British Royal Field Artillery Belgaum, 1870 Photo

British Royal Field Artillery Belgaum, 1870 Photo

An 1870 photo of a British military Royal Field Artillery at Belgaum (Belgavi). Six British soldiers are seen on horseback with a field artillery gun at the back. The quaint old building seen on the right is probably the soldiers Barracks. The need never arose for the British to travel much inland from their fortified base in Madras (Chennai) until 1767.

Their strategies and planning completely changed after the battles in the four Anglo-Mysore Wars (1st in 1767 and the last in 1799). That led to the defeat of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. The supposedly impregnable fort of Tipu Sultan’s near Bangalore was breached and ransacked by the British. After the war, Belgaum and Bangalore were made into important British Cantonments. Because of the strategic locations and for the cool weather all year round.

Also read Belgaum History. See post British Regiment Parade In Bangalore – Old Photo 1928.

Did you know- in the Global Firepower’s report India has the world’s fourth-largest combined military force. With a strength of 1.3 million personnel in active service.

From the collection-British Cavalry Parade In Bangalore – Old Postcard 1918.,  Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph of c1894., Suratta or Surat – Antique Map / Plan 1720., Vintage 1945 Book – The Story Of Fort St George