This article on the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry will provide you with an overview of the Regiment’s service during the First World War and help you research those who served with it. I have written a series of guides to help you research soldiers who served in the Indian Army during the war which you can read by clicking the link below:
The 110th Mahratta Light Infantry in the First World War
Lineage: Raised at Calicut (Kozhikode) in 1797 as the 2nd Battalion, 5th (or Travancore) Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, it became the 10th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1824 and the 10th Regiment of Bombay Native (Light) Infantry in 1871. Then the 10th Regiment of Bombay (Light) Infantry in 1885, the 10th Bombay Light Infantry in 1901 and the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1903. In 1922 became the 3rd Battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry.
Composition in 1914: 4 Companies of Dekhani Mahrattas, 2 Companies of Konkani Mahrattas and 2 Companies of Dekhani Musalmans. 1919: 2 Companies of Dekhani Mahrattas, 1 Company of Konkani Mahrattas and 1 Company of Dekhani Musalmans.
Location in July 1914: The 110th Mahratta Light Infantry was stationed at Belgaum (Belagavi, Karnataka, India) having arrived from Ahmednagar (Maharashtra, India) on 19th October 1910.
The 110th Mahratta Light Infantry was stationed at Belgaum, now Belagavi, when the First World War began in August 1914. The Regiment was inspected by Brigadier-General Charles Irwin Fry earlier in the year who reported:
Turn-out: Good.
Efficiency in drill: Satisfactory. Bayonet fighting satisfactory.
Personnel: Good.
General efficiency: A smart battalion and in a very satisfactory condition. Well commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel G. S. Frazer.
Confidential review reports on Indian Army units for 1913-1914: IOR/L/MIL/7/17023.
The extract below was taken from the October 1914 Indian Army List which recorded the British officers serving with the Regiment.
The 110th Mahratta Light Infantry sailed from Bombay on the Hired Transport Ekma on 6 November 1914 as part of Indian Expeditionary Force D, destined for Mesopotamia (Iraq). The Regiment served with the 18th Indian Infantry Brigade of the 6th (Poona) Division and saw extensive action during the first year of the Mesopotamia Campaign. There are two main sources of information for this period, the Regiment’s war diary and the Historical Record 110th Mahratta Light Infantry During the Great War 1914-1918 which I have discussed in the sources section of this article.
The 110th Mahratta Light Infantry’s first battle on the war was the Action at Zain on 17 November 1914 and they fought in nearly every major battle between November 1914 and November 1915. The Regiment was still part of the ill-fated 6th (Poona) Division which was checked by the Turkish Army at Ctesiphon between 22 and 25 November 1914 as it tried to capture Baghdad. The Division retreated to the town of Kut-al-Amara where it was besieged between 7 December 1914 and 29 April 1916 when it capitulated. The survivors of the garrison, including hundreds of men of the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry, were marched off into captivity where thousands died due to ill-treatment. There is a list of Indian prisoners of war at the British Library which contains hundreds of names from the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry.
After the fall of Kut-al-Amara, a composite Mahratta Battalion was formed from drafts and returning sick and wounded from the 103rd, 110th and 117th Mahratta Light Infantry. Back in India, a 2nd Reserve Battalion Mahrattas was formed from the Depot of the 110th and 117th Mahratta Light Infantry. This was a short-lived affair as both the 110th and 117th Mahratta Light Infantry were reformed in the summer of 1917. The newly reformed 110th Mahratta Light Infantry moved to Karachi, where between February and May 1918, half of the Regiment took part in the Marri Field Force.
In May 1918, the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry left Karachi for Suez, where it joined the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. The Regiment served with the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade, Desert Mounted Corps between May 1918 and February 1919. The Regiment left Egypt in March 1919 and arrived back at Belgaum on 28 March 1919. The 110th Mahratta Light Infantry took part in the Third Afghan War (6 May – 8 August 1919) and became the 3rd Battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1922.
War Diaries of the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
There are four war diaries for the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry but as of January 2018, only the first war diary has been digitized. To download this war diary for a small fee click on the first blue link below which will takey you to the National Archives’ website. The other war diaries can only be seen at the National Archives though I have copies of them all and have transcribed some entries below.
