j battery was originally raised in india on 4 april 1805 as the troop of madras horse artillery, part of the madras army of the honourable east india company. with the formation of another unit on 6 january 1806 (the 2nd half squadron, madras horse artillery), it was renamed as the 1st half squadron, madras horse artillery and 1st troop, madras horse artillery with the formation of a third troop (later m battery, royal horse artillery) on 25 january 1809. by 5 august 1825, the madras horse artillery had grown to 8 batteries and so was reorganized as two brigades; the battery was redesignated as a troop, 1st brigade, madras horse artillery. the last redesignation under the madras army (as a troop, madras horse artillery) came on 4 january 1831 as the brigade system was discontinued and the madras horse artillery shrank to 6 batteries in a single sequence (a to f troops).