'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎541] (560/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
541
headquarters of the Corps, on the 5th of April, forwarding a
Resolution of Government, dated the 26th of March, 1861,
directing the reduction of detachments on board sea-going
vessels, and also the strength of the Battalion to one subahdar-
rnajor, seven subahdars, eight jemadars, eight colour- havildars Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. ,
thirty-two havildars Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. , forty naiques, six hundred privates, eight
bheesties, and twenty-four boys. By a subsequent order the
Battalion was allowed to have fifty privates as supernumeraries;
total, six hundred and fifty. The following General Order,
dated the 29th of July, 1861, was published on the Battalion
being incorporated with the Line regimentsIn consequence
of the reduction of the 29th, 30th, and 31st Regiments, N.I,
and the 2nd Regiment of Jacob's Rifles, and in assimilation
with the plan adopted in Bengal with the sanction of the
Supreme Government, the Regiments of Native Infantry of the
Bombay Army will be designated as follows The Marine
Battalion is brought into the line of Native Infantry Regiments,
and is designated the 21st Regiment Native Infantry, or
'Marine Battalion.' " This concludes our record of the services
of the Bombay Marine The navy of the East India Company. Battalion,* which, from its formation in
1777, down to the date of the abolition of the Indian Navy,
gained all its honours on board the ships-of-war of the Service.
It was a graceful and gracious, as well as a well-earned, compli-
pliment on the part of His Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales, on the occasion of his recent visit to India, to present
new colours to the Marine Battalion, and to accept the old
colours, to be hung up in Marlborough House. The Indian
Navy has ceased to exist, but the officers of the Service still
surviving have learnt with satisfaction and pride this acknow
ledgment of good work by a Regiment, whose entire service was
rendered afloat on board ships under their orders and without
the aid or intervention of any Marine officers.
A few months later. Government also directed that the Indus
Flotilla should be reduced to six steamers and six flats—the
establishment in 1858 consisting of fifteen steamers and ten
* In 1865 Br. Livingstone, having, with the sanction of Government, called
for volunteers to accompany him on his exploring expedition to Central Africa,
forty men of the Regiment offered their services ; two non-commissioned officers
and ten men were selected, and the entire party left Bombay for Zanzibar in
January. In the following March, the Regiment furnished a party under a
subahdar, afterwards increased to one hundred and two rank and file, to proceed
on service on board H.M.'s steam-ship ' Coromandel, Lieutenant Carew, I.N.,
bound for the Persian Grulf and Muscat. This detachment returned on the 6th
of June, 1866, leaving small parties onboard the gunboats, 'Hugh Rose,' and
1 Clyde.' A detachment, consisting of one subahdar, one jemadar, one colour
havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. , four havildars Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. , six naiques, and seventy-four privates, proceeded with
the pioneer force to Abyssinia in 1867, and, on their return, the detachment
received great praise from Lord Napier of Magdala, and Brigadier-General
Merewether, for the zeal and intelligence" displayed in the execution of the
various duties entrusted to them. The detachment lost twelve privates by
sickness.
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