8th Punjab Regiment Regimental History

Discussion in 'British Indian Army' started by dryan67, Jan 19, 2020.

  1. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Does anyone have a copy of the the regimental history of the 8th Punjab Regiment. It is:

    Ahmad, Rifat Nadeem and Rafiuddin Ahmed. Unfaded Glory: The 8th Punjab Regiment 1798-1956. Abbottabad, Pakistan: Baloch Regimental Centre, 2007

    I am interest in obtaining sections of the book that concern the early history of the Battalions of the regiment during the Second World War. In particular, the information I need is:

    1st Battalion - 3/9/39 to 20/10/40
    2nd Battalion - 3/9/39 to December 1942
    3rd Battalion - 3/9/39 to 11/8/41
    4th Battalion - 3/9/39 to 3/10/41
    5th Battalion - 3/9/39 to 6/43
    6th Battalion - 7/8/40 to 31/8/45
    7th Battalion - 7/8/40-25/1/42
    8th Battalion - 1/5/41-1/42

    Thanks in advance for any help.
     
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  2. RobG64

    RobG64 Well-Known Member

    Hi David, I think I may have the book at home. I will have a look when I get back from work

    RobG
     
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  3. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    RobG:

    Thanks for checking. That would be fantastic.

    David
     
  4. RobG64

    RobG64 Well-Known Member

    David, my copy is a Naval & Military Press Ltd. reprint dated 2006. The following is verbatim from the text. Taking the war raised battalions first:

    6th Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment
    Raised at Bakloh on 7th August 1940. After short stays at Bakloh and Lahore the battalion moved to Waziristan in February 1941, where it served at Bannu, Manzai and Mir Ali. In November 1942, it moved to Upper Sindh for operations against the Hurs. (under command 84th Indian Infantry Brigade). During the operations, the Battalion Headquarters was based at Tando Mitha Khan while the various companies were dispersed over a wide area. Most of the activity was in the form of patrolling on camels. By February 1943 the situation was brought under control and the battalion returned to Waziristan. In October 1943 the battalion moved to Landi Kotal from Razmak. Over the next year, the battalion changed several stations in the North West Frontier Province, until June 1944 when it joined 155th Independent Indian Infantry Brigade at Risalpur and converted to a medium machine-gun battalion. Moved to Fort Salop for equipment and training. Here Sikhs were removed from the battalion and it was reorganised with equal numbers of PMs and Gujars.
    By December 1944 the battalion was declared ready and was posted to Nasik to join the 23rd Indian Division.

    7th Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment
    Raised at Bakloh on 7th August 1940. In 1941 it was posted to 44th Indian Infantry Brigade. In January 1942 the Brigade was sent as a reinforcement to Singapore and the battalion landed there on 25th January and became POW on 15th February.
    RobG64 (very vague information here - battalion under command 44th Brigade at Poona from 1st June 1941. Brigade mobilised August 1941 and moved to Kumbargaon Camp in November for initial training. Began jungle warfare training at Diksal on Christmas Day. Brigade sailed from Bombay on 8th January 1942 and disembarked at Singapore from 22nd January)

    8th Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment
    Raised at Lahore on 1st May 1941. It moved to Landi Kotal in October 1941. In January 1942 the battalion came under command 4th Indian Infantry Brigade at Jhelum.
    RobG64 (under command of the brigade from late January 1942 (30th?))

    RobG
     
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  5. RobG64

    RobG64 Well-Known Member

    1st Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment
    The battalion was stationed in Lucknow under command 6th (Lucknow) Infantry Brigade in Eastern Command on 3rd September 1939. After spending several months on internal security duties at Orissa, the battalion moved to Poona in August 1940 where the 6th Brigade was mobilising for service overseas. The battalion lost over 180 officers and men to the 6th & 7th Battalions who were being raised at Bakloh. In return the battalion received a draft of 240 reservists and recruits and the battalion trained in desert warfare as it was expected to go to North Africa. However, the battalion was ordered to change the desert camouflage of its vehicles to jungle camouflage. On 20th October 1940 the battalion embarked at Bombay for Penang.
     
