| 8th Punjab Regiment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1922 - 1956 |
| Allegiance |  British India (1922 - 47) Pakistan (1947 - 56) |
| Branch |  British Indian Army Pakistan Army |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Regimental Centre | Lahore |
| Uniform | Drab; faced blue |
| March | God Bless the Prince of Wales |
| Engagements | Second Poligar War 1801 Second Anglo-Maratha War 1803-05 Travancore War 1808-09 Third Anglo-Maratha War 1817-19 Third Kandy War 1818 First Burma War 1824-26 Naning War 1831-32 Coorg War 1834 Second Burma War 1852-53 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Second Afghan War 1878-80 Rampa Rebellion of 1879 Third Burma War 1885-87 Upper Burma 1890-96 Manipur Expedition 1891 The Boxer Rebellion 1900 First World War 1914-18 (France & Flanders,Egypt,Palestine,Gallipoli,Mesopotamia, Aden,Salonika,Russia) Third Afghan War 1919 Iraqi Revolt 1920 Second World War 1939-45 (Italy,Iran,Iraq,Burma,Malaya,French Indochina,Dutch East Indies) Kashmir War 1948 |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | King Edward VIII |
| Colonels of the Regiment | General SirEdward Quinan Brigadier Fazal Ur Rahman Kallue |
The8th Punjab Regiment was aregiment of theBritish Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred toPakistan Army onPartition of India in 1947 and merged with theBaluch Regiment in 1956.
The 8th Punjab Regiment had its origins in theMadras Army, where its first battalion was raised atMasulipatam in 1798. Four more battalions were raised in 1799-1800. In 1824, they were designated as the 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd and 33rd Regiments of Madras Native Infantry. In the early 19th century, these battalions were engaged in fighting theMarathas and took part in a number of foreign expeditions including theAnglo-Burmese Wars. Between 1890 and 1893, they were reconstituted with Punjabi Muslims andSikhs as Burma Battalions and permanently based inBurma to police the turbulent Burmese hill tracts. Under theKitchener Reforms of 1903, they were redesignated as the89th,90th,91st,92nd Punjabis, and93rd Burma Infantry. They were delocalized from Burma before theFirst World War.[1]
Only 2/89th Punjabis of the wartime raisings was retained after the post-war reforms.[2]
The 8th Punjabis have a most distinguished record of service during the First World War. Their long list of honours and awards includes the Victoria Cross awarded to NaikShahmed Khan of 89th Punjabis in 1916. The 89th Punjabis had the unique distinction of serving in more theatres of war than any other unit of theBritish Empire. These included Aden, where they carried out the first opposed sea-borne assault landing in modern warfare, Egypt, Gallipoli, France, Mesopotamia,North-West Frontier Province, Salonika and RussianTranscaucasia.[3] All battalions served in Mesopotamia, while 93rd Burma Infantry also served in France. The 92nd Punjabis were made 'Prince of Wales's Own' in 1921 for their gallantry and sacrifices during the war.[1]
In 1922, the five battalions along with the war-raised 2/89th Punjabis were united to form the 8th Punjab Regiment:[1]
The new class composition of the 8th Punjab Regiment was Punjabi Muslims, Sikhs and Hindu Gujars.Chinthe - the mythical Burmese lion-dragon guardian of Buddhist pagodas was chosen as its new emblem. The uniform was of drab colour with blue facings. In inter-war period, the Regiment saw extensive service on theNorth West Frontier of India.[1]
During theSecond World War the 8th Punjab Regiment again distinguished itself, suffering more than 4500 casualties. It was awarded two Victoria Crosses to HavildarParkash Singh and SepoyKamal Ram, besides numerous other gallantry awards. The regiment raised a further nine battalions. Two of its battalions, the 1st and 7th, were captured onSingapore Island, when theBritish CommonwealthArmy surrendered there to the Japanese on 15 February 1942. Four battalions fought in theBurma Campaign, while others saw service inIraq,Iran,Italy,French Indochina and theDutch East Indies. Two men from the 8th Punjab Regiment received the Victoria Cross: HavildarParkash Singh in Burma and SepoyKamal Ram in Italy. By the end of the war, the Regiment consisted of 14 Battalions. However, most of the war-raised units were disbanded in 1946 except the 6th and 8th Battalions.[1]
In 1947, the 8th Punjab Regiment was allocated toPakistan, and Sikhs and Gujars were exchanged with Hindustani Muslims from units allotted toIndia. In January 1948, 6th Battalion was disbanded, only to be re-raised in October along with the 9th Battalion, in response of the Kashmir War with India. In 1956, the eight battalions of 8th Punjab Regiment were merged with the Baluch Regiment. Their new designations were:[1]
Cochin,Maheidpoor,Ava,Afghanistan 1878-80,Burma 1885–87,China 1900,Loos,France and Flanders 1915,Macedonia 1918,Helles,Krithia,Gallipoli 1915,Suez Canal,Egypt 1915,Megiddo,Sharon,Palestine 1918,Tigris 1916,Kut al Amara 1917,Baghdad,Khan Baghdadi,Mesopotamia 1915–18,Afghanistan 1919,The Trigno,Perano,The Sangro,Gustav Line,Monte Grande,The Senio,Italy 1943-45,North Malaya,Jitra,Gurun,Kampar,Malaya 1941–42,Donbaik,North Arakan,The Shweli,Myitson,Kama,Burma 1942–45.[4][5]
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| Azad Kashmir Regiment |
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| Baloch Regiment |
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| Frontier Force Regiment |
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| Northern Light Infantry |
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| Punjab Regiment |
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| Sindh Regiment |
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| Special Forces | ||||
| Former regiments | ||||