Pune. 21 January 2020. The British East India Company ( Joint-stock company of investors, sometimes referred to as “John Company”) based in Leaden hall Street, London, was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I in December 1600, with the intent to favour trade privileges in India. It was responsible for the creation of British India. In 1670, King Charles II provisioned it with various rights including the power to command fortresses and troops and to wage war. This came as a welcome boon and in 1680 the Company raised its own armed forces, drawn mainly from the indigenous local population. By 1689, the Company became a formidable force, independently administering the vast Presidencies of Bengal, Madras and Bombay. With Robert Clive’s victory at Plassey in 1757 the British East India Company established itself as a major military and commercial power eclipsing both the Portuguese and French and posing a threat to many local principalities.
Engineers Corps of the Presidencies
It was around this time that the Engineers Corps was established. The Officers were drawn from one or other of the three Presidency Armies while the troops were a mix of Pioneers and Infantrymen. Placed under European officers for actual operations, troop training was acquired through bitter experience in the field! This Corps already had a history of over a hundred years in construction of roads, canals and bridges till 1860 when Royal Engineer Officers started arriving in India. They distinguished themselves during war by building roads through inhospitable terrain for carriage of heavy guns and equipment. During this time they participated in a number of operations including the Siege of Dharwar in 1790, Siege of Cochin in 1796, the Siege and capture of Seringapatam in 1799, the battles of Assaye, Argaum, Gawilghar, and Kirkee in 1817.
During this period, a number of pioneer companies and corps were raised for the Bombay Presidency to meet the exigencies in the field. Among these were the Pioneer Lascars in 1777, the Bombay Pioneer Corps, a company of Bombay Sappers and Miners (No. 1 Company) in 1822, a second company (No. 2 Company) of Sappers and Miners in 1826 and an Engineer Corps in 1829. On 1 November 1830, before either Madras or Bengal Presidencies carried out the amalgamation of their Pioneers and Sappers, the Bombay Pioneers incorporated with the “Engineer Corps” to give rise to the Bombay Sappers & Miners.
The Bombay Pioneers
Each Presidency of the East India Company had pioneers and the first pioneer unit of the Bombay Presidency called the Pioneer Lascars was formed in 1777 under Maj Lawrence Nilson. It comprised one Serang, four Tindals and 100 men. 18 Field Company of the Bombay Sappers is the direct descendant of this unit. Although new companies were created from time to time, the Pioneer Lascars had an unbroken existence from 1777 till disbandment. Pioneers were 1abourers who had very little technical capability. They played a mixed role in the course of their history, getting involved in combat when required and carrying out normal field engineering tasks at other times. In 1820 some of these men and the miners were amalgamated under a single banner, namely, the Bombay Sappers and Miners.
Two Pioneer coys of Madras Sappers were raised in 1780 & Bengal Sappers in 1803. Thus Bombay Sappers happen to be the senior most .However , the seniority dates back to1820 when the amalgamation of Bombay Sappers was done ,thus senioririty became Madras , Bengal & Bombay Sappers in that order.
Battle Honours
The Bombay Sapper units performed exceedingly well under the Brish rule. For their exceptional bravery and loyalty several battle & theatre honours were awarded, which are mentioned below :–.
The first Battle Honour ’Beni-Boo-Ali ‘ , Muscat in 1821 .
The Battle Honour ‘Ghuznee” the most famous Battle Honour awarded to the Bombay Sappers during the First Afghan War of 1838-42 .
The Battle Honour ‘Mooltan’ (with the addition of the word “Punjaub”) in 1848.
The Battle Honour’Goojerat’ in 1849 .
The Battle Honours ‘Reshire’’Bushire’’Khoosh-Ab’’Persia’ in 1856 –‘ 57.
The Battle Honour ‘Abyssinia’ In 1867 .
The Battle Honours ‘Kandahar’ & ‘Afghanistan 1878-80’.
The Battle Honour ‘Burma 1885’ .
The Battle Honour ‘Punjab Frontier & Tirah‘ in 1897 .
The Battle Honour ‘China’ for Boxer Rebellion in 1900.
The Battle Honour ‘Kuantan‘ in 1942.
The Battle Honour ‘Myinmu’ in 1945.
Theatre Honours
Afgghanistan East Africa Railway Central India
Abyssinia Burma China
Punjab Frontier Somaliland France & Flanders
Mesopotamia Palestine Baluchistan
North Africa Syria Malaya
Italy Greece
Thus Indian soldiers & Bombay Sappers left a mark in the British period and earned several honours for posterity .