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  6. RobG64

    RobG64 Well-Known Member

    2nd Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment
    The battalion was stationed in Rawalpindi under command 2nd (Rawalpindi) Infantry Brigade in Northern Command on 3rd September 1939. It served briefly in Assam before returning to Rawalpindi. The brigade moved to Datta Khel, Waziristan in February 1940 to take part in the Ahmadzai Campaign. In November 1940 the battalion was moved to Drosh in Peshawar District to replace 1st Battalion 9th Jat Regiment in Chitral Force until December 1942
     
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  7. RobG64

    RobG64 Well-Known Member

    3rd Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment
    The battalion was serving in Wana Brigade, Waziristan District of Northern Command on 3rd September 1939. In early January 1940 the battalion joined the Kohat Brigade for a part in the Ahmadzai Campaign before re-joining Wana Brigade on 12th February 1940. In mid-October 1940 the battalion left the brigade and moved to Old Delhi where it joined the newly formed 19th Indian Infantry Brigade of 8th Indian Division. After intensive training at Delhi and Dhond the brigade sailed from Bombay on 11th August 1941
     
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  8. RobG64

    RobG64 Well-Known Member

    4th Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment
    The battalion was serving in Peshawar Brigade, Peshawar District of Northern Command on 3rd September 1939. It joined the Bannu Brigade on 3 November 1940 and by the end of the year was temporarily in Waziristan. On 9 April 1941 the battalion left the brigade and moved to Secunderabad where it came under command 27th Indian Infantry Brigade, 6th Indian Division. After training the brigade sailed from Bombay on 5th September 1941 and arrived at Basra six days later. It deployed to Pai-Tak Pass in Persia
     
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  9. RobG64

    RobG64 Well-Known Member

    5th Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment
    The battalion was serving in the Kohat Brigade, Kohat District of Northern Command on 3rd September 1939. The battalion was engaged in operations against Mehr Dil in the Ahmadzai Campaign in early 1940. By May 1940 the band was dispersed and the battalion returned to Kohat. In October it moved to the Razmak Brigade. On 31 January 1941 it moved to Ahmed Khel for operations in the Tochi Valley. After returning for more training the battalion was again engaged in the Tochi Valley in June 1941 for the Datta Khel operations. On 29th August the battalion returned to Razmak and in October left for Secunderabad to join 47th Indian Infantry Brigade.
    On 20th March 1942 the brigade entrained at Trimulgherry and arrived at Comilla on 26th March, coming under command 14th Indian Division. After consolidating it moved to the Feni area from 1st April. Relieved by the 88th Indian Infantry Brigade in early October 1942 the brigade concentrated at Comilla before moving to Chittagong at the end of the month. At the end of November the brigade moved up to Cox's Bazar. On 22nd December was ordered to advance down the Mayu Range. It attacked Donbaik on 18/19 January 1943 but failed. It was relieved by 55th Indian Brigade on 24th January and placed in reserve. On 20th February the brigade was moved to cover the area between the Mayu Range and the Mayu River. 5th Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment was pulled out of the line on 7 March to rest but was placed under command 6th British Brigade from 10th-24th March for more attacks on Donbaik. It returned to the brigade on 25th March and was attacked. "C" Company was badly mauled at Atet Nanra, followed by "B" Company as it moved in support. "A" Company launched a counter-attack and gained some ground but was pushed back. On 6th April 1943 the brigade was surrounded by the Japanese and had to abandon all its transport and equipment and disperse. The remnants gathered in the Lambaguna area from 7th-11th April. 5th Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment reformed at Chittagong as it had lost over 250 men. After a short stay at Ranchi, the battalion moved to Peshawar in May, where it was converted into a Reconnaissance Battalion
     
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  10. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Thank you so very much. I really do appreciate for timely effort. This will help fill in some important details in my battalion summaries.

    If there is anything that I can help you with let me know. I have an extensive library with quite a few regimental histories.

    David
     
  11. IKE26

    IKE26 Active Member

    Hi Rob
    I'm interested too. In particular 3rd Battalion 9/43 to 1/44.

    Thanks in advance for any help.
     
  12. RobG64

    RobG64 Well-Known Member

    You're welcome David!
    I may take you up on that offer...

    RobG
     
  13. RobG64

    RobG64 Well-Known Member

    IKE26 - I will see what I have later tonight!

