Punjab Regiment (Pakistan) - British Raj

British Raj

Following 1857 and the establishment of crown rule over British India, the Punjab regiment played a role in numerous conflicts across the British Empire. Various battalions were deployed across the Empire in conflicts in places ranging from China, Egypt, Burma and Abyssinia.

Between 1903 to 1922, the British Indian Army included 28 numbered Punjabi Regiments. In 1922 these were amalgamated into 6 numbered Punjab Regiments, namely;

• 1st Punjab Regiment
• 2nd Punjab Regiment
• 8th Punjab Regiment
• 14th Punjab Regiment
• 15th Punjab Regiment
• 16th Punjab Regiment

These Regiments would all play a prominent role during World War II. Within the 14th Punjab Regiment, the 1st and 5th battalions were deployed in Malaya during the opening stages of the World War II in South East Asia. The 1st Battalion, under Lt Col James Fitzpatrick, was overrun by superior Japanese forces at Changlun during the Battle of Jitra. With only 270 survivors, the 1st Battalion was not reformed during the campaign. The 5th Battalion, under the command of Lt Col Cyril Stokes, performed relatively well in the fighting retreat to Kroh in early December 1941. Stokes was killed during the Battle of Muar in January 1942. The 5/14th Punjabs was forced to surrender along with the rest of the commonwealth troops when Singapore fell on 15 February 1942. A number of troops from both battalions however later joined the Indian National Army, and formed a part of the Hindustan Field Force of the first INA.