THIRD BATTALION THE RAJPUTANA RIFLES Gods Own *** Volume II 1921–2018 THIRD BATTALION THE RAJPUTANA RIFLES Gods Own *** Volume II 1821–2018 Colonel Dr Narendar Singh, Ph.D Foreword by Gen (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh PVSM, AVSM, YSM (Retd.) PENTAGON PRESS LLP Third Battalion: The Rajputana Rifles – ‘Gods Own’ Colonel Dr Narendar Singh, Ph.D ISBN 978-93-86618 First Published in 2020 Copyright © Reserved All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the book are the individual assertion of the Author. The Publisher does not take any responsibility for the same in any manner whatsoever. The same shall solely be the responsibility of the Author. 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Contents Foreword xix Acknowledgements xxi Preface xxiii Chronological Table xxxi Veer Bhogyah Vasundhara’ xxxiii The Colonel Courden ‘March Past’ xxxv The Regimental Song xxxvii PART I 1921–14 AUGUST 1947 1 Return to India 3 The War Office queried Army Headquarters in India as to the size of the Post-War Army- Army in India Committee under Lord Esher produced hinting at War Office control of the entire Army in India - The North-West Frontier - Amir Habibullah Khan of Afghanistan Assassinated- British Concentrated Forces at Peshawar- Appreciated Distribution of Afghan Army- Likely Pattern of Afghan Offensive - The British Planned to undertake Offensive towards Jalalabad- Waziristan Force - Plan to Evacuate all Militia Posts - Arrival of Saleh Muihammad Khan, the Afghan, Commander-in-Chief, at Dakka -1 Afghan War Commenced on 3 May 1919 - Importance of Bagh - Army Receives Orders for Mobilisation - Withdrawal of Waziristan Militia led to Desertions -Decision Taken to Evacuate North West Persia - One More Attempt at Hockey Crown- The Battalion Responsible for Providing Protection to the Party Carrying the ‘Gold Bullion’- His Imperial Majesty, The King of Kings, Reza Shah Pehlavi - The Battalion Reassembled at Khavi Kim - Arrival Ahmednagar and Then moved to Aurangabad- Lieutenant Colonel J D’Oylg appointed Commandant - Retirement under Regiment Warrant - Indian Army Reserve of Officers - Most old Bungalows had Bibikhanas 2 122 Rajputana Infantry to be 3rd Battalion The 6th Rajputana Rifles: Evolution of Rifle Regiments 14 Infantry is the Principal Arm – The Non-Fire Period- Transition- The Fire Period- Seven Years and Creation of Light Infantry - Light Company - Sate Forces ‘Regular’ and ‘Irregular’- ‘Waffadar Paltan’ - Brief Evolution of Rifle Regiments - British Light Infantry was established on Christmas Day, 1755 - Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bouquet vi 3rd Battalion: The Rajputana Rifles contributed to Light Infantry Doctrine - General Howe received orders to recreate Britain’s Light Infantry- Adoption of Two Rank File - Captain Johann Ewald’s s A Treatise Upon The Duties Of Light Troops - The Experimental Rifle Corps - General Sir David Dundas - Major General John Money - Colonel Francis de Rottenburg Regulations for the Exercise of Riflemen in the Field - Colonel Coote Manningham and Lieutenant Colonel the Honourable William Stewart.- Advantage held by the Rifle Corps in Recruitment was its Stature - Technology is the Catalyst of Evolution in Doctrine -The Rifle Corps - Lieutenant General Lord Keane, Commander-in-Chief recommendations regarding Rifleman and Light Companies - Lieutenant General McMahon, Commander-in-Chief recommended the formation of Rifle Corps - Bombay Presidency Army authorized the organization of a Rifle Corps in 1841- Reorganization if Indian Infantry and Formation of 6th Rajputana Rifles - ‘Third’ – an honourable number- Selection Process of the Regiment of a New Officer was Peculiar -3rd Battalion The 6th Rajputana Rifles new ‘Class composition’- Rajput- Punjabi Musalman -Jat - Reorganization and Companies sent to Other Regiments - Major R.H. Stable first from the Battalion to be posted to the 10th Battalion The 6th Rajputana Rifles (Training Battalion) 3 3rd Battalion The 6th Rajputana Rifles Adopts Customs of Rifle Regiments 32 Regimental Order Directing- Colours are Never Carried- Command ‘Attention or Savdhan’ is Never Used - Rifle Regiments Avoid Unnecessary Commands - Dress of The Regiment - Maltese Cross - Cap Badge - Light Companies of Foot Regiments adopted the ‘Bugle Horn’- The Bugle Horn Badges the Horn is suspended by Cords tied with Silk Ribbons - Wearing ‘Red Backing’ to the Cap Badge was Originally Awarded as a Result of The Participation of the Light Company of the 46th Foot in an Attack - The first badge was Black in Colour with a Bugle and a Crown