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From: Brig Suryanarayanan <>


*The following piece is from a Coursemate,  Bombay Sappers:*

During the early 19th century in Bombay there was a Marine Battalion living
in  what was called Marine Lines, even today, so designated.

The 10th Marine  Battalion was this battalion which was part of the Bombay
Pioneers?. Sometime in 1850s their wooden barracks got burnt down. It was
rebuilt but got burnt down again around 1860s. The Governor General of
Bombay Presidency was furious that he banned them to the forest called
Colaba Woods. At that time it had no approach except during low tide when a
sort of causeway appeared. This uninhabited forest had a few leopards and
other wild life. This was a punishment meted out to the battalion for the
fires that destroyed their quarters. A causeway was constructed shortly
after the battalion moved there.

This was a major base for British troops to which they were sent from
Britain and repatriated at the end of their service. The Brits built the
Afghan and Catholic Churches for their garrison. Even today there are many
buildings existing that were built more than a hundred years ago. One of
them is Colaba Barracks, recently renamed as The Nest which houses short
term ex servicemen visitors to Mumbai.

When the Brits formed their Naval Fleet they based them in the harbour at
Naval Dockyards which one enters through the Lions Gate. Their office was
built close to Ballard Pier (now Western Naval Command). Naval Guns were
placed on two small partly man made islands next to Colaba which formed the
Coastal Battery. The Western Naval Chief’s accommodation came up next to
where Regal Cinema is today. Most of the Naval officers initially lived on
Wodehouse Road for many years till proper accommodation came up in Colaba
in part of the old Army land. More Naval units, offices and accommodation
came up in Colaba which still exist today.

10th Marine Battalion was amalgamated into Bombay Engineer Group after the
Bombay Pioneers were disbanded.

All this is written in the History of Bombay Pioneers, a copy of the book
is in BEG and Centre? which I read when I was involved with the
publication of the post Independence history of the Bombay sappers.


-- 

Dr Marianne de Nazareth
Former Asst. Editor, The Deccan Herald.  

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