Indian Army (Auxiliary Force (AFI)) Chota Nagpur Regiment Cast Collar Badge

Brass cast example of the collar badge, but lighted plated to front. Within a crowned horseshoe scroll inscribed with the unit abbreviation of “C.N. Regt.”; a Cobra with its body encircling the ends of the scroll. With two original loops to the reverse. Circa 31mm tall. Worn circa 1917 - 1947. This is a collar badge.

The Chota Nagpore Division was part of Bengal during British rule. The Chota Nagpore Mounted Rifles was raised on 7 August 1891, as an auxiliary unit of the British Indian Army Cavalry Reserve. It was renamed the Chota Nagpur Light Cavalry in 1910. In 1917, during World War One (1914-1918), it became the Chota Nagpur Regiment (numbered 39), with both mounted and foot elements. When India gained independence in 1947 the unit was disbanded. The unit's headquarters was at Ranchi which was a large military base in World War Two and was also headquarters of the Chindits.

The association between Nagpore, or Nagpur, and the cobra comes from its former name, Fanindrapura, which was derived from 'fana', the Sanskrit word for the cobra's 'hood'.

NAM. 2013-10-20-84-641 refers.

Comm TeMo

Code: 69473