Pouch belt plate, 24th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, 1882-1901

Gilt badge with Maltese Cross with lions at the intersection of the arms, with the regimental number, '24', within a circlet bearing the unit title, 'Baluchistan Regiment'; within a wreath with intertwined scrolls bearing the battle honours, 'Aden', 'Afghanistan' and 'Central India', surmounted by a Guelphic Crown.

Originally raised in 1820 as the 2nd (Marine) Battalion, 12th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, the unit became the 24th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1839. The regiment fought in Aden in 1839 and it remained loyal to the British throughout the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859), serving with the Central India Field Force. The regiment fought in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) and in 1891 was renamed the 24th (Baluchistan) Regiment of Bombay Infantry, deploying to East Africa in 1896.

As part of the reform of the Indian Army in 1903, the regiment was redesignated as the 124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan Infantry. The regiment fought in Palestine and Mesopotamia during World War One (1914-1918) and also participated in the 3rd Afghan War (1919).

The regiment was amalgamated in 1922, forming the 1st Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment. It became part of the Pakistani Army after the Partition of India in 1947.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.