Shoulder title, 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry, 1917-1919

Brass shoulder title in the form of the battalion and regimental numbers, '2/2', over a curved title, 'Rajputs'.

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 raised two additional battalions during World War One (1914-1918), the 2nd was formed in June 1917 in Agra. The battalion initially had a poor reputation with desertions and criminality within the ranks. The battalion served on the North West Frontier and participated in the 3rd Afghan War (1919). It was disbanded in September 1921.

In 1922 the 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry 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.