Guides Infantry
2nd Battalion (Guides) The Frontier Force Regiment | |
---|---|
Indo-Pakistan War 1971 Operation Zarb-e-Azb | |
Commanders | |
Colonel of the Regiment | Lt Gen Sardar Hassan Azhar Hayat Khan,HI(M). |
Notable commanders | Lt Gen Sir Harry Lumsden, KCSI, CB Gen Sir Sam Browne, VC, GCB, KCSI Gen Sir Henry Daly, GCB, CIE Gen M Iqbal Khan, NI (M), SBt Maj Gen Mustafa Anwar Hussain Maj Gen Waheed Arshad Gejial Maj Gen Bilal Ahmed Lt Gen Mumtaz Gul, HI(M) Brig Yasub Ali Dogar, SI(M), Lt Gen Syed Sabahat Husain, HI(M) Lt Gen Sardar Hassan Azhar Hayat, HI(M) Maj Gen Muhammad Aneeq Ur Rehman Malik, HI(M) Lt Gen Muhammad Aqeel, HI(M) Maj Gen Inayat Husain, HI(M) Maj Gen Mazhar Nazir Brig Nadeem Rahmatullah Khan, SI(M) |
The Guides Infantry, or 2nd Battalion (Guides) The
The Guides participated in numerous frontier operations, earning recognition for their gallantry and resilience. They fought in the
The Guides Infantry demonstrated their valor in the
Historical Overview
- trustworthy men, who could, at a moment's notice, act as guides to troops in the field; men capable, too, of collecting trustworthy intelligence beyond, as well as within, our borders; and, in addition to all this, men, ready to give and take hard blows, whether on the frontier or in a wider field.[1]
Although the corps recruited men from all over the country and even beyond the
Harry Lumsden was chosen to train and lead the force:
- He was a man of strong character, athletic, brave, resolute, cool and resourceful in emergency; a man of rare ability and natural aptitude for war, and possessed, moreover, of that magnetic influence which communicates the highest confidence and devotion to those who follow. Lumsden upheld the principle that the greatest and best school for war is war itself. He believed in the elasticity which begets individual self-confidence, and preferred a body of men taught to act and fight with personal intelligence.[1]
Lumsden left a lasting imprint on the Guides, who first fought in numerous frontier operations. Believing that fighting troops were for service and not for show, Lumsden introduced loose and comfortable dust-coloured uniforms for the first time, which would soon become famous as "khaki"[3] and within decades would be adopted by the British Army for service in India. In 1851, the Guides established themselves at Mardan, which would remain their home until 1938.[1]
In 1851, the Corps of Guides became part of the
In 1876,
On the Partition of India in 1947, the Frontier Force Regiment was allotted to Pakistan. The Sikhs and Dogras were transferred to India and the new class composition of the regiment became Punjabi Muslims and Pathans in equal proportion. In 1956, the Frontier Force Rifles and Pathan Regiment were merged with the Frontier Force Regiment and all the battalions were re-numbered. At the same time, since Pakistan had become a republic, all titles pertaining to British royalty were dropped. Consequently, the Guides Infantry was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion (Guides) The Frontier Force Regiment or 2 FF (Guides). [7][8]
Campaigns
Frontier Operations
The intrepid Guides quickly made a name for themselves on the
- On the Indian frontier the mountain tribes are continually fighting, and our troops there are renowned for their splendid achievement and gallant conduct. The best known of all is the corps called "The Guides" … To be a Guide out there means you are one who can be relied upon for pluck, for being able to endure difficulty and danger, for being able cheerfully to take up any job that may be required, and for readiness to sacrifice yourself for others.[9]
Second Sikh War 1848-49
Following their victory in the
The Great Indian Mutiny of 1857
In May 1857, when the mutiny broke out, Lumsden was on a mission at Kandahar and Captain Henry Daly led the Guides to join the Delhi Field Force then besieging the ancient capital city. They left Hoti Mardan on 13 May and arrived at Delhi on 9 June after marching 580 miles in twenty-six days and fourteen hours in the searing Indian summer.[1][5]
- The moral effect of the arrival of the Guides in Delhi was perhaps in some measure greater even than the actual fighting strength thus brought into line. The fame of the march from the far distant frontier, the fine physique and martial bearing of soldiers drawn from warlike tribes new to the eyes of their British comrades, ... all tended to give the approach of the travel-stained Guides a high significance. An eyewitness recorded: They came in as firm and light as if they had marched but a single mile.[1]
The Guides went into action the same day and by evening, all of their officers were killed or wounded. [
Second Afghan War 1878-80
During the
- The annals of no army and no regiment can show a brighter record of devoted bravery than has been achieved by this small band of Guides.[1]
The epic stand of the Guides at Kabul Residency was immortalized by
The massacre at Kabul led to the resumption of hostilities and in December 1879, the Guides were dispatched to join the
After the Second Afghan War, the Guides were involved in a number of actions along the
First World War
At the outbreak of
The end of the war also spelt the end of the Corps of Guides as a unit. In the post-war reorganization of the Indian Army in 1921, the corps was broken up and the cavalry and infantry became separate units, with the two battalions of Guides Infantry joining the 12th Frontier Force Regiment as its 5th and 10th Battalions.[6]