- Date: 06 November 1914 – 31 October 1915
- 18th Indian Infantry Brigade, 6th (Poona) Division, Mesopotamia
- Reference: WO 95/5124/4
- Notes: A good war diary with detailed accounts of the actions the 110th Mahrattas took part in. Indian other rank casualties are recorded with regimental numbers up until the end of December 1914. There are a large number of appendices, mostly concerning orders with a few sketch maps (one of Ali-al-Gharbi).
- Date: 11 May 1918 – 28 February 1919
- 20th Indian Infantry Brigade, Desert Mounted Corps, Egyptian Expeditionary Force
- Reference: WO 95/4478
- Notes: Another detailed war diary. Entries for 1919 are shorter, as to be expected in a post-war diary. Indian other ranks with regimental numbers are mentioned throughout. The only appendix is a short account on the unveiling of the “Arabic national flag over the town [of Es Salt] on 30 October 1918.
- Date: 01 July – 31 August 1919
- Line of Communication Defence, Peshawar Area, North-West Frontier Force
- Reference: WO 95/5392
- Notes: A poor war diary with brief entries usually relating to the number of Indian other ranks evacuated to hospital.
- Date: 1 May 1921 – 28 February 1922
- Waziristan Force: 10th Indian Infantry Brigade
- Reference: WO 95/5400
- Notes:
Further Sources for the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
A good source of information for the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry are the confidential reports for the Regiment held at the British Library: Confidential Reports on Regiments etc. These also contain the confidential reports of the British officers serving with the Regiment. However, when the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry was abroad only its Depot and the British officers serving with it are reported on. For information regarding the British and Indian officers who served with the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry, the Indian Army List should be consulted.
There is a list of Indian officers and men taken prisoners of war by the Turks up until 1917 which contains a large number of men of the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry. The list is at the British Library but I can’t find its catalogue number! I have a copy.
There is a regimental history: Historical Record 110th Mahratta Light Infantry during the Great War which was reprinted by the Naval & Military Press in 2007. This is a good regimental history providing plenty of detail, including the experiences of prisoners taken by the Turks following the fall of Kut-al-Amara. Appendices include a Roll of Honour and British and Indian officers casualties sustained during the war including place. Other ranks not included, except the number of casualties sustained. Honours and Awards, with three Indian Order of Merit citations.
Extracts from War Diaries of the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
06 November 1914 – 31 October 1915, Mesopotamia, WO 95/5124/4
06 November 1914 – 3.30 pm – Bombay – The Regiment sailed in T.S.S. Ekma for the Persian Gulf. Strength as under:- Dekhani Mahrattas 384, Konkani Mahrattas 197, Musalmans 208, other castes 32. 821. Making a total of British Officers 11, Indian officers 18, Sub-assistant Surgeon 1, Rank and File 802. The extra numbers were due to the first reinforcement being present with the Regiment. The Regiment was 7 men short owing to 1 deserter, 2 sick transferred ashore, 4 left behind accidentally.
17 November 1914 – 6 am – Force consisting of 16 and 18 Brigades left camp for Sahill. Midday. After a fatiguing march owing to sticky sand, enemy were reported to be occupying position between Old Fort and Zain. 110th Mahrattas ordered to form a reserve to Norfolks and 7th Rajputs. They were under rifle and shrapnel fire for about 2 hours without being able to fire themselves.
20 November 1914 – Sahill – Owing to the bursting of a hand grenade the following men on patrol duty were wounded [three names]
09 February 1915 – Kurna – 3.30pm – Destroyed the house of the old Sheikh Salem by order of the governor. Salem, Sheikh of Zobaish [?], having shown Turkish sympathies was deposed by order of the government and his brother ? installed in his place. The latter was murdered (by order of Salem whose influence was still strong) by Ali who escaped.
11 May 1918 – 28 February 1919, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, WO 95/4478
20 August 1918 – 73 Havildar Gopal Bagwe tried by Summary Court Martial, was arraigned on following charge:- In that he whilst in charge of a working party fell asleep. Found guilty and sentenced to be reduced to the ranks. Sepoy Krishna Jairam, Regimental Mochi to the 29th Cavalry for instruction in repairing saddlery.
7 September 1918 – Pay drawn by Captain J. A. T. Seed at Jericho. 1311 Sepoy Shaikh Ismail reported missing. Last seen going South towards Wadi Nimrin with towel and lota, without any arms, equipment or coat.