I do not wholely agree with this, Act of 1858 transferred Government of India to the Crown, with a Secretary of State. European manned Regiments were transferred to British Army. Indian manned Regiments remained as Indian Army. A minor matter in a most interesting exchange. Colin ----- Original Message ----- From: Denis Grant <denis.grant@sympatico.ca> To: <CountyCork-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 9:01 PM Subject: Re: [Cork] MILITARY HISTORY, SHIELDS,PERYER > Eileen, > To recap the lineage of the 107th: > > 1854-1858 Honourable East India Company 3rd Bengal European Light Infantry > > 1858-1861 3rd Bengal Light Infantry taken onto British Army Establishment as > > 1861-1880 > 107th Bengal Light Infantry > > In 1857 in events known variously as the Indian Mutiny, the Sepoy Rebellion > and the Anglo-Indian War of Independence, Indian troops of the Honourable > East India Company's army launched a rebellion. At the time the HEIC, (one > of the several Companies of Merchants that had been a preferred method of > colonial expansion), was a law unto itself and maintained what amounted to a > private army in India. Following the rebellion, the London government > decided to rein in the HEIC and as part of that solution the military forces > in India became wholly incorporated into the British Army 'establishment'. > > It is this reorganization that is reflected in the change of title on the > paybook. You can conclude therefore that John Shields served in the HEIC > forces and was subsequently transferred to the British establishment as > noted. He would thus almost certainly have received the Indian Mutiny > Medal. 'The Indian Mutiny Medal Roll (British Forces)1857-1859' by Kevin > Asplin which is a complete list of 50,700 men who received the medal does > not show a John Shields listed among the HEIC forces. However, there is a > John Shiels listed with the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers. I wonder if your > researcher looked at this man? It wouldn't be beyond the bounds of > possibility that a man from the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers could possibly > end up in the 107th. (The 1st Bengal European Fusiliers had a post-Mutiny > history similar to that of the 3rd, becoming the101st Royal Bengal Fusiliers > in 1861 and in 1881 the latter combined with the104th Royal Bengal Fusiliers > to become the Royal Munster Fusiliers). > > Perhaps you can send me scans of the paybook off-list, (I must admit I'd > just like to see it anyway). If you decide to write to the museum you > should consider sending them photo-copies. > > Regards, > > Donnacha > >