King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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India

Britain's involvement in India dated back to the 17th Century through the trading operations of the East India Company. As the economic importance to India grew, Britain increased both her political and military involvement in the sub-continent.
By the second half of the 19th Century the British army had in the region of 65,000 men based in India. The King’s Own served in India a number of times with the aim of protecting the ‘Jewel of the British Empire’.

19th Century  Living in India

From 1880 onwards the conditions in which the soldiers lived improved. The matti (mud built) and thatched bungalows were replaced by quite elegant brick built and tiled barrack blocks with deep, colonnaded verandahs to keep out the hot sun. Each block had its own wash room, with tin baths. Families now enjoyed purpose-built married quarters.

Separate dining halls were provided so that men no longer had to eat in their barrack rooms. Meals were prepared by Indian cooks under the supervision of a messing officer and a sergeant. Beef and bread were the official staple ration, but chickens, eggs, bacon and vegetables were all bought locally and added to the soldiers diet. Every unit also had a ‘Regimental Institute’ where tea, coffee, tobacco, cigarettes, toilet necessities and cleaning materials could be purchased.

In the 19th Century life in India was not always easy for the soldier. In general, the British policy had been to keep the two races separate. However this was easier said than done.

Although rules prevented the men from getting married, officers could provide the men with female companions. It was feared that if the men were not permitted access to women they would end up with other men. Certain ‘houses’ were approved by the officers for the ‘entertainment’ of the men. However, despite the best efforts of the medical staff, about one third of the British soldiers were affected by sexual disease at any one time.

Some officers took Indian women as mistresses. This was strongly discouraged but was never stamped out. Senior British officers feared prohibiting it may cause British officers to marry the Indian women.

The travelling time to India was reduced from 6 weeks to 4 weeks in 1869 after the opening of the Suez Canal. From this time more British women came out to India with their husbands. Some single women travelled out in search of dashing young officers! They were known as the ‘fishing fleet’.

Native servants were often employed by the British and were often seen wearing the regimental cap badge on their puggaree (turban). These badges were known as puggaree badges.

Local language

The British soldiers were also affected by the native tongue and certain words were adopted by the British......here are a few....
Buckshee - Free, gratis
Char - Tea
Chit, or Chitti - Written note, message, letter
Pukka - Good, well made, proper
Tiffin - Lunch, midday meal
Topi - Helmet, hat
Wallah - Person, man, thing, agent, doer

1920s and 1930s

A four or five year posting to India in the years after the First World War was welcomed by many soldiers. Indian service was was often better than home service.

Both Battalions of The King’s Own served in India with three main duties:

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.