16th Punjab Regiment - Second World War

Second World War

The performance of 16th Punjab Regiment in the Second World War was excellent. Even though the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were captured by the Japanese at Singapore, they had fought in the campaign with great gallantry. The 1st, 5th and 7th Battalions also performed well in Burma, while the 4th Battalion's performance in Africa and Italy rivalled their gallant conduct during the First World War. Lance Naik Sher Shah of the 7th Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross in Burma. During the war, the 16 Punjab Regiment suffered a total of 2744 casualties including 990 killed or died of wounds.

• 1st Battalion - India, Burma, Dutch East Indies.
• 2nd Battalion - India, Malaya. Captured by the Japanese at Singapore in February 1942. Re-raised in 1945.
• 3rd Battalion - India, Malaya, Singapore. Captured by the Japanese in February 1942. Re-raised in 1946 as 3rd (Para) Battalion.
• 4th Battalion - India, North Africa, Italian East Africa, Italy, Palestine.
• 5th Battalion - Raised in 1940. India, Burma. Re-designated as 2/16th Punjab in 1945.
• 6th Battalion - Raised in 1941. India, Ceylon. Re-designated as 3/16th Punjab in 1946.
• 7th Battalion - Raised in 1941. India, Burma, Malaya. Disbanded January 1948; re-raised October 1948.
• 9th Battalion - Raised in 1943 by re-designation of 25th Garrison Battalion on conversion to active status. India. Disbanded 1945.
• 25th Garrison Battalion - Raised in 1941. India. Redesignated as 9/16th Punjab in 1943 on conversion to active status. India.
• 26th Garrison Battalion - Raised in 1942. India. Disbanded 1946.