Button, 36th (Sikh) Regiment of Bengal Infantry, 1887-1901

Large, brass button by Jennens and Company, with the unit insignia of two intertwined quoits with the unit title, 'Sikhs' and the regimental number in Roman numerals, 'XXXVI' above, within a wreath, surmounted by an Imperial Crown.

Quoits, or chakram, are a traditional edged weapon from the Indian subcontinent, particularly associated with Sikh fighters. They take the form of a flattened metal ring of varying circumference, with a sharpened outer edge, which can be thrown or used in hand-to-hand combat.

The 36th (Sikh) Regiment of Bengal Infantry was formed in 1887 from the 36th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. In 1897 the unit served on North West Frontier, and formed part of the Tirah Expeditionary Force. In its most famous action, 21 Sikh soldiers fought and died in a last ditch stand against an overwhelming Afghan force at the fortified post of Saragarhi (now in Pakistan) on 12 September 1897.

With the reform of the Indian Army the regiment became the 36th Sikh Infantry in 1901 and the 36th Sikhs in 1903. Following World War One (1914-1918) the regiment was amalgamated with other Sikh regiments to form the 11th Sikh Regiment in 1922, with the 36th becoming its 4th Battalion.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.