The Punjab Regiment

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The Punjab Regiment



Introduction



The name “Punjab” (pun’jab, pun-jab) means “land of five rivers” and derives from the Persian words ‘punj’ meaning five, and ‘ab’ meaning water. The rivers, tributaries of the Indus River, are the Jhelum, Chenab Ravi, Sutlej and Beas. The five rivers, now divided between India and Pakistan, merge to form the Panjnad, which joins the Indus. Beas River joins with the Sutlej near the Harike Barrage in Indian Punjab.



Punjabis were considered martial race by Britshers and were thought to possess qualities like courage, loyalty, self-sufficiency, physical strength and resilience, orderliness and hard work, and fighting tenacity.



The British recruited heavily from Punjabi Muslims for service in the colonial military. On the eve of World War II almost 34,000 Punjabi Muslims were in the army (29 per cent) and during World War-II over 380,000 joined (about 14% of the total). No other class came close to these figures. Almost 70 pre cent of the wartime Muslim recruitment was from what became Pakistan from the undivided Punjab. The three semi-arid districts of Punjab-Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock (Campbellpur) pre-dominated in supplying recruit volunteers in World War II.


History



The Punjab Regiment is the oldest, the largest and the most decorated Regiment of the Pakistan Army. The Regiment emerged in its present shape on 7 May 1956 by amalgamating the 1st, 14th 15th and 16th Punjab Regiment groups, each having six, five, four and five battalions respectively, all rich in traditions of their own. Four of our battalions have already celebrated their bicentenaries while some more are getting ready to do so in the near future.



This historical composition gave the Regiment a solid foundation to build on. During the 49 years of its united existence, it multiplied manifold and fought two National Wars. During 1948, some battalions also fought in Kashmir, and others got the opportunity to see the War in 1965 and 1971. The Punjabi units acquitted themselves with great honour devotion & courage and earned immense laurels.


Gallantry Awards
The Regiment has the proud privilege of having produced soldiers like Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed, Major Muhammad Tufail Shaheed, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed and Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfooz Shaheed. These Shaheeds are recipients of the Highest Gallantry Award of the land, the “NISHAN -i- HAIDER”




Capt Muhammad Sarwar
Kashmir 26-27th Jul 1948







Maj Muhammad Tufal
East Pakistan 8th Aug 1958





Maj Aziz Bhatti
Lahore 12th Sep 1965





L.nk Muhammad Mehfooz
Lahore 18th Dec 1971


Other Distinctions



The Regiment has the unique distinction of winning the “CENTO NISHAN” Competition in Germany in 1975, the only time a non-European country won this competition during CENTO’s 15 years history.



4 Punjab, 6 Punjab, 14 Punjab, 17 Punjab, 18 Punjab, 19 Punjab, 22 Punjab and 31 Punjab Battalion have served United Nations Peace Keeping Force.

The Regiment has the unique distinction of producing two Commander-in-Chiefs of Army, Chief of Army Staff i.e Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan, Npk, HJ, first Muslim Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army and General Asif Nawaz, NI (M), S-Bt and Bar.


The Regimental Hackle


Through nearly two hundred years of exciting and arduous journey the battalions of the Punjab Regiment saw the birth, growth and fulfillment of the British rule. They took part in many wars that affected the destiny of millions and survived many changes of organization and destination.

One thing above all a tradition of gallantry and loyalty remained a guiding light to the officers and men of the Regiment and shortly before partition as a token of recognition of the Regiment’s meritorious services and faithfulness and being senior in service of all the Corps and units of the old British Indian Army, the 1st Punjab Regiment Group was honoured by being granted a grass green feather hackle to be worn on the beret, secured by the Regimental badge. This hackle, much prized by all ranks, further cemented the bond between all 1st Punjabis.

