Button, other ranks, 4th Bengal European Regiment, 1855-1861

Circular brass button by Smith, Kemp and Wright of Birmingham, with numeral '4' within a French circle and dot, surrounded by the regimental title, 'European Regiment' and 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.