Button, 27th Regiment of Madras Infantry, pre-1901

Small, brass button with the regimental number, '27', surmounted by an Imperial Crown.

The unit was initially raised as the 1st Extra Madras Battalion in 1798, but was renumbered the same year as the 1st/14th Madras Native Infantry. In 1824 the unit renumbered again as the 27th Madras Native Infantry. In 1885 the word 'Native' was dropped from its title. In the 1903 reorganisation of the Indian Army, the regiment became the 87th Punjabis and served on the North West Frontier and in Mesopotamia during World War One (1914-1918). In the 1922 reorganisation, the regiment became the 5th Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment. After the Fall of Singapore in February 1942, the battalion was captured and then disbanded at the end of World War Two (1939-1945).

From the Field Marshal Chapple Indian Army Collection.