Punjab Rifles
Originally raised as the 1st Punjab Volunteer Rifle Corps on the 1st April 1861 and on the 15th July absorbed the Punjab Light Horse (Volunteers) which was raised on the 27th March 1867. In 1908 it was known as the 1st Punjab Volunteer Rifles.[1], with headquarters at Lahore. On the 1st April 1917 became the 3rd Punjab Rifles before becoming the Punjab Rifles on the 1st October 1920.
Punjab disturbances, April 1919; compiled from the Civil and military gazette, 1919 Archive.org, page 20 indicates that the 3rd Punjab Rifles were on the strength of the Command set up at Lahore to deal with the emergency created by the outbreak of disorder.
The Punjab Rifles had an Armoured Train Section.[2]
By 1936, they comprised Headquarters and two Companies of infantry, and two light mortar platoons and were administered as a part of the Punjab Contingent. [3]
- Uniform - Khaki
- Facings - Scarlet
- Badge - Punjab Coat of Arms
- Motto - "Crescate Fluviis"
Other Punjab Rifles regiments
- The Simla Rifles was called the 2nd Punjab (Simla) Volunteer Rifle Corps from 1861-1904
- The North-Western Railway Battalion was called the 3rd Punjab (North-Western Railway) Volunteer Rifle Corps from 1888-1892
- It is likely there was a Punjab Rifles regiment based in Delhi, at least in the early 1900s[4]
Individuals
- Sir David Parkes Masson, born 1847 was a Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st Punjab Rifles and the greatest Indian philatelist. Peshawar Stamp Society
- Lt. Col. Rev. William Thomas Wright CIE, VD was a Commandant of the Punjab Rifles. He was Principal of Laurence Royal Military School, Ghora Gali and Honorary Canon of Lahore. In 1925 he was made a Companion of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire . He was also awarded the Volunteer Officers Decoration (Indian Volunteer Forces),a breast medal, established by Royal Warrant July 25, 1892 by Queen Victoria, for 18 years long and meritorious service.[5]
References
- ↑ Imperial Gazetteer of India : Provincial Series Punjab Volume II The Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan Divisions and Native States, page 40 1908 Archive.org
- ↑ “Waters from Ireland - to Bengal - to New Zealand “ by Neville Thomas FIBIS Journal No 23 (Spring 2010), page 4 indicates that Henry Vincent Osmond Waters was a member.
- ↑ The Henry (Hal) V.O. Waters Photo Collection
- ↑ Tom Salkield , who spent his entire career in India in Delhi, as Engineer to the Municipality of Delhi 1905-1922.,was in the Punjab Volunteer Rifles for 16 years, refer Public Works Department
- ↑ Bruce and Dorothy Brown Collection, University of Victoria Library, British Columbia, Canada
External links
- The Henry (Hal) V.O. Waters Photo Collection has a photograph of the Punjab Rifles (IDF) Armoured Train Section Moghalpura 1919. Scroll down to no 18. From Terry Case’s North Western Railway
- "A Beleaguered City",is a parody by Rudyard Kipling about the proximity of the firing range of the Punjab Volunteer Rifles to the Lawrence Hall Gardens, in Lahore.
