The 47th Sikhs was an infantry battalion that existed from the year 1901 to 1922. It was part of the Presidency Armies in British India under the British East India Company. The regiment served under the administrative authority of the Bengal Army till 1895. The Army of Bengal province included some of the prominent units of British army namely the Corps of Guides, Skinner`s Horse from Bengal and the Gurkhas from the Himalayas. The 47th Sikhs Infantry Regiment was also known as the 47th (Sikh) Bengal Infantry.

History of 47th Sikhs
The British Indian army regiment was formed in the year 1901 by the Honourable English East India Company as the 47th (Sikh) Bengal Infantry unit. The troops of the infantry regiment took part in numerous battle and conquests of the British Empire in India. The military battalion of the 47th Sikhs also served during the First World War. After the end of the Great War, all the regiments of the British Indian army were restructured and re-grouped by the former British Government of India. This resulted in the formation of several multi battalion regiments of 4 to 6 units by the amalgamation of single battalion regiments.

Development of 47th Sikhs
Later in the year 1922, the 47th Sikhs were designated as the 5th Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment. On 15th August 1947, the country gained freedom from the British Empire in India. The former British India was separated into the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan through the Partition of India. Consequently, the British Indian Army was divided among India and Pakistan and the 47th Sikhs unit was assigned to Indian Army.

Designations of 47th Sikhs
The 47th Sikhs of Bengal Army was periodically re-designated during the restructuring of the British Indian Army, like the other regiments. These are listed below -
* 47th (Sikh) Bengal Infantry in 1901
* 47th Sikhs in 1903
* 5th Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment in 1922
* Assigned to Indian Army in 1947

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