Second World War
During the
Indo-Pakistan War 1948
The Guides Infantry made up for its lack of action during the Second World War by giving an excellent account of itself in Kashmir in 1948. The battalion was instrumental in checking the Indian offensive in the Kishenganga Valley, where it fought with great gallantry at Tithwal and foiled all enemy efforts at advance. Jemadar Dost Muhammad's platoon of the Guides were defending Richmar Gali, near Tithwal. Coming under attack from approximately 700 Indian soldiers, he ordered a bayonet charge as a last ditch effort, leading to his death and the capture of Richmar Gali by the Indians. His actions delayed the Indian army, long enough for the 10th Brigade of 7th Infantry Division to prepare defences along the Panjkot Nullah, preventing their advance.[12] The Guides suffered casualties of 37 killed and 105 wounded, and were awarded eleven gallantry awards.[7][8][13]
Indo-Pakistan War 1965
In 1965 the Guides Infantry (2FF) was camping at Kasur where A and D companies of the battalion were carrying watermanship training at Thaman Distributary near Luliani after they had moved from the Rann of Katch area. The battalion was assigned the task of establishing a bridge head on Rohhi Nullah for launching of 1 Armoured Division across the India – Pakistan border. A and D companies joined the Paltan at about 1230 hrs. The Guides moved out from the camp to cross the border. The battalion crossed the Rohi Nullah on foot and entered the enemy territory on night 6/7 Sep 1965 and established a bridge head for the armoured division. After the launching of the division, the battalion was put under 21 Bde which was part of 11th Infantry Division. On 12 September the Guides Infantry and 5 Frontier Force captured the Indian town of Khem Karan. The battalion advanced up to Bhura Khana a small village in the north of the Khem Karan. On 17 Sep 1965 it was ordered to come back and take defence positions in front of Khem Kharan. On the night 21/22 September 1965 C company position was shelled heavily and was attacked by Indian troops who succeeded in overrunning part of a forward platoon. A counter-attack was launched by C company which recovered the position. During the conflict, the Guides Infantry were awarded one Tamgha-i-Jurat and two C-in-C Commendation cards.[7][8][13][14]
Rann of Kutch Conflict – April 1965.
The trouble began in March 1965 when India started interfering with Pakistan Rangers patrol in Kanger Kot area. Immediately they took a further step and laid their claim on the Kanger Kot Fort. To back it with force they started amassing troops in the Rann of Kutch. Consequently, some troops of Pakistan Army including the Guides Infantry were promptly dispatched to deal with the situation. The Guides Infantry attacked and captured the strong points of the Indian Army at Biarbet and captured the position being defended by famous Indian PARA Brigade (Guides Infantry marks 12 April as Biarbet day). An area of approx five to six miles was captured and cleared of the Indians immediately. In this small battle the battalion was awarded two Tamgha-e-Jurat, Four Imtiazi Sanads and one C-in-C Commendation Card.
Honours
Tamgh-e-Jurat
- Lance Havildar Khaki Jan
- Naik Atta Khan
Imtiazi Sanad
- Lt Col Muhammad Iqbal Khan ( Later General)
- Captain Bilal Ahmed ( Later Maj General)
- Captain S J Babar ( Later Chief Commissioner Peshawar)
- Sepoy Din Bad Shah
Commendation Card
- Subedar Ali Asghar
- Havildar Muhammad Razak Khan
- Sepoy Noor Jamal
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
On 3 October 1971 during the
Awards
- Sitara-e-Jurat: Major Aziz Ahmed. He embraced shahdat near Zairat post in Khalana valley. A post is named after him in this area, titled as 'Aziz Post'.
- Tamgha-e-Jurrat: Naib Subedar Muhammad Bashir
- Commendation Card: Jumma Khan
Battle Honours
Mooltan, Goojerat, Punjaub, Delhi 1857, Ali Masjid, Kabul 1879, Afghanistan 1878-80, Chitral, Punjab Frontier, Malakand, Mesopotamia 1917-18, Megiddo, Sharon, Palestine 1918, NW Frontier, India 1914-15, Afghanistan 1919, Kashmir 1948, Rann of Kutch 1965, Khem Karan 1965.[15]
Victoria Cross Recipients
- Lieutenant RH Shebbeare, Delhi, 14 September 1857
- Lieutenant Afghanistan, 2 April 1879
- Captain Afghanistan, 14 December 1879
- Major RB Adams, Landakai, Swat, 17 August 1897
- Lieutenant HLS Maclean, Landakai, Swat, 17 August 1897
- Captain North West Frontier, 29 September 1935[2]
Changes in Title
- 1846 The Corps of Guides
- 1851 The Corps of Guides, Punjab Irregular Force
- 1865 Corps of Guides, Punjab Frontier Force
- 1876 Queen's Own Corps of Guides, Punjab Frontier Force
- 1901 Queen's Own Corps of Guides
- 1904 Queen's Own Corps of Guides (Lumsden's)
- 1906 Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides (Frontier Force) (Lumsden's) Infantry
- 1917 1st Battalion Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides (Frontier Force) (Lumsden’s) Infantry
- 1922 5th Battalion (Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides) 12th Frontier Force Regiment
- 1945 5th Battalion (Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides) The Frontier Force Regiment
- 1956 2nd Battalion (Guides) The Frontier Force Regiment
Affiliations & Alliances
References and Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Younghusband, Col GJ. (1908). The Story of the Guides. London: MacMillan.
