button by Hobson and Sons Limited, London, with a displaying peacock in the centre, with the regimental number, '72', above and the title, 'Punjabis', below.

The peacock insignia of the regiment was adopted after the unit served in Burma as part of the military police force deployed after the annexation of the territory in 1886.

The regiment originated as the 16th Battalion Coast Sepoys, becoming the Carnatic Battalion in 1769. From 1770 it was known as the 12th Carnatic Battalion, eventually becoming the 12th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry in 1824. The term 'Native' was dropped from the regimental title in 1885. In 1890 it briefly became the 2nd Regiment of Burma Infantry but was renamed the 12th Regiment (2nd Burma Battalion) of Madras Infantry in 1891. With the reform of the Indian Army in 1901 the regiment was renamed the 12th Burma Infantry. It became the 72nd Punjabis in 1903. The regiment served on the North West Frontier and in the Middle East during World War One (1914-1918). In 1922 the 72nd Punjabis was amalgamated with the 74th Punjabis and the 87th Punjabis to form the 2nd Punjab Regiment.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.