In Collaboration With Charles Griffin


History
In the 2nd Maratha War 1803-5, two simultaneous expeditions were sent against the Maratha Confederacy. Sir Arthur Wellesley led one and General Gerald Lake led the other into Hindustan. On the way to Delhi they took the fortress of Alligurh then won a victory at Delhi. The regiment carried an honorary Colour in commemoration of this campaign inscribed LAKE AND VICTORY.
1st Afghan War 1839-42
The 35th regiment was part of the force sent into Afghanistan in December 1838. After occupying Kandahar in April the following year, they stormed Ghazni in August. Garrisons were left in Afghanistan after Shah Shujah was restored as ruler in place of Dost Mohammed.
Siege of Jellalabad 1841-2
General Sale's retreat from Kabul ended at Jellalabad where he arrived on 13th Nov 1841 with a force that included two infantry units, the British regular 13th Light Infantry (700 men) and the 35th Bengal Native Infantry (600 men). The 35th were commanded by Colonel Monteith. They built up the fortifications and foraged for food. The Afghans were 6,000 strong, led by Akhbar Khan. A sortie was sent out of the town on the 14th Nov to attack Piper's Hill nearby. The sortie consisted of 300 men of each infantry regiment and they were successful. They had to repeat this a month later without suffering any casualties.

On 13th January 1842 Dr Brydon arrived at the fort as the sole survivor of the massacre that had befallen Elphinstone's retreat from Kabul. The main battle of the siege took place on 7th April 1842 when a force under General Sale attacked the enemy in their camp two miles to the west. The battle lasted 24 hours after which time the Afghans were in full retreat. Total losses to the British were 14 killed and 66 wounded. The siege had lasted 155 days.

The 35th were the only Bengal Infantry regiment to receive the honour JELLALABAD which was inscribed over a mural crown on their Colours. They were converted to Light Infantry in honour of their connection to the 13th Light Infantry who also adopted the mural crown and JELLALABAD on their badge.

Indian Mutiny
During the Indian Mutiny the 35th was disarmed at Philleur in 1857.
Badge
Badges
Motto
Lake and Victory
Uniforms
1789 - 1857
Battle Honours
ALLIGURGH
DELHI
BHURTPORE
AFGHANISTAN
GHUZNEE
CABUL 1842
JELLALABAD
Titles
2nd Btn 17th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry
1789
35th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry
1824
35th Bengal Native Light Infantry
1834
Disarmed at Philleur
1857
Suggested Reading
A Matter of Honour
by Philip Mason

India's Army
by Donovan Jackson

Regiments and Corps of the British Army: A Critical Bibliography
by Roger Perkins

Sons of John Company
by John Gaylor

Armies of India
Painted by Lovett, Text by Macmunn

The Indian Army
by Boris Mollo

Forces of the British Empire
by E. Nevins and B. Chandler

Indian Army Uniforms - Infantry
by W. Y. Carman

Sergeant Pearman's Memoirs
by Anglesey, the Marquess of

Soldier Sahibs
by Charles Allen

The Bengal Native Infantry
by Dr Amiya Barat,

An Account of the War in India Between the English and French on the Coast of Coromandel, From the Year 1750 to the Year 1761
by Richard Owen Cambridge

Sketch of the Services of the Bengal Native Army
by Lt Cardew

The Indian Army: The Garrison of British Imperial India
by Heathcote

Britain's Army in India from its Origins to the Conquest of Bengal
by James Lawford

The Battle Honours of the British and Indian Armies
by Leslie

Sikh Soldier; Battle Honours and Sikh Soldier; Gallantry Awards by Narindar Singh Dhesi

A Matter of Honour: An Account of the Indian Army, its Officers and Men
by P Mason

A History of Military Transactions of the British Nation in Indostan from the Year 1745
by R Orme

From Sepoy to Subedar
by Sita Ram

Forty-one Years in India
by Earl Roberts

Wellington in India
by Weller

The Bengal Native Infantry
by Captain Williams


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by Stephen Luscombe