Over 100 years ago the Marathas helped ships sail unhindered through the Persian Gulf

A watercolour illustration of the emblem of the 21st Bombay Infantry, circa 1885. The 21st was one of the East India Company's regiments composed of Marathas, that has gone on to become the Maratha Light Infantry of the Indian Army.

Look closely at the 21st's battle honours and you will read 'Persian Gulf', 'Beni Boo Ali' and 'Aden'. Today these are teritorries of Iran, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. After the end of the Anglo-Maratha wars in 1819 the British incorporated Maratha soldiers into their forces – they knew just how good they were. And so, in 1820 these tough, skilled fighters sailed to the Persian Gulf from Bombay (now Mumbai) on their first East India Company expedition. Their mission: to supress piracy in the Persian Gulf that was playing havoc with commercial shipping. It was a small force of under 400 and was almost wiped out. The second expedition sailed from Bombay in 1821, this time 6000-strong. In the fierce skirmishes that followed the Marathas prevailed and peace was restored. But history, as happens so often, was forgotten.