Beni Boo Ali (Battle honour)

Beni Boo Ali is a 1821 battle honour of the British Indian Army awarded to all units engaged in a punitive expedition to Eastern Arabia against a fierce and turbulent tribe called the "Bani bu Ali".

Genesis of the problem

Rampant piracy in Eastern Arabia and the Persian Gulf region led the East India Company to carry out a punitive expedition in 1819 to Ras al Khaimah which destroyed the pirate base and removed the threat from the Persian Gulf. The Government of the Bombay Presidency also sent a letter of protest through an envoy on a British ship to Eastern Arabia. The "Bani bu Ali" rose and murdered the pilot of the ship at Rass al Junaizref|Rass al Junaiz, resulting in the dispatch of a small punitive expedition from India.Sandes, E.W.C.(1948) "The Indian Sappers & Miners", pp 126.]

First punitive expedition

The expedition sailed from Bombay in October 1820 and sailed to Sur via Muscat where they landed. The small force consisting of 380 Indian Infantry, along with 2000 irregulars, proceeded inland to "Balad Bani bu Hasan", the tribal capital. On 18th November 1820, this force was attacked and almost annihilated as they approached the capital, with most British officers and two-thirds of the soldiers being killed as the Arabs gave no quarter. The survivors, including many of the wounded, escaped to Muscat from where they were taken to Qishm at the entrance of the Persian Gulf.

econd expedition

The destruction of this force was a major blow to British prestige in Arabia and a second stronger expedition was assembled. This force of 6000 mixed British soldiers and Indian sepoys, under Major General Lionel Smith, sailed from Bombay on 11th January 1821.

This force contained engineer elements of the Bombay Presidency army consisting of the newly formed company of the Bombay Sappers and Miners who, under Capt. T. Dickinson (Bombay Engineers) and assisted by Lt T.B. Jervis (Bombay Engineers), were proceeding abroad for the first time in their history. Along with the Sappers and Miners company sailed the 3rd Company of the Bombay Pioneers who had recently served in the 1819 Ras al Khaimah Expedition to suppress piracy in the Persian Gulf.

The campaign

The force disembarked at Sur on 27th January and marched into the interior. Repulsing an attack on 10th February, they reached Balad Bani bu Hassan on March 2nd. The Bani bu Ali advanced with desperate fanaticism to give battle in the open, ignoring the cannonades of grape-shot from the British guns. The Arabs fought bravely with broad-sword and shield, attempting to break the British line, causing havoc at close quarters wherever they could do so. However, the line of bayonets prevailed and the Bani bu Ali were beaten off, leaving behind 500 dead and dying. On the other hand, the British casualties were 29 dead and 173 wounded. The fort at Balad was occupied after a brief bombardment. Later, the expedition returned to Sur where they embarked for Bombay.

The Bani bu Ali were vanquished, the fort at their capital occupied and British prestige restored.

Battle honour

By a General Order of the Bombay Presidency, dated 11th February 1831, all units which had served in the expedition were awarded the battle honour "Beni Boo Ali", including the Bombay Pioneers and the Bombay Sappers and Miners. "Beni Boo Ali" heads the list of battle and theatre honours of the Bombay Sappers today.

Notes

# Also known as "Rass al Hadd".

References

Bibliography

* The Indian Sappers and Miners (1948) The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham. Pages i to xxx, 1 to 726, frontispiece and 30 illustrations,31 general maps and 51 plans.

ee also

* Bombay Engineer Group or the "Bombay Sappers"
* British Indian Army
* East India Company
* British Raj in India