Shoulder title, 123rd Outram's Rifles, 1903-1922

Blackened brass badge, one of a pair, with an inward facing bugle horn with knotted strings, over a curved title, 'Outram's'.

The 123rd Outram's Rifles originated from the 12th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry which became the 23rd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1824. The regiment served in the 3rd Maratha (1816-1819), the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842), the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859), the Persian War (1856-1857) and the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880).

The regiment was designated as a light infantry regiment in 1841, dropped the term 'Native' 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). The regiment served in the Middle East during World War One (1914-1918) and remained in the region during the Arab Rebellion of 1920.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.