Later in February 1956, during the annual Commanding Officers Conference of the 1st Punjab Regiment Group held under FM Auchinleck and Major Geneneral Sher Ali, reorganization of the Punjab Regimental groups (1st Punjab Regiment, 14 Punjab Regiment, 15 Punjab Regiment and 16 Punjab Regiment) was finalized under instructions of General Headquarters. During the same conference, it was decided that personnel of all the Punjab Battalions would, in future, wear the hackle. The Pakistan Green Beret with the Regimental badge on a diamond-shaped Scarlet backing continues to be a distinctive feature of the Regimental head dress

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Punjab Regiment


The Punjab Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army.The Army‘s most senior fighting arm is the Punjab Regiment. In fact, two battalions of the Punjab Regiment are the oldest in the South Asia, with foundation dates as early as 1759.

History
The 33rd Punjabi Regiment (A Picture of an Officer: A Punjabi Subadar by A.C. Lovett 1911 AD).

Prior to the independence, the 14th Punjab Regiment formed a part of the British Indian Army. It was formed in March 1922 by the amalgamation of the

* 1st Battalion, formed by redesignation of 19th Punjab Infantry,
* 2nd Battalion, formed by redesignation of 20th Duke of Cambridge's Own Punjab Infantry,
* 3rd Battalion, formed by redesignation of 22nd Punjab infantry
* 4th Battalion, formed by redesignation of 24th Punjab infantry,
* 5th Battalion, formed by redesignation of 40th Pathan Regiment,
* 10th (Training) Battalion, formed by redesignation of 21st Punjab infantry.

The 1st and 5th battalions were deployed in Malaya during the opening stages of the WWII in South East Asia. The was overrun by superior Japanese forces on the Selangor river, and the 5th battalion was forced to surrender along with the rest of commonwealth troops when Singapore fell.

A number of troops of the unit however later joined Indian National Army, and formed a part of the Hindustan Field Force of the first INA.

In 1947 the British Government announced the Independence of South Asia into Pakistan and India. British Indian Army was divided also. Battalions of the Punjab Regiments were also divided between Pakistan and India. Out of six regiments, 1st Punjab, 8 Punjab, 14 Punjab, 15 Punjab and 16 Punjab were allotted to Pakistan Army and 2nd Punjab to Indian Army The Punjab Regiment was formed in 1956 when four of the five Punjab Regiments allocated to Pakistan were merged.

Punjabi Regiments allocated to Pakistan now forming the Punjab Regiment

* 1st Punjab Regiment
* 14th Punjab Regiment
* 15th Punjab Regiment
* 16th Punjab Regiment

Punjabi Regiments allocated

* 2nd Punjab Regiment

1st Punjab regimental center was located at Jehlum. In early September 1947 Pakistani personnel arrived from 2nd Punjab regimental center Meerut and Indian personnel (Sikhs) were dispatched to 11 Sikh RC and Rajputs to 6 Rajputana Rifle Center.

The Punjab regiment at its height totalled 58 battalions; however, 11 were transferred in 1980 to the Sindh Regiment.

Class & Religious Composition before 1947

Punjabi Muslims 50%; Sikhs 25%; Rajputs 25%. after 1947, the regiment is made up of 50 % Pashtun and 50% Panjabi.

Recipients of the Nishan-e-Haider

4 members of the Regiment have received the highest gallantry award "Nishan-e-Haider" (Sign Of the Lion) for showing an incredible amount of valor and courage on the battle field in the face of staunch adversity, these are as follows:
Note: honorary title as a sign of respect: Shaheed meaning martyr for deceased recipients and Ghazi meaning victor for living recipients.

1. Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed (1910–July 27, 1948)
2. Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed (1914–August 7, 1958)
3. Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed (1928–September 10, 1965)
4. Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed (1944–December 17, 1971)

The Nishan-e-Haider (Sign of the Lion) has been awarded to only 10 soldiers 4 of whom are from the Punjab Regiment. Despite Pakistan having been involved in 3 wars...

1. Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
2. Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
3. Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

...And a major conflict in Kargil with India during the summer of 1999 which is classed as a war by many.

Modern Regiment

Presently the Punjab Regiment is the largest regiment of the Pakistan Army with 47 battalions. The Punjab Regimental Centre is located in Mardan, NWFP. They range from Mechanized Infantry to Light Anti-Tank (LAT) battalions.

