By October 3rd the Battalion had concentrated at Darya Khan. The men left for their homes on furlough preparatory to proceeding to Palestine, and headquarters was despatched by rail to Dhond. For its services on the frontier the Battalion was granted the battle honour “Afghanistan, 1919,” and General Service Medal, India, 1908, with clasps, “Afghanistan, North-West Frontier, 1919,” and “Waziristan, 1919-21.” CHAPTER IX PALESTINE—3RD BN. 1ST PUNJAB REGIMENT—WAZIRISTAN [Sidenote: 1920.] The Battalion sailed for Egypt at the end of February under the command of Major S. van B. Laing, D.S.O., M.C., and arrived at Sarafend in Palestine on March 24th, 1920, where it joined the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Lahore Division. The Depot was left at Dhond, but subsequently moved to Kirkee, Bellary, and Jhelum before rejoining the Battalion at Lucknow in 1922. On April 28th, 1920, the Battalion proceeded to Haifa, whence, owing to constant raiding by Arabs from across the Jordan, it despatched detachments to various places for their protection. A company was also sent to Cairo to be trained as a Mounted Camel Company. A party of Mussalmans was also enabled to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca. [Sidenote: 1921.] On July 27th the Battalion proceeded to Jerusalem, whence about half the strength proceeded on detachment to various towns. The Battalion arrived at Beni Suef in Egypt in December, and took part in manœuvres near Cairo in March. In April the Camel Company, which had been employed on patrol work between Beersheba and the Dead Sea, rejoined, and in May the whole Battalion arrived in Alexandria and provided detachments in and around that city. The salutary sea air quickly dispelled the many cases of malaria which were a legacy from the Jordan Valley. [Sidenote: 1922.] In December, 1921, the Commandant, Lieut.-Colonel E. Milford, D.S.O., rejoined from leave, and the Battalion proceeded to Kantara to await orders to embark for India. Owing, however, to serious disturbances in Cairo, the Battalion was hurriedly despatched thither on Christmas Eve, and remained there till March 23rd. It then moved to Suez and embarked for India, arriving at Lucknow on April 7th, where it was joined by the Depot. [Sidenote: 3/1st Punjab Regiment.] In accordance with the Reorganization Scheme, the Jat Company was now replaced by Rajputs from Rajputana, and on December 1st the Battalion became the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Punjab Regiment, the other battalions being:— 1st 62nd Punjabis. 2nd 66th Punjabis. 4th 1st Brahmans. 5th 82nd Punjabis. 10th 84th Punjabis, who became the Training Battalion for the Group or Regiment. The badges of the Elephant subscribed “Assaye,” and the Golden Dragon wearing an Imperial Crown, worn by certain of the battalions, were taken into use by all battalions of the new Regiment. The uniform remained scarlet, but the facings were changed to grass-green. [Sidenote: 1923.]