Madras Regiment
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The Madras Regiment is one of the oldest regiments in the Indian army formed around the middle of 18th century. It was established by the British East India Company, initially they were working for the company as payed militia. It was regularized and trained by Stinger Lawrence, a veteran of the Seven Year War. Then after the power shifted to crown this was converted into a full regiment. Many well-known British officers have commanded this regiment, Robert Clive is one among them. This regiment has fought the Carnatic wars, which were fought in South India. The elephant crest symbolizes its gallantry in the Battle of Assaye under Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington.
There after the British annexed the Indian sub-continent, largely with the help of these Madrasi Sepoys. However operational necessities, including the infamous Divide and rule doctrine shifted their recruiting base from southern India to northern India, slowly this regiment was lost in that time span. Many later Punjab battalions of Indian and Pakistani Armies, however, still trace their lineage back to the Madras battalions. After many years this regiment was formed into a full strength force during the World War II, and performed very creditably.
The Madras Regiment has seen action in every war since Independence, in varied missions from securing the Siachen Glacier, to counterinsurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, to the gates of Lahore. One of the core battalions, the 9th Battalion Madras Regiment is one of the most celebrated units in the Regiment.
The Regimental Centre is Wellington, A cantonment town near Ooty.
Regimental Battalions
2nd Battalion (old 75th Carnatic Infantry)
3rd Battalion (old 79th Carnatic Infantry)
4th Battalion (old 83rd Wallajahbad LI)
5th Battalion
6th Battalion
7th Battalion
8th Battalion
9th Battalion Madras Regiment (former State Forces unit)
10th Battalion
11th Battalion (old Territorial Battalion)
12th Battalion (old Territorial Battalion)
16th Battalion (former State Forces unit)
17th Battalion (former State Forces unit)
18th Battalion (former State Forces unit)
19th Battalion
25th Battalion (old garrison battalion)
26th Battalion (old garrison battalion)
27th Battalion (old garrison battalion)
28th Battalion (old coastal defence battalion)
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