- ^ a b c Hayauddin, Maj Gen M. (1950). One Hundred Glorious Years: A History of the Punjab Frontier Force, 1849-1949. Lahore: Civil and Military Gazette Press.
- ^ From the Urdu word "khak" meaning "dust". The clothing was dyed using mulberry juice to produce the drab colour - a pinkish shade of khaki.
- ^ Until 1903, North West Frontier Province was part of the Punjab.
- ^ a b c d e f North, REFG. (1934). The Punjab Frontier Force: A Brief Record of Their Services 1846-1924. DI Khan: Commercial Steam Press.
- ^ a b Gaylor, John (1991). Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–91. Stroud: Spellmount.
- ^ a b c d Khan, Maj Muhammad Nawaz. (1996). The Glorious Piffers 1843-1995. Abbottabad: The Frontier Force Regimental Centre.
- ^ a b c Khan, Maj Gen Fazal Muqeem. (1996). History of the 2nd Battalion (Guides) Frontier Force Regiment 1947-1994. Rawalpindi: The Army Press.
- ^ Forbes, Cynthia. 1910 ... and then?.
- ^ MM Kaye's husband, Major General Goff Hamilton was an officer of the Guides Cavalry.
- ^ Condon, Brig WEH. (1962). The Frontier Force Regiment. Aldershot: Gale & Polden.
- ISBN 9798510588026.
- ^ a b Attiqur Rahman, Lt Gen M. (1980). The Wardens of the Marches – A History of the Piffers 1947-71. Lahore: Wajidalis.
- ^ Ahmed, Lt Gen Mahmud. (2006). History of Indo-Pak War – 1965. Rawalpindi: Services Book Club.
- ^ Rodger, Alexander. (2003). Battle Honours of the British Empire and Commonwealth Land Forces 1662-1991. Ramsbury: The Crowood Press.
Further reading
- Younghusband, Col GJ. (1908). The Story of the Guides. London: MacMillan & Co.
- The History of the Guides 1846-1922. Vol I. (1938). Aldershot: Gale and Polden.
- MacMunn, Lt Gen Sir George. (1950). The History of the Guides 1922-1947. Vol II. Aldershot: Gale and Polden.
- Khan, Maj Gen Fazal Muqeem. (1996). History of the 2nd Battalion (Guides) Frontier Force Regiment 1947-1994. Rawalpindi: The Army Press.
- Condon, Brig WEH. (1962). The Frontier Force Regiment. Aldershot: Gale & Polden.
- Attiqur Rahman, Lt Gen M. (1980). The Wardens of the Marches – A History of the Piffers 1947-71. Lahore: Wajidalis.
- 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.
- North, REFG. (1934). The Punjab Frontier Force: A Brief Record of Their Services 1846-1924. Dera Ismail Khan: Commercial Steam Press, HQ Waziristan District.
- Hayauddin, Maj Gen M. (1950). One Hundred Glorious Years: A History of the Punjab Frontier Force, 1849-1949. Lahore: Civil and Military Gazette Press.
- Khan, Maj Muhammad Nawaz. (1996). The Glorious Piffers 1843-1995. Abbottabad: The Frontier Force Regimental Centre.
- Lumsden, Gen. Sir Peter, and Elsmie, G. R. (1900). Lumsden of the Guides: A Sketch of the Life of Lieutenant General Sir Harry Burnett Lumsden, KCSI, CB, with Selections from His Correspondence and Occasional Papers. London: J Murray.
- Daly, Maj Hugh. (1905). Memoirs of General Sir Henry Dermot Daly, GCB, CIE. London: J Murray.
- Gaylor, John. (1991). Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903- 1991. Stroud: Spellmount Publishers Ltd. ISBN 978-0-946771-98-1
- Elliott, Maj Gen JG. (1968). The Frontier 1839-1947: The Story of the North-West Frontier of India. London: Cassell.
- Ahmed, Lt Gen Mahmud. (2006). History of Indo-Pak War – 1965. Rawalpindi: Services Book Club.
External links
- The Story of the Guides by GJ Younghusband
- Queen's Own Corps of Guides (Punjab Frontier Force) at The British Empire
- Lieutenant General Sir Harry Burnett Lumsden, KCSI, CB. Obituary in The Times, 13 August 1895
- Article discussing the raising of the Corps of Guides by Harry Lumsden
- General Sir Henry Dermot Daly