102nd King Edward’s Own Grenadiers

This article looks at the 102nd King Edward’s Own Grenadiers and will help you research those who served with the Regiment during the First World War. I have also written an article on the war-raised 2nd Battalion 102nd King Edward’s Own Grenadiers and a series of guides to help you research soldiers who served in the Indian Army during the First World War:

102nd King Edward’s Own Grenadiers in the First World War

Lineage: Raised at Calicut (Kozhikode) by Captain D. Cameron as the 13th Battalion of Bombay Native Infantry in 1796. Then it became the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1797 and the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1798. Then the 2nd Battalion, 1st or Grenadier Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1818 and the 2nd or Grenadier Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1824. Then the 2nd (the Prince of Wales’s Own) Bombay Native Infantry (Grenadiers) in 1876, the 2nd (the Prince of Wales’s Own) Regiment of Bombay Infantry (Grenadiers) in 1885 and then the 2nd (Prince of Wales’s Own) Bombay Grenadiers in 1901. Then the 102nd Prince of Wales’s Own Grenadiers in 1903, the 102nd King Edward’s Own Grenadiers on 1 January 1906 and the 2nd Battalion 4th Bombay Grenadiers in 1922.

Composition in 1914: 2 Companies of Western Rajputana Jats, 2 of Bagri Jats and Jats from Eastern Rajputana, 2 of Rajputana Gujars and 2 of Punjabi Musalmans. 1919: 1 Company of Western Rajputana Jats, 1 Company Bagri Jats and Jats from Eastern Rajputana, 1 Company of Rajputana Gujars and 1 Company of Punjabi Musalmans.

Location in July 1914: The 102nd Grenadiers was stationed at Muscat (Oman) having arrived from Aurangabad (Maharashtra, India) on 3rd September 1913.

War Diaries of the 102nd Grenadiers

There are three war diaries for the 102nd Grenadiers and the first two war diaries covering the Regiment’s service in Mesopotamia have been digitized. To download these war diaries from the National Archives’ website for a small fee click on the blue links below.

  • Date: 27 October 1915 – 30 June 1916
  • 35th Indian Infantry Brigade, 14th Indian Division
  • Reference: WO 95/5176/4
  • Notes: A better than average war diary which includes many longer entries but lacks the detail found in some other diaries regarding the Kut-al-Amara relief attempts.
  • Date: 01 July – 30 November 1916
  • Tigris Defences and Communications, Mesopotamia
  • Reference: WO 95/5015/4
  • Notes: A good war diary during a period the 102nd Grenadiers were on the Lines of Communication, though very few British officers are mentioned.
  • Date: 01 December 1916 – 28 February 1919
  • 35th Indian Infantry Brigade, 14th Indian Division
  • Reference: WO 95/5176
  • Notes:

Further Sources for the 102nd King Edward’s Own Grenadiers

If you are researching a British or Indian officer who served with the 102nd King Edward’s Own Grenadiers, then you can consult the Indian Army List for information regarding their career.

Extracts from War Diaries of the 102nd King Edward’s Own Grenadiers

01 July – 31 November 1916, Mesopotamia, WO 95/5015/4

July 1916 – Ali Gharbi – All available time to the end of the month was now devoted to infantry drill, training of signalers and machine gunners etc. The drafts, which have been detained at Basra and on the Lines of Communication for, in some cases, over 4 months, and which have largely been employed during that time as coolies, have apparently forgotten the best part of the drill taught them in India during the present short period of training as recruits.

30 September 1916 – Ali Gharbi – The detachment at Omidiyeh has been unable so far to commence musketry training owing to the political authorities delaying approval of site for range. Strength effectives at HQ and on detachment: British officers, Indian officers 8. Indian other ranks 660.∗ I am unable to day where the remainder of men are ie D.A.A.G. 3 Echelon informed me on 2 September that strength of the regiment was I.O. 14, I.O.R. 1129. This requires some explanation.

31 October 1916 – Ali Gharbi – The garrisons of No.7 and 8 posts were relieved on the 21st. There was a large proportion of scurvy cases amongst the relieved garrison of No.8 post owing to the non-supply of vegetables.

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