This article is about the 16th Rajputs (The Lucknow Regiment) and will help you to research the Regiment and those who served with it during the First World War. I have also written a series of guides to help you to research soldiers who served in the Indian Army during the First World War. To view the guides click on the blue link below:
The 16th Rajputs (The Lucknow Regiment) in the First World War
Lineage: Formed at Cawnpore (Kanpur) by Colonel H. Palmer ”from the faithful remains of the 13th, 48th and 71st Bengal Native Infantry” in 1857. It became the 16th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in 1861 and the 16th (The Lucknow) Bengal Native Infantry in 1864. Then the 16th (The Lucknow) Bengal Infantry in 1885 and the 16th (The Lucknow) Rajput Bengal Infantry in 1897. In 1903 it became the 16th Rajput Infantry (The Lucknow Regiment) and the 10th Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment in 1922.
Class Composition of Battalion in 1914: 8 Companies of Rajputs. 1919: 4 Companies of Rajputs.
Location in August 1914: The 16th Rajputs was stationed at Fort William, Calcutta (Kolkata, West Bengal, India), having arrived from Jubbulpore (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India) on 23rd April 1914.
The 16th Rajputs (The Lucknow Regiment) was stationed at Fort William, Calcutta when the First World War began in August 1914. The Regiment remained in India until it moved to Persia (Iran) in 1917 but the 16th Rajputs did send large drafts abroad including to the 2nd Queen Victoria’s Own Rajput Light Infantry, 7th Duke of Connaught’s Own Rajputs and 11th Rajputs. In the April 1920 Indian Army List, the 16th Rajputs was stationed at Lucknow. In 1922, the 16th Rajputs (The Lucknow Regiment) became the 10th Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment. The 10th Battalion was the training battalion of the 7th Rajput Regiment. The extract below records the British officers serving with the 16th Rajputs in the October 1914 Indian Army List.
War Diary of the 16th Rajputs (The Lucknow Regiment)
There is only one war diary for the Regiment which can only be viewed at the National Archives. I have a copy of the war diary and have transcribed some entries below.
- Date: 01 March 1921 – 30 November 1921
- 10th Indian Infantry Brigade: Waziristan Force
- Reference: WO 95/5400
- Notes: A short war diary, where very little happens and many days are simply noted as “Situation Normal”. Good entries which explain the problems the 16th Rajputs faced when trying to catch raiders.
Further Sources for the 16th Rajputs (The Lucknow Regiment)
A very good source of information for the Regiment are its confidential reports held at the British Library: Confidential Reports on Regiments etc. These reports also contain the annual confidential reports of the British officers serving with the Regiment. For information regarding the British and Indian officers who served with the 16th Rajputs, the Indian Army List should be consulted.
Extracts from War Diary of the 16th Rajputs
01 March 1921 – 30 November 1921, Waziristan Force, WO 95/5400
7 March 1921 – 08.00 – Manzai – Information received of a raid on the camel convoy between Manzai and Khirgi: Moveable column under Captain W. E. Day proceeded at once in Ford Vanettis to the scene of the raid and followed up the raiders engaging them at 2000 yards. Two more platoons sent out to reinforce at 13.20 hours. By 14.30 hours touch was lost with the raiders and the Moveable Column returned together with the other two platoons at 16.30 hours.
19 March 1921 – Manzai – Report received from Chaisan Kach picquet that a party of raiders was approaching the Cavalry Picquet at Chaisan Kach. Moveable Column sent out in Ford Vanettis under Captain W. A. Blyde D.C.M. fire was opened at 2000 yards from Lewis Guns: raiding party broke away to the North: Two platoons were sent out at 13.30 hours under Captain E. A. Thornton to try and intercept the raiders but saw no sign of them and were recalled at 16.30 hours. The Moveable Column was recalled at 15.30 hours.
22 March 1921 – 12.30 hours – Manzai – Manzai – Khirgi Camel Convoy attacked by large gang of raiders half way between Manzai and Khirgi. Raiders engaged by a Lewis gun under No. 3421 Lance-Naik Sumai Singh 16th Rajputs who were patrolling between Manzai and Khirgi: owing to the fire of the Lewis gun patrol the raiding gang left part of their loot and made off: Lance-Naik Sumai Singh reports 3 enemy casualties.
On receipt of the news in Manzia the Moveable Column under Captain W. A. Blyde was at once sent out but were unable to get within the range of the raiders who retired into the hills west of Maziana Khiri village. The Moveable Column was recalled at 15.30 hours.