First World War
The 30th Punjabis served with distinction in the German East Africa, while their 2nd Battalion served in the Palestine Campaign. The regiment raised a total of three new battalions during the war. Another regiment that raised three battalions was the 9th Bhopal Infantry, who were dispatched to the killing fields of France and Flanders in 1914. The regiment suffered heavy losses at the Battles of Neuve Chapelle, Festubert, Givenchy and the Second Ypres. In 1915, they arrived in Mesopotamia, where Sepoy Chatta Singh was awarded the Victoria Cross for exceptional valour. By the time they returned home, only fifteen men remained of those who had sailed for France in 1914.
- 30th Punjabis - India, German East Africa, Egypt.
- 2/30th Punjabis - Raised in 1918. India, Egypt, Palestine.
- 3/30th Punjabis - Raised in 1918. India.
- 4/30th Punjabis - Raised in 1918. India.
- 31st Punjabis - India, Mesopotamia, Greece, Turkey.
- 33rd Punjabis - India, Egypt, France, Aden, German East Africa.
- 2/33rd Punjabis - Raised in 1917. India.
- 9th Bhopal Infantry - India, France, Egypt, Mesopotamia.
- 2/9th Bhopal Infantry (The Delhi Regiment) - Raised in 1917. India, Mesopotamia.
- 3/9th Bhopal Infantry - Raised in 1917. India, Mesopotamia.
- 4/9th Bhopal Infantry - Raised in 1918. India.
- 46th Punjabis - India, Egypt.
All war-raised battalions were disbanded after the war. In 1921-22, a major reorganization was undertaken in the British Indian Army leading to the formation of large infantry groups of four to six battalions. Among these was the 16th Punjab Regiment. The line-up of battalions for Solah Punjab was:
- 1st Battalion - 30th Punjabis
- 2nd Battalion - 31st Punjabis
- 3rd Battalion - 33rd Punjabis
- 4th Battalion - 9th Bhopal Infantry
- 10th (Training) Battalion - 46th Punjabis.
The class composition of the new regiment was Punjabi Muslims, Sikhs and Dogras. The new regimental badge consisted of a Maltese cross with a Muslim crescent and a Sikh quoit, surmounted by a Tudor crown with a scroll below. The uniform was scarlet with white facings. Multan in the Punjab was chosen as the permanent station for the Training Battalion.
Read more about this topic: 16th Punjab Regiment
Famous quotes containing the words world and/or war:
“‘Tis not need we know our every thought
Or see the work shop where each mask is wrought
Wherefrom we view the world of box and pit,
Careless of wear, just so the mask shall fit
And serve our jape’s turn for a night or two.”
—Ezra Pound (1885–1972)
“This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final Note stating that, unless we heard from them by 11 o’clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany.”
—Neville Chamberlain (1869–1940)