4th Bengal European Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 4th Bengal European Regiment was an infantry
regiment of the British East India Company
, created in 1858 and disbanded in 1867.
The regiment was raised in Bengal
by the East India Company
in 1858, for service in the Indian Mutiny; the "European" in the name indicated that it was manned primarily by British soldiers and some other west Europeans, not Indian sepoy
s. The regiment was composed of officers drawn from two Indian units which had mutinied, the 1st Bengal Native Infantry and 3rd Bengal Native Infantry.
As with all other "European" units of the Company, they were placed under the command of the Crown following the end of the Mutiny in 1858. The regiment was reduced to cadre strength in 1861, and disbanded in 1867.
George Fosbery
won his Victoria Cross
with the regiment in 1863.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment of the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, created in 1858 and disbanded in 1867.
The regiment was raised in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
by the East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
in 1858, for service in the Indian Mutiny; the "European" in the name indicated that it was manned primarily by British soldiers and some other west Europeans, not Indian sepoy
Sepoy
A sepoy was formerly the designation given to an Indian soldier in the service of a European power. In the modern Indian Army, Pakistan Army and Bangladesh Army it remains in use for the rank of private soldier.-Etymology and Historical usage:...
s. The regiment was composed of officers drawn from two Indian units which had mutinied, the 1st Bengal Native Infantry and 3rd Bengal Native Infantry.
As with all other "European" units of the Company, they were placed under the command of the Crown following the end of the Mutiny in 1858. The regiment was reduced to cadre strength in 1861, and disbanded in 1867.
George Fosbery
George Fosbery
Lieutenant Colonel George Vincent Fosbery VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
won his Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
with the regiment in 1863.