After independence of Pakistan, Punjab Regiment has seen three colonel-in-chiefs; Field Marshal Ayub Khan, General Asif Nawaz and General Aziz Khan, the last one of which was appointed on 21 March, 2003.[1]

The current Colonel Commandant of the regiment is Lt General Masood Aslam, who was installed as the colonel commandant on 16 March 2008.[2] The previous colonel commandants have included Lt General Malik Arif Hayat,[3] and Lt General Imtiaz Shaheen.[1]

Prominent General Officers from the Punjab Regiment

* Field Marshal Ayub Khan
* General Muhammad Shariff
* General Aziz Khan
* Lt Gen Tariq Pervaiz Ex Comd 12 Corps
* Lt Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne- Comd 12 Corps
* Lt Gen Masood Aslam Ex Comd 11 Corps and now IGT&E
* Lt Gen Nadeem Taj - Former DG ISI and now Comd 30 Corps
* Lt Gen Mujib-ur-Rehman
* Lt Gen Ahmad Shamim Khan
* Lt Gen Naseer Akhtar - Ex DG ISI
* Maj Gen Ghazanfar Ali Khan - Ex MS to President of Pakistan, GOC 41 Div, VCGS, DCGS, DGMP, DGNG & currently Ambassador of Pakistan to Ukraine
* Maj Gen Muhammad Mushtaq
* Maj Gen Asif Duraiz Akhtar - Ex GOC 7 Div, DG LOG & Comd Log Area Multan
* Maj Gen Shafqaat Ahmed - Ex MS to President of Pakistan, GOC 11 Div
* Maj Gen Zaheer ul Islam - Ex GOC 12 Div and now DG at ISI
* Lieutenant Gen Sujat Dar

Further reading

A complete history of the Punjab Regiment was written by Brig. Gen. Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi (Ret.), entitled "Veteran campaigners: a history of the Punjab Regiment, 1759-1981 (Pakistan Army)." It was published by Wajidalis in 1984. General Asif Nawaz Janjua

Alliances

* United Kingdom - The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment); 1st Bn
* United Kingdom - The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border); 8th Bn
* United Kingdom - The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires); 12th, 14th, 15th, 17th Bn
* United Kingdom - The Mercian Regiment; 13th Bn
* United Kingdom - The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border); 14th Bn

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More on Punjab Regiment:

[fatman17]

the 1st Punjab Regiment Group was honoured by being granted a grass green feather hackle to be worn on the beret, secured by the Regimental badge. This hackle, much prized by all ranks, further cemented the bond between all 1st Punjabis.

my late father belonged to the 1st Punjab regt at the time of independence - by 1956 the 1st Punjab was almagated into other units and he was transferred to 5th Punjab regt which is known as "Sherdils". he got his first command as CO of 7th Punjab regt in 1960.

He saw battle in the 48 and 65 wars with 1st & 7th Punjab regt's.

[Muradk]

16th PUNJAB REGIMENT

Centre: 1923 MOOLTAN
1946 SIALKOT
Class Composition: 1923 Punjabi Mussalmans, Jat Sikhs, Dogras from Sialkot District and Jammu
1946 Punjabi Mussalmans from the Punjab (less Ambala Civil Division) including Niazi and other Pathans of the Punjab, Hazarawalas of the NWFP and Mussalmans of Jammu and Kashmir State and the Gilgit Agency, Dogras from the Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir State, Sikhs from the Punjab

This chapter is being re-produced with thanks from JOHN GAYLOR'S fine book 'SONS OF JOHN COMPANY'. JOHN GAYLOR, first came to India with the Royal West African Frontier Force and served in India and in Burma with the 82nd (West African) Division. He subsequently served with the London Scottish and the Special Air Service. He is the Secretary of The Military Historical Society and lives in retirement in Kent. This book is available from JOHN GAYLOR directly at £19.99 (UK) plus postage. He can be contacted at 30 Edgeborough Way, Bromley, Kent BRI 2UA Tel 44 (181) 3251391

The 16th Punjab Regiment, was raised in 1922, was the last one to be made up of Lawrence's Punjab levies and, like the 14th and 15th Punjab Regiments, although its constituent elements were raised for service in the Great Mutiny, they did not receive honours for that campaign.

