Mysore (1789–91)

Portrait of Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore who was defeated by the English in the Third Anglo-Mysore War and lost considerable portion of his territories.

The battle honour of Mysore commemorates the Third Anglo-Mysore War of 1789-92. Tipu Sultan attacked Travancore on 29 December 1789 and this made the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas apprehensive who entered into a "Triple Alliance" with the English. The Third Anglo-Mysore War went on for about two years in three campaigns. Cornwallis, the Governor General took command after the first campaign, captured Bangalore on 21 March 1791 but failed to capture Seringapatnam due to brilliant generalship of Tipu and the rains. Fighting was resumed later and Tipu captured Coimbatore on 3 November. Helped by an Army sent from Bombay, Cornwallis occupied the hill fort of Nandy Droog about 50 kilometres north of Bangalore on his line of communication towards Seringapatnam where he reached on 5 February 1792.

Tipu averted a complete disaster and concluded a treaty in March surrendering half his dominions; a large portion went to the Nizam, a portion went to the Marathas, the English acquired Malabar and Coorg on the west coast, Dindigul and adjoining districts. on the south and the Baramahal district on the east.

The honour was awarded to 29 units of the armies of the Bombay and Madras Presidency vide GOGG 378 of 1889 of which only 15 survive. It was awarded to four units of the Bengal Native Infantry which mutinied in 1857 vide GOGG 43 of 1829.

The battle honour is considered repugnant.