Brief History
Brief History The 20th is one of the more prominent of the Indian regiments. It crops up in many of the major engagements that took place in the latter half of the 19th century as the battle honours show. When the Mutiny broke out, John Lawrence, the Governor of the Punjab, set about recruiting men from the north-west of India to form regiments to aid the British in quelling the mutinous Bengali troops. The 20th was one of these.
Tel-el-Kebir 1882
The 20th was one of the three Indian infantry regiments chosen to go to Egypt. The other two were the 7th Bengal and the 29th Baluchistan. They formed the Indian Brigade along with 1st Bn Seaforth Highlanders and 7th Battery 1st Brigade Nothern Division, Royal Garrison Artillery, all under the command of General MacPherson. In the event, the Scottish regiments were the main players in the battle of Tel-el-Kebir since the Indian Brigade was on the left of the line, cut off from the action to a great extent by a canal and railway line. They came under heavy artillery fire from guns in the South facing defences. Under covering fire fron the 7th Battery and the Naval Brigade, the Seaforths stormed the defences of the town supported by the 20th with the 7th Bengal and 29th Baluch behind them. This was the last action of the battle which was a satisfying victory for the British and Indian force. The title of Duke of Cambridge's Own was conferred on the 20th in recognition of their services in Egypt.
