A brief history of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment : $b formerly: 76th Punjabis; 16th Madras Infantry; 16th Regiment, Madras Native Infantry; 2nd Battalion, 5th Madras Native Infantry; 16th Madras Battalion; 16th Carnatic Battalion, or Lane's BattalionAnonymous
History
A brief history of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment : $b formerly: 76th Punjabis; 16th Madras Infantry; 16th Regiment, Madras Native Infantry; 2nd Battalion, 5th Madras Native Infantry; 16th Madras Battalion; 16th Carnatic Battalion, or Lane's Battalion
Anonymous
East India Company. Army. Carnatic Battalion, 16th -- History; East India Company. Army. Madras Native Infantry. Regiment, 16th -- History; East India Company. Army. Madras Native Infantry. Regiment, 5th. Battalion, 2nd -- History; East India Company. Madras Battalion, 16th -- History; India. Army.
and four Indian officers were given Honorary King’s Commissions.
On war being declared on Afghanistan the Battalion was in Dera Ismail
Khan with a company at Jandola, three platoons in other outposts, and
one at Tank. A large draft was received from the 87th Punjabis. Various
detachments were sent out to reinforce threatened points from time to
time.
[Sidenote: Siege of Jandola.]
During May, as many of the Waziristan Militia deserted and the tribesmen
had risen, it became imperative to evacuate many of the posts held by the
Militia, and the result was that the company under Captain Anderson and
Lieutenant Proctor in Jandola became isolated and surrounded by large
numbers of hostile tribesmen.
Owing to the forethought and energy of the commander, the reserve water
tanks in the fort had been filled, providing water for twelve days, and
there were twenty-six days’ rations available. The water supply was cut
off by the tribesmen on May 28th, on which day the siege of Jandola
commenced.
On the 29th the enemy opened fire on the main fort and pushed in an
attack on a detached tower held by a party under Havildar Bari Sher,
by whom he was driven off. That night the fort was attacked, as also
was the detached tower, no less than three times, but all attacks were
repulsed. Communication was interrupted the next day except by means
of friendly Bhittanis. Heavy attacks were again made during the night
May 31st/June 1st. The men now suffered greatly from thirst, as water
was strictly rationed to two water-bottles a day, and the heat was very
great. Many attempts were made to obtain water, but the enemy had all
sources of supply accurately covered by fire. Bhisti Gurditt Singh, with
great gallantry and although wounded, several times succeeded in bringing
in water under fire, for which he was later awarded the Indian Order of
Merit.
Continual sniping took place day and night, and several further attacks
took place, but were in each case driven off with loss. On June 9th the
Movable Column arrived and raised the siege, and the garrison were
relieved and rejoined the Battalion. The casualties were:—Indian other
ranks, 1 died of wounds and 1 wounded, and 1 follower wounded.
Captain Anderson was awarded the Military Cross for the able manner in
which he had defended the post. Two Indian Orders of Merit and two Indian
Distinguished Service Medals were awarded to men of the Regiment, and
seven officers and men were mentioned in despatches for services in the
Afghan Campaign.
The complete Battalion concentrated in Tank in July, and remained there
till the end of August, finding escorts for convoys, and dealing with
raiders. In September it moved to Khirgi, where a month was spent working
on defences and roads, attempting to round up Mahsud raiders, and day
piqueting. Several men died of cholera.
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