The 22nd Punjab Infantry began life in Ludhiana in 1857 and was regularized in 1861 as the 30th Punjab Infantry. The 31st Punjab Infantry was also raised in 1857, in Ferozepore, being known as Bloomfield's Sikhs, a name derived from Captain C G Bloomfield, their first Commandant. In 1878, the 31st served in Malta and Cyprus, both new stations for Indian troops.

The Allahabad Levy was formed from men of more lowly social strata desirous of showing their loyalty to authority at a time when many of their social superiors were less scrupulous. In 1861, they became the 33rd Punjab Infantry and, a few years later, recruitment of the menial classes ceased and, by 1890, the regiment was entirely Punjabi Mussalman in its composition.

The Bhopal Battalion was made up of the loyal remnants of the disaffected Bhopal, Gwalior and Malwa contingents raised for local service in Central India. They remained localized until the Second Afghan War when they were to man the North-West Frontier. In 1903, they were brought into the Line as the 9th Bhopal Infantry.

Raised in 1900, was the old 46th Punjab Infantry who were later to become the 10th Bn 16th Punjab Regiment.

FIRST WORLD WAR

30th Punjabis - India, German East Africa, Egypt

2/30th Punjabis (raised in 1917) -India, Egypt
3/30th Punjabis (raised in 1918) - India
4/30th Punjabis (raised in 1918) - India

31st Punjabis - India, Mesopotamia, Russia

33rd Punjabis - India, Egypt, France, Aden, German East Africa

2/33rd Punjabis (raised in 1917) - India

9th Bhopal Infantry - India, France, Egypt, Mesopotamia

2/9th Bhopal Infantry (The Delhi Regiment) (raised in 1917) - India, Mesopotamia
3/9th Bhopal Infantry (raised in 1917) - India, Mesopotamia
4/9th Bhopal Infantry (raised in 1918) - India

46th Punjabis - India, Egypt

If one of the component regiments of the 16th Punjab can be singled out for comment, it must surely be the 9th Bhopal - usually referred to as the Bo-Peeps - in Flanders in October 1914. In the late afternoon of a cold, wet, late autumn day, the Bhopals went to the aid of the remnants of a British battalion near Neuve Chapelle. Still in cotton-drill, they had their first encounter with trenches and barbed wire and stayed, locked in battle for three days without food. Their losses were eleven officers and 262 men. Three days later, at Festubert, they lost a further 200. Remaining in France until May 1915, they then went on to Mesopotamia where a sepoy, Chattar Singh, earned a Victoria Cross. On return to India, there remained only fifteen of the originals who had sailed for France in 1914.

The Bhopals did not have linked battalions so that they suffered immediate problems when they sustained the heavy casualties of Flanders in 1914 and 1915. Unknown officers were posted in and whole platoons of reinforcements arrived, made up of differing tribal origins. Notwithstanding, the Bo-Peeps' reputation stood high but they constituted a potent argument in favour of the reforms planned for after the war.

BETWEEN THE WARS

The badge chosen for the new 16th Punjab Regiment in 1922 also incorporated the Sikh quoit and the Muslim crescent with a Maltese cross, a crown above and a title scroll below.

The battalions of the new Regiment became - 1st Bn (the old 30th Punjabis), 2nd Bn (the old 31st Punjabis), 3rd Bn (the old 33rd Punjabis), 4th Bn (the old 9th Bhopal Infantry) and the 10th Bn (the old 46th Punjabis). No Territorial battalion was raised for the 16th Punjab Regiment.

Despite the changes in title in 1922, most officers continued to claim allegiance to, say, the 33rd Punjabis for years afterwards and it took the Second World War to establish the 1922 titles in the minds of the older Indian Army officers.

SECOND WORLD WAR

1st Battalion - India, Burma, Dutch East Indies.

2nd Battalion - India, Malaya. Captured by the Japanese in February 1942.

Reconstituted in May 1946 by amalgamation with 5/16 Punjab.

