| Details of Force Landed. | Casualties. | |||||
| Force Engaged. | Officers. | Men. | Officers. | Men. | ||
| K. | W. | K. | W. | |||
| Naval Brigade | 8 | 200 | - | - | 1 | 7 |
| Royal Artillery | 1 | 36 | - | - | - | - |
| Royal Dublin Fusiliers | 3 | 74 | - | 1 | 1 | 9 |
The troops received a small solatium in the shape of prize-money, the share of a Captain being £270, a Subaltern £120, a sergeant £32, and a private £13.
Banda, 1796 and 1810.
This distinction was granted by the Governor of Madras to the 1st Madras European Regiment, and is now borne only by the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. It commemorates the two occupations of the Island of Banda, in the Eastern Archipelago, by a detachment of the old Madras European Regiment, the first taking place in 1796, the second in 1810. No medal was issued to the land forces engaged, but on the institution of the Naval General Service Medal in 1847 the naval commanders of the Caroline, Piedmontaise, and Barracouta were awarded the naval gold medal for the capture of the island in 1810, and distinctive bronze arm-badges, in lieu of medals, were bestowed by the Governor of Madras on the sepoys. The detachment of the 1st Madras European Regiment (now the 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers) was under the command of Captain Nixon. Their services were cordially acknowledged by Captain Coles, of H.M.S. Caroline, but the regiment does not appear to have suffered any casualties.
Arabia, 1809.
This distinction was granted to the York and Lancaster Regiment by a notification in the London Gazette in the month of March, 1823, in recognition of the gallant services of the regiment during the operations on the coast of Arabia in the years 1809 and 1821. The old 65th Regiment, as it then was, had not been fortunate enough to have been present at any of the well-known campaigns during its tour of Indian service. Nevertheless, it had been engaged in several arduous and by no means bloodless minor expeditions, in which the soldier-like qualities of a regiment are as severely tested as in campaigns which bring in their train greater honours and rewards. Such were the two expeditions for the punishment of piratical tribes on the Arabian coast.
The expedition in 1809 was under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Lionel Smith, of the 65th Regiment. It was accompanied by the frigates Chiffon (Captain Wainwright) and Caroline. The military force comprised the 65th (York and Lancaster), the flank companies of the 47th (North Lancashire), and the 2nd Bombay Native Infantry, now the 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry, with a company of artillery. Nominally the pirates owned allegiance to the Sultan of Turkey, but his sovereignty was very shadowy, and as they had embraced Wahabiism they were looked upon more in the light of rebels than subjects. For years they had interfered with our commerce in the Persian Gulf, and had treated their prisoners with the refinement of cruelty. It therefore became necessary to root them out of their lair.
The little force left Bombay in the month of September, 1809, and proceeded to the pirate stronghold of Ras el Khima, on the Arabian coast. The Arabs fought bravely, but our superior armament and discipline soon told, and the fort, which had originally been built by the Portuguese more than two centuries previously, was dismantled. On December 27 the flotilla arrived at Linga, another piratical haunt, and this, too, after making a show of resistance, was destroyed. Hostages were brought to Bombay as security for the good behaviour of the tribes, and the force then returned to India, its total casualties having been:
Casualties at Beni Boo Alli, 1809.