Button, officer, 5th Bengal European Regiment, 1858-1860

Circular brass button by Jennens and Company of London, with numeral '5' within garter and wreath at the centre of a Maltese Cross. Each word of the regimental title, 'Fiifth Bengal European Regiment' appears on an arm of the cross.

The 5th 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 composed of officers drawn from two Indian units, which had mutinied, the 5th Bengal Native Infantry and 6th Bengal Native Infantry. Following the end of the Mutiny the regiment were placed under the command of the Crown. The regiment was disbanded in 1860.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.