    RobG
     
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  14. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    IKE26 - Here is what I have on the 3/8th Punjab Regiment during its service with 19th Indian Infantry Brigade:

    19th Indian Infantry Brigade – October 1940 to 31 August 1945

    It joined the newly created 19th Indian Infantry Brigade on arrival in Delhi and remained with the brigade for the rest of the war. The battalion left Delhi with the brigade in May 1941 and trained with it through August 1941 at Dhond. It left Bombay on August 11th, 1941 with the brigade and arrived in Basra, Iraq on August 17th, 1941.

    The battalion and brigade were now part of PAIFORCE. It was located at Buquoq from October 1941 until February 1942, at Eskykilak from February to March 1942, at Altunkupri from March to April 1942, at Quetta Camp near Baghdad from April to June 1942, at Mosul from August to September 1942, at K3 Pipeline from October to November 1942, and at Kifri from November 1942 to March 1943.

    In April 1943, the battalion moved to Lattiquie in North Syria with the brigade and remained there training until May 1943. It then moved to Aqaba in Transjordan in June 1943 and from July to August 1943 it trained at the Mountain Warfare School in Tripoli, Syria. It embarked at Alexandria in September 1943 and arrived in Taranto, Italy on 24 September 1943.

    The 19th Brigade went into action on October 25th and moved toward Trigno. The battalion took M. Majardo on October 26th and Montefalcone on October 27th. It then crossed the Trigno and occupied M. Farano on November 3rd/4th. It was involved in the capture of Archi on November 15th-18th and crossed the Sangro River on November 19th-25th. It was located at Il Calvario on November 25th. It then advanced to Villa Grande starting on December 17th and attacked there on December 22nd-25th, 1943.

    The brigade was then located on the static Adriatic front until the spring of 1944 patrolling. On May 11th-16th, it resumed the advance by crossing the Gari River and captured Panaccioni on May 13th. It crossed the Melfa on May 26th-27th followed by the Liri on May 30th and the capture of Monte S. Giovanni. The brigade and battalion then advanced toward Arsoli and the battalion captured Agosta on June 7th-8th and Bastia on June 17th-18th. The battalion then advanced to Empoli from July 27th-31st and then remained there patrolling. It moved to L’Olmo on September 2nd and continued the pursuit. It attacked Poggio Abetina on September 3rd and captured Monte Calvaro on September 9th. It then attacked L’Alto Ridge, M. Cvallara and M. Casalino from September 30th to October 8th. The battalion then advanced from Villore to M. Giogodi Villore from October 14th-23rd. It then operated in the Upper Lamone Valley from November 25th-30th and in the defence of Monte Grande from December 6th-19th, 1944. It took part in the final battles in the advance to Scolo Tratoora from April 9th-10th, 1945, to the Santerno from April 10th-11th, and to the Po from April 21st-25th.

    It remained under the brigade in Italy through June 1945, when it embarked at Taranto. It arrived in Karachi in July 1945 and then moved to Lahore for leave. After leave the battalion moved to Malthone.
     
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  15. IKE26

    IKE26 Active Member

    Thank you Rob.
     
  16. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Ike26.

    Could I ask what your interest in 3/8 Punjabis is?

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  17. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Minden1759:

    I am a generalist regarding British and Commonwealth Orders of Battle and unit histories. I have written a series of 14 books on the Britsh Armies organizational history. I have summary histories of all British and Commonwealth tooth histories. Currently, I am heavily involved with a history of Canadian Army units in World War II broken down to Canadian Army at Home, in Britain, and Overseas. I have always had a particular affinity to the Indian Army as a unique element of the Commonwealth forces.
     
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  18. IKE26

    IKE26 Active Member

    Hi Frank

    I'm writing a book on 8th Indian Division in the Battle of Sangro e beyond (Moro River , Ortona, Arielli river) until January 1944 (Adriatic sector). So I would like to have any good (soldier's accounts in particular) infos about battallions (british and indians) involved in.

    Regards
    Saverio
     
  19. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Dryan67.

    In your research, have you ever come across anything on the organisation of a British Corps HQ in Italy or elsewhere?

    Regards

    Frank
     
  20. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Regarding 3/8th Punjab Regiment it became part of the 19th Indian Infantry Brigade, as part of Force 401 that went to Basra, Iraq in September 1946; along with the 4th Indian (Bombay) Grenadiers and the 6th/13th Royal Battalion (Scinde) Frontier Force Regiment. I am about to start a thread on Force 401.

    The Force 401 thread is: Force 401 in Iraq August 1946-August 1947
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2022
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