Button, 25th (Punjab) Regiment of Bengal Infantry, pre-1903

Medium-sized, brass button by Jennens and Company, London, with the regimental number, '25', within a circlet bearing the title, 'Punjab Infantry Regiment'.

The 25th Punjabis was raised in 1857 as the 17th Regiment of Punjab Infantry and fought in the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859). It became the 25th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in 1861 and the 25th (Punjab) Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in 1863. It served in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) and in subsequent campaigns on the North West Frontier of India. The term 'Native' was dropped from the its in 1885 and with the reforms of the Indian Army in 1901 and 1903 it became the 25th Punjab Infantry and the 25th Punjabis respectively. A 2nd Battalion was formed in 1917 during World War One (1914-1918) and the regiment saw service in Mesopotamia and Salonika. Further reorganisation of the Indian Army in 1922 led to the disbandment of the 2nd Battalion and the regiment's amalgamation with four other Punjab regiments, to form the 15th Punjabis. The 25th Punjabis became the 1st Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.