Button, 73rd Carnatic Infantry, 1903-1922

Large, brass button by Hobson and Sons, Lexington Street, London, with regimental number, in Roman numerals, 'LXXIII', surmounted by a King's Crown.

The regiment was initially raised as the 13th Carnatic Battalion in 1776 and became the 13th Madras Native Infantry in 1824. It fought in the Mysore Wars, as well as the 3rd Burma War (1885-1887).

In the 1903 reorganisation of the Indian Army the regiment was renamed the 73rd Carnatic Infantry, with a second battalion raised in 1918. During the World War One (1914-1918) the 1st Battalion served in Mesopotamia, followed by participation in the 3rd Afghan War in 1919. Then, in the 1922 reorganisation, the regiment became the 1st Battalion, 3rd Madras Regiment, but was disbanded in 1928. In 1941 the 3rd Madras Regiment was reconstituted with the 1st Battalion made of the pre-war 11th Territorial Battalion.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.