Button, 2nd Moplah Rifles, 1902-1903

Medium-sized black horn button with the regimental number, '2' in the centre, surrounded by the title, 'Moplah Rifles'.

In 1902, the Moplah Rifles was raised as the Madras Army endeavoured to recruit more 'warlike' men into its ranks under the influence of the prevailing 'martial races' theory. The 17th and 25th Madras Infantry were redesignated the 1st and 2nd Moplah Rifles in 1902. In 1903 these battalion-sized units were renamed the 77th and 78th Moplah Rifles.

The predecessor unit of the 78th Moplah Rifles was the 35th Madras Battalion, raised in 1794. This East India Company unit became the 25th Madras Native Infantry in 1824. As the 25th Madras Infantry, the unit served in Burma (1885-1887). After service on the North West Frontier of India the 2nd Moplah Rifles was disbanded in 1907.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.