Cap badge, 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry, 1911-1922

Brass badge in with the Imperial cypher for Queen Victoria, 'VRI' (Victoria Regina Imperatrix), within a garter bearing the Order of the Garter's motto in French, 'Honi soit qui mal y pense' (Shame on him who thinks evil of it), surmounted by an Imperial Crown. Below is a bugle horn with knotted cord, surmounted by the unit number, '2', above a scroll bearing the regimental title, 'Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry'.

The 2nd Regiment of Bengal Native (Light) Infantry was a successor unit of the 31st Bengal Native Infantry and a predecessor unit of the 2nd Regiment of Rajput Infantry which became the 7th Rajput Regiment in 1922.

The 31st Bengal Native Infantry which fought in the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842) and the 2nd Sikh War (1848-1849) remained loyal to the British during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859). In 1876 the regiment became the 2nd (Queen's Own) Regiment of Bengal Native Light Infantry. The unit participated in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) and the 3rd China War (Boxer Rebellion) (1900-1901). The regiment served in India, Mesopotamia and Egypt during World War One (1914-1918). In 1922 it was amalgamated with four other regiments to form the 7th Rajputs as part of a reorganisation of the Indian Army.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.