They could trace their origins to 1813, when they were raised as the 1st Battalion of the Russell Brigade for the Princely state of Hyderabad.
Until 1853, the regiment was part of the Nizam of Hydrabad's Army then after signing of a treaty with the then Governor General of India, The Nizam's Contingent was renamed as the Hyderabad Contingent and became part of the regular Indian Army.
The regiment stayed in India for the first three years of World War One (1914-1918), transferring to Mesopotamia in the Autumn of 1917.
In December 1918 the unit transferred to Salonika and from there moved to Turkey where it participated in the post-war occupation.
The regiment fought in the Battle of Mahidpur during the Third Anglo-Maratha War.