2nd Battalion 151st Indian Infantry

This article on the 2nd Battalion 151st Indian Infantry aims to help you research this war-raised Battalion and those served with it. I have written separate articles for the other two Battalions of the Regiment and guides to help you research soldiers who served in the Indian Army:

The 2nd Battalion 151st Indian Infantry

Lineage: Formed on 20 May 1918 at Kohat and was disbanded 31 July 1920.

Class Composition of Battalion in 1919: 2 1/2 Companies of Punjabi Muslims, 3/4 of a Company of Dogras, 1/4 of a Company of Jat Sikhs, and 1/2 a Company of Malwai Sikhs.

War Diary of the 2nd Battalion 151st Indian Infantry

  • Date: 30 May 1918 – 31 January 1919
  • 29th Infantry Brigade, 10th Indian Division, Egyptian Expeditionary Force
  • Reference: WO 95/4581
  • Notes: The war diary starts with a very detailed account of the formation of the 2nd Battalion 151st Indian Infantry, and goes on to provide a good account of the Battalion’s activities. There is a detailed account of the part the Battalion took in the Battle of Megiddo in September 1918 including a list of British officers present.

Extracts from War Diary of the 2nd Battalion 151st Indian Infantry 

30 May 1918 – 31 January 1919, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, WO 95/4581

30 May 1918 – Sarona North East of Jaffa, Palestine – The 2nd Battalion 151st Indian Infantry Regiment Field Force was formed, by the concentration at the 28 Brigade Dump in the 7 Indian Divisional Area, of companies from the following Regiments:

51st Sikhs Frontier Force… 53rd Sikhs Frontier Force, 56th Punjabi Rifles Frontier Force… One company of the 1st Battalion 54th Sikhs Frontier Force had not then arrived, but was to report on arrival to the Regiment in the 10 Division…

 6) Men were transferred to their new units for the period of the war and were to receive fresh Regimental numbers. Blocks of numbers from one to eleven hundred (1-1108) were allotted to the Regiment. The Depot was to commence numbering from eleven hundred and one (1101).

7) Three (3) civilian clerks were to be sent from India, but in the meantime two (2) British clerks were to join up at the place of concentration.

8) Each company to take four (4) cooks two (2) bhisties and two (2) sweepers, to be replaced by reinforcements as soon as possible.

02 June 1918 – Surafend – Two British clerks :- No. 11770 Lance Corporal H. Smith. No. 204442 Private T. Kinnock. Both of the 1st Seaforth Highlanders reported their arrival for duty.

05 June 1918 – Surafend – Arrangements were made for all men to have a bath and to have their clothes disinfected from 8 am to 1 pm daily at no. 24 Sanitary Section, Ludd. This was to start on the 6 June and continue to the 10 June.

01 July 1918 – The Line Battalion Headquarters near Kefr Ai Hill – Very little shelling today … Yesterday 3 high bursting shrapnel were reported as having burst near shedideh (Ghedideh) hill our extreme right position (Battalion). The times were 03.00 hours and 18.30 hours. Probably a signal intended to announce to the Turks near the times of fasting and eating.

14 July 1918 – Line – Hundreds of explosions heard from behind Turkhah ridge last night. Cause unknown.

03 September 1918 – Umm Suffah and Jibia – 3 Extra Lewis guns issued to Battalion. They will work with the 12 Battalion scouts and be in action under orders of officer commanding. At other times the guns will remain at Battalion HQ and their personnel in their respective companies. These 3 teams and the Battalion scouts will be trained both as Lewis gunners and as scouts.

11 November 1918 – Camp near Surafend – It is officially announced that GERMANY has surrendered unconditionally and that hostilities ceased at 11.00 this morning.

Guides to Researching a Soldier who Served with the Indian Army

Guides to Researching a Soldier who Served with the British Army