3rd Battalion - India, Malaya, Singapore. Captured by the Japanese in February 1942. Reconstituted in May 1946 by amalgamation with 6/16 Punjab.

4th Battalion - India, Egypt, Italian East Africa, Italy, Palestine 5th Battalion - raised in Lucknow in April 1941. Joined 9/8 Punjab and 6/15 Punjab in 39 Indian Infantry Brigade, the only all-Punjab brigade in the Indian Army. India, Ceylon. In January 1945 became Airborne as part of 14 Air-landing Brigade of 44 Indian Airborne Division. Redesignated 3/16 Punjab in May 1946.

7th Battalion - raised in Sialkot in May 1941. India, Burma, Malaya. 9th Battalion - formed by redesignation of the 25th Garrison Bn. India.

25th Garrison Battalion - raised in Sialkot in mid-1941. India. Redesigned 9/16 Punjab in May 1946.

7th Battalion - raised in Sialkot in May 1941. India, Burma, Malaya.

9th Battalion - formed by redesignation of the 25th Garrison Bn. India. 25th Garrison Battalion - raised in Sialkot in mid-1941. India. Redesignated 9/16 Punjab in October 1943 on conversion to active status.

26th Garrison Battalion - raised in Sialkot in March 1942. India. Disbanded May 1946.

Machine-Gun Battalion - raised in July 1942. In August 1942, transferred to the Indian Artillery as the 16th Punjab A/TK Regt.

Despite the grievous loss of two of its regular battalions, Solah (Sixteen) Punjab, as it was known, had a creditable war record.

PARTITION

The Regiment was allocated to Pakistan on Partition. On transfer of power, the regular battalions were the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th - all pre-war battalions - plus the 7th, universally known as Sath Solah and probably rewarded for its notable service in Burma during the war.

The Willcox Committee Report on the future of the Indian Army after the war had recommended the disbandment of the 16th Punjab Regiment but Partition overtook almost everything and Solah Punjab passed to Pakistan to suffer extinction by merger nine years later.

BATTLE HONOURS

Afghanistan 1878-80, Burma 1885-87, Chitral, Tirah, Punjab Frontier, Malakand.

La Bassee 1914, Messines 1914, Armentieres 1914, Festubert 1914, Givenchy 1914, Ypres 1915, St Julien, Aubers, Loos, France and Flanders 1914-15, Macedonia 1918, Suez Canal, Egypt 1915-16, Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1918. Aden, Tigris 1916, Kut-al-Amara 1917, Baghdad, Mesopotamia 1915-18. NW Frontier India 1915, 1916-17, Behobeho, Narungombe, Nyangao, East Africa 1917-18, Afghanistan 1919.

Mescelit Pass, Mt Engiahat, Massawa, Abyssinia 1940-41, Jitra, Ipoh. Kampar, the Muar, Singapore Island, Malaya 1941-42, Sidi Barrani, Omars, Benghazi, El Alamein, Mareth, Akarit, Djebel Garci, Tunis, North Africa 1940-43, Cassino I, Kaladan, Imphal, Tamu Road, Litan, Arakan Beaches, Burma 1942-45.

BOOKS

'Solah Punjab' by Lieut. Col J P Lawford MC and Major W E Catto (Gale and Polden Ltd, Aldershot 1967)

'Historical Records of the 4th Bn, 16th Punjab Regiment' (Gale and Polden, Aldershot, 1931).

[Tiger Awan]

My great maternal grandfather was in 7th Punjab. Fought world war I.

My maternal grandfather also served Punjab regment. Fought worldwar II, 1948 kashmir war, 1965 Lahore bharki mahaz but was in ISPR in 1971. I know tales of many Shuhada buried in GANJ-E-SHAHEDAN Lahore. My grandfather was one of the key officer who raised 35 Punjab regment in 1966. He is at this time the most aged officer of 16 Punjab ragment who fought 1965 war (age 89)

My maternal uncle also served Punjab regment.

But i cant

[fatman17]

if anyone gets a chance read the 'History of the 1st Punjabis - 1747-1956 by Major Mohd Ibraheem - fantastic history esp the time 1947-56 when the selected battalions were allocated to PA.