Lineage: Raised by Major J. Jackson at Karachi in 1844 by the order of Sir Charles Napier as the Baluch Battalion or Sind Baluchi Corps. Then it became the 1st Balluch Battalion in 1846, the 1st Balluch Extra Battalion of Bombay Native Infantry in 1858, the 1st Baluch Regiment in 1859 and the same year the 1st Bombay Blauch Regiment. Then the 27th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, or 1st Baluch Regiment in 1861, then the 27th Regiment of Bombay Native (Light) Infantry or 1st Baluch Regiment in 1871, then the 27th Regiment of Bombay (Light) Infantry (1st Baluch Regiment) in 1885, the 27th Regiment of Bombay (Light) Infantry (1st Baluch Battalion) in 1888 and the same year changed again to the 27th (1st Baluch Battalion), Bombay Light Infantry. Then the 27th Baluch Light Infantry in 1901, the 127th Baluch Light Infantry in 1903, the 127th Princess of Wales’s Own Baluch Light Infantry in 1906 and the 127th Queen Mary’s Own Baluch Light Infantry in 1910.
Composition in 1914 : 2 Companies of Punjabi Musalmans, 3 of Mashuds, 3 of other Pathans. 1919: 1 Company of Punjabi Musalmans, 1/2 Companies of Mashuds, and 1/2 Companies of other Pathans.
Location in July 1914: The 127th Baluchis was stationed at Karachi [Sindh, Pakistan] having arrived from Poona [Pune, Maharashtra, India] on 28th February 1914.
War Diaries of the 127th Queen Mary’s Own Baluch Light Infantry
- Date: 01 August – 30 November 1917
- Hanforce, East Africa
- Reference: WO95/5320/8
- Notes: A very detailed war diary where British and Indian officers appear throughout. There are a few appendices, including a patrol report by Captain Lake. This war diary is available to download from the National Archives.
- Date: 01 December 1917 – 31 January 1918
- Lindi Force, East Africa
- Reference: WO95/5323/12
- Notes: Another detailed war diary. This war diary is available to download from the National Archives.
Further Sources for the 127th Queen Mary’s Own Baluch Light Infantry
Extracts from the War Diaries of the 127th Queen Mary’s Own Baluch Light Infantry
01 August – 30 November 1917, East Africa, WO95/5320/8
Unit embarked on HT Caronia on 16 August 1917 – sailed from Bombay 17 August 1917
21 September 1917 – Boma Position – 01.00 hours – Telephone line broke down and was not working again till 4.15 hours. Firing opened from column of fir
01 October 1917 – Nahungo – A sepoy was brought in by motor wounded in leg. This man was a left flanker on march on 30 September 1917 and was reported missing that night. States he was hit about 6pm on fatigue work on aerodrome.
04 October 1917 – 6.30 hours – Standing piquet of 1 NCO and 12 [other ranks] posted on ridge just North of Aerodrome. 7.0 hours. Unit marched to Nigerian Brigade Camp 2 1/2 miles West of present camp halting at Aerodrome. Unit settled into new camp and supplied guard and orderlies for G.H.Q.
06 October 1917 0 18.45 hours – In consequence of firing by a small party of Askaris near Lubawe Hill picquet, Subadar Mohd Gul, 50 rifles and 1 Lewis gun held in readiness to reinforce the picquet. Subsequently it was found that firing came from a party of 2 officers an some Askaris of the 2nd Battalion 3rd King’s Africa Rifles out on shikar [hunting].
01 December 1917 – 31 January 1918, East Africa, WO 95/5323
31 January 1918 – Dar es Salaam – An epidemic of malaria broke out on about 18 January 1918, reaching its crisis on 24 January 1918, and decreasing considerably during the last few days of the month. The average daily number of admissions to Field Hospital during the epidemic was 18.