BRITISH INDIAN ARMY (1858 - 1947)

The British Indian Army officially named as Indian Army, it was the major army force before independence  in 1947. The Indian Army plays an important role in British empires forces, both in India and abroad, particularly during the first world war and second world war. The first army officially call the Indian Army was raised by the government of India in 1895. The Indian army has a collective description of the presidency army's they are the Bengal army madras army and Bombay army. However in 1903 the Indian army absorbed these three army's. Indian army should not be related with the army of India (1903-1947) which was the Indian army itself plus the British army in India.

The Indian army has its origin in the years after the Indian rebellion of 1857 often called as the mutiny in British history in 1858 the crown took over direct rule on British Indian from east Indian company. the Muslims in the Bengal presidency were recruited primarily by the army's of east India company which consisted of Bengal, Bihar and utter pradesh and high caste Hindus recruited primarily from the rural plains of Oudh. From (1858-1894) the Indian army was an informal collective team for the army's of the three presidency that is the Bengal army Madras army the Bombay army in the next case from (1895-1902) the army had a formal extence and was the army of the government of India including British and Indian (sepay) units and finally (1903-1947) the Indian army was the force recruited locally and permanently based in India, together with its expatriate British officers. the British army in India consisted of British army units posted to India for tours of duty, and which would then be posted in the other parts of the empire or back to united kingdom. the army of India consisted of both the Indian army and British army in India.

The active part of British army is from (1858-1947). Tt comes under the army branch, the head quarters of Indian army is located at GHQ ( General head quarters) the commanders of brutish Indian army were William bird wood , William slim , Claude Auchinleck, Edward Quinn.

world wars:

 The Indian army served both in world war-1 and world war-2 which was then British Indian army.Indian army played a crucial role in both the world wars ,there were around 1.3 million soldiers served in world war-1 and 74,187 troops were missing in action . After the formation of Indian independence movement Indian army became more stronger and stronger . In the year 1932 ,the Indian military academy was formed and large number of officers of Indian origin were appointed .Indian soldiers fought for the allies in world war-2 . British officials did not want to expand and train the forces in the year 1939 and was reduced to 130,000 men ,these changes were made due to the threat from Afghanistan and for also internal security .The main problem was the lack of equipment due to proceeding of war Indian troops were increased ,troops were sent for battle .The Indian troops were given a choice of joining German army to liberate India from British instead of pow camps. As the war bro out the students and the men made up and formed free Indian legion . There were around 30,000 troops in its ranks they served in Burma from 1944-45 along with them five divisions were with British and African division were also there . In this 87,000 Indian soldiers died.During the world war-2 target number of British Indian army soldiers fought against British in  1915 in the same period by joining the Indian national army .In 1946 Indian sailors revolted against British which resulted in 1946 British Indian navy mutiny .

After the independence in 1947 ,4 out of 10 Gurkha regiments were transferred to British army and the rest of British army was divided between republic of India and republic of Pakistan.During the partition Punjab boundary force helped the Punjab police to disbanded Delhi headquarters and east Punjab command was formed to conduct the area.

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/equipment_of_the_indian_army