and had RR - The present-day Regimental Crest has a Maltese Cross in between the wreathe and the crossed ‘Katar’- Whistle – Buttons -”Globular Ball” Buttons - Miniature Horn Buttons – Lanyard - Lanyard is Worn on the Left Shoulder - Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre have been accorded the Distinction of Wearing a Red Knot - Regimental Cane - Chevrons worn by the Non-Commissioned Officers are Black with Scarlet - Badges of Rank - Collar Badges - Cross Belt or the Pouch Belt [Present Design of Pouch Belt Adopted in 1950 - The Sam Browne Belt -Working Dress Belt – Pagris - ‘Colonel Crudon’ as the Battalion March Past – Straight Spurs- Rifle Regiments march in faster than the infantry of the line 140 steps per minute - Green Hosetops in Drill and Field Service Order- Fix Swords- Rifle Regiments on Review Parades Falls in on the Extreme Left - The Unit Quarter Guard – Bugle Calls 4 What is Battalion/Regiment and its Functioning? 47 Battalion -Battalion Second Home for Siphai - Linking of Battalion - The Depot - Officers Promoted in Regular Succession – Battalion Staff – Battalion Commander – Adjutant – Quartermaster - Viceroy Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers - Non-Commissioned Officers as Mess Havildar - Viceroy Commissioned Officers - Subedar Major - Sergeant-Major or Havildar Major – Company - Company Commander – Inspections - Mounted Infantry - Infantry Brigade – Division –Training - Interconnecting Network in Regiment - Indian army Officers Moulded By a System Contents vii 5 Indianisation 58 Imperial Cadet Corps- Indianization- School to train Indian King Commissioned Officer’s was started at Indore - Lord Rawlinson scheme for Indianisation- Cadetships at Sandhurst to Indians- Indian cadets “social training”- Sir P.S. Sivaswamy Aiyer resolutions on Indian Defence Matters - Some British Officers Intensely disliked Indianization- Chetwode Committee and Establishment of Indian Military Academy 6 North West Frontier Province (1922-27) 66 Battalion Moved by Train - History of the North-West Frontier of India is Long Record of Strife - British Encountered Afridis for the First Time in 1854 - Forward Policy 1874 - Khyber Agency Created - Kurram Agency had been part of Afghanistan - Durand Mission - Pamir Boundary Agreement 1895 - Tochi – Malakand Disturbances 1897 - Curzon Policy of Keeping Tribal Territory as Marchland - Razmak Policy - Summarized Policy of British on The North West Frontier - British Signed Agreements with each Tribe Independently - Tribal Areas Remained Intractable - Special Procedure for the Trial of Cases in Tribal Areas - Individual Friendships Between Warburton and Afridis - Town of Kohat - Samana Range - Small Outpost with Towers Along Afghan Border - Afridis Most Powerful of Indian Frontier Tribes - Afridi Lad Taught to Distrust all Mankind - Afridi Lad Taught to Distrust all Mankind- Indian Opposition to Indian Army- 1920’s Communal Violence - Subedar Gul Hussain promoted Subedar Major - Sanction to Eliminate Gujjjar Company - Recruitment in Army No Gauge for Political Acceptance of British Raj- Battalion Declared The Best Shooting Regiment - Change of Command - Move to Fort Mackass – Battle Honours - Move from Landi Kotal to Ali Masjid- Khyber Pass Out of Bound for Blood Feuds- His Excellency Lord Irwin, Viceroy visited the Khyber- Unveiling of Regimental War Memorial 28 January 1927 - Battalion Annual Inspection - Relieved By 5th Battalion The Rajputana Rifle (Napier’s) - Battalion Boarded train at Shahgai Railway Station 7 Secundrabad (1928-1931) 86 Battalion Marched from Daund to Secundrabad - Loads made for ease of Carriage - Quartermasters Team Proceeded in Advance - Dinner was Around 7 - Captain R.C. McCay, D.S.O., returned after successfully completing Staff Couse - Revised Furlough and Leave Rules for Indian Ranks -Officers and Junior Commissioned Officer’s Borne on strength of Battalion 1 January 1928 - Secundrabad Cantonment - Hyderabad is Monument of Love - Population of Hyderabad predominantly Hindus - Land Handed over free of Charge for Cantonment - British Residency powerful source of British influence - Secunderabad a typical Indian Cantonment - Mud Fort at Trimulgherry - Higher Rates of Furlough British Officers - New Leather Equipment - Commanding Officers Authorised to Transfer Indian Soldiers Prematurely to Reserve- Separate Banking Accounts to Be Maintained - Indian Officers and Indian Other Ranks Authorised Award for Passing Languages - Indian officers with honorary King’s Commissions - Secundrabad a Married Men Station - The Club - Battalion Organised a Ball