53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force)

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53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force)
Active1846 – 1922
Country 
First World War
1914-18

The 53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force) was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was raised in 1847 as the 3rd Regiment of Infantry The Frontier Brigade. It was designated as the 53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force) in 1903 and became 3rd Battalion (Sikhs) 12th Frontier Force Regiment in 1922. In 1947, it was allocated to the Pakistan Army, where it continues to exist as 5th Battalion The Frontier Force Regiment.[1][2]

Early history

The regiment was raised on 1 January 1847 at

Tirah Campaign.[1][2]

3rd Sikh Infantry at Kabul, 1879.

53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force)

Subsequent to the

Kut al Amara on the Tigris Front in 1916-17, the capture of Baghdad and in operations north of Baghdad at Istabulat, Daur and Tikrit. In 1918, the regiment moved to Palestine and took part in the Battle of Megiddo, which led to the annihilation of Turkish Army in Palestine. It returned to India in 1920.[1][2]

Subsequent history

After the First World War, the 53rd Sikhs were grouped with the

Italy and Greece.[1] In 1947, the Frontier Force Regiment was allotted to the Pakistan Army. In 1948, 3/12 FF fought in the Kashmir War against India. In 1956, the Frontier Force Rifles and the Pathan Regiment were merged with the Frontier Force Regiment, and 3/12 FF was redesignated as 5 FF. During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, the battalion greatly distinguished itself in the Battle of Khem Karan, while during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 it served in Kashmir.[3] The unit was awarded 5 Sitara-e-Jurrats and 4 Tamgha-e-Jurrats during its post-independence service [3]

Lineage

53rd Sikh 1913 list From the British Archives.[4]
Naik, 57th Wilde's Rifles and Subedar, 53rd Sikhs (right). Watercolour by Major AC Lovett, 1910.
  • 1846: 3rd Regiment of Infantry The Frontier Brigade
  • 1847: 3rd Regiment of Sikh Local Infantry
  • 1857: 3rd Regiment of Sikh Infantry
  • 1857: 3rd Regiment of Sikh Infantry, Punjab Irregular Force
  • 1865: 3rd Regiment of Sikh Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force
  • 1901: 3rd Sikh Infantry
  • 1903: 53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force)
  • 1922: 3rd Battalion (Sikhs) 12th Frontier Force Regiment
  • 1935: 3rd Royal Battalion (Sikhs) 12th Frontier Force Regiment
  • 1945: 3rd Royal Battalion (Sikhs) The Frontier Force Regiment
  • 1947: 3rd Royal Battalion The Frontier Force Regiment
  • 1956: 5th Battalion The Frontier Force Regiment[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Condon, Brig WEH. (1962). The Frontier Force Regiment, Aldershot: Gale & Polden Ltd.
  2. ^ a b c North, REFG. (1934). The Punjab Frontier Force: A Brief Record of Their Services 1846-1924. DI Khan: Commercial Steam Press.
  3. ^ a b Attiqur Rahman, Lt Gen M. (1980). The Wardens of the Marches – A History of the Piffers 1947-71. Lahore: Wajidalis.
  4. ^ Authority Of The Council (1913). Indian Army List For January I -1913.

Further reading

  • Shepherd, Lt Col CI. (1931). Historical Records of the 3rd Sikhs 1847-1930. Bournemouth: Pardy and Son.
  • The Historical Record of the 3rd Sikh Infantry. (1887).
  • The Historical Record of the 3rd Sikh Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force. (1904).
  • Khan, M Nawaz. (1969). History of 5th Battalion The Frontier Force Regiment (1847-1969).
  • Condon, Brig WEH. (1962). The Frontier Force Regiment, Aldershot: Gale & Polden Ltd.
  • North, REFG. (1934). The Punjab Frontier Force: A Brief Record of Their Services 1846-1924. DI Khan: Commercial Steam Press.
  • Jafar Ali Khan, Maj Gen M. (1950). One Hundred Glorious Years: A History of the Punjab Frontier Force, 1849-1949. Lahore: Civil and Military Gazette Press.
  • Dey, RSBN. (1905). A Brief Account of the Late Punjab Frontier Force, From its Organization in 1849 to its Re-distribution on 31st March 1903. Calcutta.
  • Attiqur Rahman, Lt Gen M. (1980). The Wardens of the Marches – A History of the Piffers 1947-71. Lahore: Wajidalis.
  • Khan, Maj Muhammad Nawaz. (1996). The Glorious Piffers 1843-1995. Abbottabad: The Frontier Force Regimental Centre.
  • Gaylor, John. (1991). Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903- 1991. Stroud: Spellmount.
  • Barthorp, M, and Burn, J. (1979). Indian Infantry Regiments 1860-1914. London: Osprey.
  • Sumner, Ian. (2001). The Indian Army 1914-1947. London: Osprey.