Button, officer, 4th Bengal European Regiment, 1855-1861

Circular gilt button by Jennens and Company, with numeral '4' within a garter bearing the regimental title, 'Bengal European Regt', surmounted by crown and surrounded by a wreath.

The 4th Bengal European Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Bengal in 1858 by the British East India Company, for service in the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859). The 'European' in its title denotes that other ranks as well as officers were drawn from the European population in India.

The regiment was composed of officers drawn from disbanded Indian units that had mutinied. Following the end of the Mutiny the regiment was placed under the command of the Crown. The regiment was reduced to cadre strength in 1861, and disbanded in 1867.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.