The East India Company raised the first regular company of Artillery in 1748, with a small percentage of Indian Gunners called Gun Lashkars, Tindals and Serangs.
A few Indian Mountain Batteries, officered by the British, were raised in the 19th century and formed part of the Royal Artillery.
It was later renamed as 5 Bombay Mountain Battery, and involved in First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–1842).
The RIA saw extensive service in the First World War, in East Africa, Gallipoli, Mesopotamia and Palestine.
The most celebrated member of the RIA was Umrao Singh Yadav, who was awarded the Victoria Cross in World War II.