Waistbelt clasp, 3rd Infantry Hyderabad Contingent, 1885-1903

Brass waistbelt clasp with the regimental number, '3', above a scroll with the battle honours, 'Nowah' and 'Central India', within a circlet bearing the unit title, 'Hyderabad Contingent Infantry'.

The 3rd Infantry, Hyderabad Contingent traced its lineage to the raising of the 2nd Battalion, Aurangabad Division in 1797. The regiment was involved in the 3rd Maratha War (1817-1819) and took part in the Battle of Mahidpur. During the Hatkar Rebellion of 1819 the regiment took part in the Siege of Nowah, earning the regiment a battle honour. In 1826 the regiment was renamed 3rd Regiment of Infantry, Nizam's Army, and it assisted with the annexation of Burma during the 2nd Burma War (1852-1853).

As the 3rd Infantry, Hyderabad Contingent, the regiment remained loyal to the British during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859) and formed part of the Malwa Field Force operating in Central India, earning them another battle honour. In this period, they wore the same red uniform with dark green facings as the 1st Infantry.

As part of Lord Kitchener's major reforms of the Indian Army in 1903 all of the units of the Hyderabad Contingent were brought into the new numbering system between 94th and 99th, with the 3rd Infantry renamed as 96th Berar Infantry.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.