Original: From the mid-eighteenth century , the East India Company began to maintain armies at each of its three main stations , or ` Presidencies of British India , at Calcutta ( Bengal ) , Madras and Bombay The Bengal Army , Madras Army , and Bombay Army were quite distinct , each with its own list of Regiments and cadre of European officers .
Simplified: From the mid-eighteenth century , the East India Company began to keep armies at each of its three main stations , or ` Presidencies ' , in India at Calcutta ( Bengal ) , Madras and Bombay .