Button, 101st Grenadiers, 1903-1922

Medium, circular, gilt button made by J H Johnson and Company, Aligarh, United Provinces, with a grenade superimposed with the number '101' in the centre, with the title, 'Grenadiers', below.

The 101st Grenadiers was originally a composite grenadier unit formed in 1778 from six grenadier companies. It took the name the 8th Regiment of Bombay Sepoys after the 1st Mahratta War (1778-1782). As the 8th Grenadier Regiment of Bombay Sepoys, or the Bombay Grenadiers, the regiment fought in the Mysore Wars, gaining the battle honours, 'Mangalore' and 'Mysore'.

In 1793 the unit became the 1st Grenadier Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry and raised a 2nd Battalion. The 2nd Battalion became the 2nd Grenadier Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1824, and subsequently, the 102nd King Edward's Own Grenadiers).

The 1st Grenadiers served in the Sind campaign (1843), the 1st Sikh War (1845-1846), the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) and the 3rd Burma War (1885-1887). The Regiment was renumbered the 101st Grenadiers in 1903.

During World War One (1914-1918), the 101st Grenadiers fought in East Africa and in the Middle East. In 1922, the 101st became the 1st Battalion, 4th Bombay Grenadiers, a unit formed from the amalgamation of the 101st, the 102nd King Edward's Grenadiers and four other regiments.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.