Beni Boo Ali (Battle honour)
Encyclopedia
Beni Boo Alli is a 1821 battle honour
of the British Indian Army
awarded to all units engaged in a punitive expedition
to Eastern Arabia against a fierce and turbulent tribe called the Bani bu Ali.
in Eastern Arabia and the Persian Gulf
region led the East India Company to carry out a punitive expedition
in 1819 to Ras al Khaimah which destroyed the pirate base and removed the threat from the Persian Gulf. The Government of the Bombay Presidency
also sent a letter of protest through an envoy on a British ship to Eastern Arabia. The Bani bu Ali rose and murdered the pilot of the ship at Rass al Junaiz
, resulting in the dispatch of a small punitive expedition from India.
via Muscat
where they landed. The small force consisting of 380 Indian Infantry, along with 2000 irregulars, proceeded inland to Balad Bani bu Hasan, the tribal capital. On 18 November 1820, this force was attacked and almost annihilated as they approached the capital, with most British officers and two-thirds of the soldiers being killed as the Arabs gave no quarter. The survivors, including many of the wounded, escaped to Muscat from where they were taken to Qishm at the entrance of the Persian Gulf.
s, under Major General Lionel Smith, sailed from Bombay on 11 January 1821.
This force contained engineer elements of the Bombay Presidency army consisting of the newly formed company of the Bombay Sappers and Miners who, under Capt. T. Dickinson (Bombay Engineers) and assisted by Lt T.B. Jervis (Bombay Engineers), were proceeding abroad for the first time in their history. Along with the Sappers and Miners company sailed the 3rd Company of the Bombay Pioneers who had recently served in the 1819 Ras al-Khaimah Expedition to suppress piracy in the Persian Gulf.
, attempting to break the British line, causing havoc at close quarters wherever they could do so. However, the line of bayonets prevailed and the Bani bu Ali were beaten off, leaving behind 500 dead and dying. On the other hand, the British casualties were 29 dead and 173 wounded. The fort at Balad was occupied after a brief bombardment. Later, the expedition returned to Sur where they embarked for Bombay.
The Bani bu Ali were vanquished, the fort at their capital occupied and British prestige restored.
.
The following units were awarded the battle honour :
Battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
of the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
awarded to all units engaged in a punitive expedition
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
to Eastern Arabia against a fierce and turbulent tribe called the Bani bu Ali.
Genesis of the problem
Rampant piracyPiracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
in Eastern Arabia and the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
region led the East India Company to carry out a punitive expedition
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
in 1819 to Ras al Khaimah which destroyed the pirate base and removed the threat from the Persian Gulf. The Government of the Bombay Presidency
Bombay Presidency
The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...
also sent a letter of protest through an envoy on a British ship to Eastern Arabia. The Bani bu Ali rose and murdered the pilot of the ship at Rass al Junaiz
Ras al-Jinz
Ras al-Jinz, located in Oman, is the easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a nesting site for green turtles.-References:*http://www.lonelyplanet.com/oman/sharqiya-region/ras-al-jinz...
, resulting in the dispatch of a small punitive expedition from India.
First punitive expedition
The expedition sailed from Bombay in October 1820 and sailed to SurSur, Oman
Sur is a capital city of Ash Sharqiyah Region, northeastern Oman, on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. It is located at around , and is 93 miles southeast of the Omani capital Muscat. Historically the city is known for being an important destination point for sailors...
via Muscat
Muscat, Oman
Muscat is the capital of Oman. It is also the seat of government and largest city in the Governorate of Muscat. As of 2008, the population of the Muscat metropolitan area was 1,090,797. The metropolitan area spans approximately and includes six provinces called wilayats...
where they landed. The small force consisting of 380 Indian Infantry, along with 2000 irregulars, proceeded inland to Balad Bani bu Hasan, the tribal capital. On 18 November 1820, this force was attacked and almost annihilated as they approached the capital, with most British officers and two-thirds of the soldiers being killed as the Arabs gave no quarter. The survivors, including many of the wounded, escaped to Muscat from where they were taken to Qishm at the entrance of the Persian Gulf.
Second expedition
The destruction of this force was a major blow to British prestige in Arabia and a second stronger expedition was assembled. This force of 6000 mixed British soldiers and Indian sepoySepoy
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, under Major General Lionel Smith, sailed from Bombay on 11 January 1821.
This force contained engineer elements of the Bombay Presidency army consisting of the newly formed company of the Bombay Sappers and Miners who, under Capt. T. Dickinson (Bombay Engineers) and assisted by Lt T.B. Jervis (Bombay Engineers), were proceeding abroad for the first time in their history. Along with the Sappers and Miners company sailed the 3rd Company of the Bombay Pioneers who had recently served in the 1819 Ras al-Khaimah Expedition to suppress piracy in the Persian Gulf.
The campaign
The force disembarked at Sur on 27 January and marched into the interior. Repulsing an attack on 10 February, they reached Balad Bani bu Hassan on March 2. The Bani bu Ali advanced with desperate fanaticism to give battle in the open, ignoring the cannonades of grape-shot from the British guns. The Arabs fought bravely with broad-sword and shieldShield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
, attempting to break the British line, causing havoc at close quarters wherever they could do so. However, the line of bayonets prevailed and the Bani bu Ali were beaten off, leaving behind 500 dead and dying. On the other hand, the British casualties were 29 dead and 173 wounded. The fort at Balad was occupied after a brief bombardment. Later, the expedition returned to Sur where they embarked for Bombay.
The Bani bu Ali were vanquished, the fort at their capital occupied and British prestige restored.
Battle honour
By a General Order of the Bombay Presidency, dated 11 February 1831, all units which had served in the expedition were awarded the battle honour Beni Boo Ali, including the Bombay Pioneers and the Bombay Sappers and Miners. Beni Boo Ali heads the list of battle and theatre honours of the Bombay Sappers today.This honour is not considered repugnantRepugnant battle honours of the Indian Army
Some battle honours earned by Indian Army units, which are descended from erstwhile units of the British East India Company, and later the British Raj, have been declared as repugnant by the Government of India. Indian Army units do not inscribe these battle honours on their colours and do not...
.
The following units were awarded the battle honour :
- 3rd Company Bombay Pioneer Battalion - Bombay Engineers
- 1st/13th Bombay Infantry - Grenadiers Regt Centre
- lst/3rd Bombay Infantry - 1 Maratha
- 1st/5th Bombay Infantry - 2 Maratha
- 2nd /4th Bombay Infantry - 1 Raj Rif - 3 Guards
- 2nd/18th Bombay Infantry (Disbanded)
- 1st/17th Bombay Infantry (Disbanded 1933 as the 1st Bn Bombay Pioneers)
See also
- Bombay Engineer GroupBombay Engineer GroupThe Bombay Engineering Group, or the Bombay Sappers as they are informally known, are a regiment of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers. The Bombay Sappers draw their origin from the erstwhile Bombay Presidency army of the British Raj. This regiment has its centre in Khadki, Pune in...
or the Bombay Sappers - British Indian ArmyBritish Indian ArmyThe British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
- East India Company
- British RajBritish RajBritish Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
in India