Waistbelt clasp, 2nd (The Queen's Own) Regiment of Bengal (Light) Infantry , 1882-1904

Silver and gilt waistbelt clasp 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's Own Rajput Light Infantry', and another scroll bearing the battle honour, 'Central India'. The central device is flanked by two long scrolls bearining battle honours. On the left, 'Delhi'; 'Deig', 'Khelat', Maharajpore', 'Chillianwallah', and 'Burmah 85-87'; on the right, 'Punjab', 'Bhurtpore', Goojerat', 'Laswaree', 'Afghanistan', and 'Afghanistan 79-80'.

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). In 1922 it was amalgamated with four other regiments to form the 7th Rajputs as part of a reorganisation of the Indian Army.

The battle honours on this badge relate to the unit's actions at Deeg, Delhi and Laswari, 2nd Maratha War (1803-1805), 1803; the Bhurtpore campaign (1824-1826); the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842), including the Battle of Khelat in 1839; the Battle of Maharajpore during the Gwalior campaign (1843); Chilianwala and Gujerat, Punjab, 2nd Sikh War (1848-1849), 1849; the Central India campaign during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859); the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) and the campaign in Burma (1885-1887).

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.