151st Sikh Infantry
151st Sikh Infantry / 151st Punjabi Rifles | |
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Active | May 1918 – 15 May 1921 |
Country | First World War
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The 151st Sikh Infantry – also designated 151st Punjabi Rifles, see
Background
Heavy losses suffered by the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front following the German spring offensive in March 1918 resulted in a major reorganization of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force:
- two divisions – 52nd (Lowland)[1] and 74th (Yeomanry)[2] – were transferred to France in April; they were replaced by the 3rd (Lahore)[3] and 7th (Meerut) Divisions[4] from Mesopotamia;
- nine 5th Cavalry Divisions[6] were reformed with Indian cavalry regiments withdrawn from France and the 15th (Imperial Service) Cavalry Brigadealready in Egypt;
- the 53rd (Welsh),[8] 60th (2/2nd London),[9] and 75th Divisions[10] were reduced to a single British battalion per brigade. They were reformed with nine Indian infantry battalions and an Indian pioneer battalion each.[a]
In fact, the 75th Division already had four Indian battalions assigned,[b] so of the 36 battalions needed to reform the divisions, 22 were improvised[14] by taking whole companies from existing units already on active service in Mesopotamia and Palestine to form the 150th Infantry (3 battalions), 151st Sikh Infantry (3), 152nd Punjabis (3), 153rd Punjabis (3), 154th Infantry (3), 155th Pioneers (2), 156th Infantry (1) and the 11th Gurkha Rifles (4).[15] The donor units were then brought back up to strength by drafts. In the event, just 13 of the battalions were assigned to the divisions[16] and the remaining nine were transferred from Mesopotamia to India in June 1918.[17]
History
Nomenclature
Oddly, the designation of the regiment varied between the battalions. The 1st and 2nd Battalions were 151st Sikh Infantry whereas the 3rd Battalion was 151st Punjabi Rifles, hence 1st Battalion, 151st Sikh Infantry, 2nd Battalion, 151st Sikh Infantry and 3rd Battalion, 151st Punjabi Rifles.[18] Gaylor states that the 2nd Battalion was 151st Indian Infantry;[19] it is notable that no other Indian infantry regiment incorporated Indian in their titles at this time.[c] Other sources designate both the 2nd and 3rd battalions as 151st Infantry.[24][25]
Formation
The 151st Sikh Infantry / 151st Punjabi Rifles was formed of three battalions in May 1918. The 1st Battalion was formed in Mesopotamia with companies posted from battalions serving in the 17th and 18th Indian Divisions.[26] It was transferred to India in June 1918 and later took part in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919 as part of the Kohat Brigade.[27]
In contrast, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were formed in Palestine with companies posted from battalions serving in the
1st Battalion
The 1st Battalion was formed in Mesopotamia[34] in May 1918 by the transfer of complete companies from:[18]
The battalion was transferred from Mesopotamia to India in June 1918 and joined the
2nd Battalion
The 2nd Battalion was formed near Jaffa on 30 May 1918[28] by the transfer of complete companies from:[18]
- 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force)
- 53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force)
- 54th Sikhs (Frontier Force)
- 56th Punjabi Rifles (Frontier Force)
On 10 June, the battalion joined the 29th Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division and remained with the division for the rest of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign,[28] taking part in the Battle of Nablus (19–21 September 1918).[32]
The 10th (Irish) Division concentrated near
3rd Battalion
The 3rd Battalion was formed at Latrun and 'Ain 'Ariq between 24 May and 27 June 1918[29] by the transfer of complete companies from:[18]
- 1st Battalion, Guides Infantry
- 38th Dogras
- 58th Vaughan's Rifles (Frontier Force)
- 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force)
The battalion joined the 179th Brigade, 60th (2/2nd London) Division at 'Ain 'Ariq on 4 June. It remained with the division for the rest of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign,[35] taking part in the Battle of Sharon (19–21 September 1918).[33]
After the Armistice of Mudros, the 60th Division was withdrawn to Alexandria by 26 November 1918 where demobilization gradually took place. Three Indian battalions returned to India in February 1919 and the last had departed by 31 May 1919.[33] The battalion was disbanded on 15 May 1921.[19]
See also
Notes
- 54th (East Anglian) Division – remained unaffected by these changes.[11]
- ^ In March 1917, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force started forming the 75th Division, originally to be made up of Territorial Force battalions arriving from India. In May 1917, to speed up the formation of the division, it was decided to incorporate Indian battalions.[12] To this end, the independent 29th Indian Brigade was broken up in June 1917 and its battalions posted to 75th Division.[13]
- Indian Parachute Regiment had a brief existence from 1 March 1945 to 26 October 1946[22] before being reformed on 15 April 1952 as the Parachute Regiment.[23]
References
- ^ Becke 1936, p. 115
- ^ Becke 1937, p. 121
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 54
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 90
- ^ Perry 1993, pp. 21–24
- ^ Perry 1993, pp. 25–28
- ^ Becke 1938, pp. 15–16
- ^ Becke 1936, pp. 120–121
- ^ Becke 1937, pp. 29–30
- ^ Becke 1937, pp. 126–128
- ^ Becke 1936, pp. 128–129
- ^ Becke 1937, p. 129
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 167
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 174
- ^ Perry 1993, pp. 177–178
- ^ Hanafin, James. "Order of Battle of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, September 1918" (PDF). orbat.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ^ Perry 1993, pp. 44, 64, 81, 103, 155
- ^ a b c d Perry 1993, p. 177
- ^ a b c d Gaylor 1996, p. 346
- ^ Gaylor 1996, p. 144
- ^ Gaylor 1996, p. 269
- ^ Gaylor 1996, p. 206
- ^ Gaylor 1996, p. 262
- ^ Baker, Chris. "The 10th (Irish) Division in 1914–1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ^ Baker, Chris. "The 60th (2/2nd London) Division in 1914–1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ^ Perry 1993, pp. 144, 148
- ^ a b Perry 1993, p. 156
- ^ a b c Becke 1938, p. 16
- ^ a b Becke 1937, p. 30
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 51
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 87
- ^ a b c Becke 1938, p. 18
- ^ a b c Becke 1937, p. 32
- ^ a b Perry 1993, p. 103
- ^ Becke 1937, p. 28
Bibliography
- Becke, Major A.F. (1936). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A. The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56). London: ISBN 1-871167-12-4.
- Becke, Major A.F. (1937). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2B. The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th) with The Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions. London: ISBN 1-871167-00-0.
- Becke, Major A.F. (1938). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 3A. New Army Divisions (9–26). London: ISBN 1-871167-08-6.
- Gaylor, John (1996). Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991 (2nd ed.). Tunbridge Wells: Parapress. ISBN 1-898594-41-4.
- Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.
External links
- Baker, Chris. "The 10th (Irish) Division in 1914-1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- Baker, Chris. "The 60th (2/2nd London) Division in 1914–1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- Hanafin, James. "Order of Battle of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, September 1918" (PDF). orbat.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2011.