2nd Battalion 4th Rajputs (Prince Albert Victor’s)

This article is about the short-lived 2nd Battalion 4th Rajputs (Prince Albert Victor’s) and will help you to research the Battalion and soldiers who served with it. I have written a separate article for the 1st Battalion 4th Rajputs (Prince Albert Victor’s) and a series of guides to researching soldiers who served in the Indian Army during the First World War. To view these guides click on the blue links below:

The 2nd Battalion 4th Rajputs (Prince Albert Victor’s) in the First World War

Lineage: The 2nd Battalion 4th Rajputs was formed at Agra (Uttar Pradesh, India) on 26 February 1918 and was disbanded on 11 March 1922. For a history of the Regiment’s lineage see my page on the 1st Battalion, 4th Prince Albert Victor’s Rajputs.

Class Composition of Battalion in 1919: 4 Companies of Rajputs. July 1921: 2 Companies of Rajputs from Uttar Pradesh, 1 Company of Punjabi Musalmans and 1 Company of Hindustani Musalmans.

The 2nd Battalion 4th Rajputs was formed at Agra (Uttar Pradesh, India) on 26 February 1918 and composed of 4 companies of Rajputs and initially served with the Agra Brigade. The first commanding officer was Acting Lieutenant-Colonel Howard Challoner Cutler, appointed on the 13th February 1918 from the 8th Rajputs. Major Cutler was a pre-war Indian Army officer who had served in the Tirah Campaign (1897-1898) on the North West Frontier, in China during the Boxer Rebellion (1900-01) and in Mesopotamia, now Iraq (July 1916 to January 1918) during the First World War. The majority of British officers who were appointed to serve with the new Battalion were either Indian Army officers on probation or from the Indian Army Reserve of Officers.

Below is an extract from the July 1918 Indian Army List which recorded the British officers serving with the 2nd Battalion 4th Rajputs. Only two officers, Major Cutler and Major Slater were pre-war career Indian Army officers. The rest were a mixture of Indian Army Reserve of Officers (I.A.R.O.), officers holding a Temporary Commissions (T.C.) or on probation (on prob.).British Officers 2nd Battalion 4th Rajputs WW1

The Battalion was inspected in early 1919 by Major-General Lionel Charles Dunsterville, Commanding Agra Brigade:

Previous to demobilisation this unit was over 2000 strong and the Officer Commanding was much handicapped in dealing with such large numbers. On the whole, good progress has been made but the unit will not be ready for war for at least 6 months. Individual training is well carried out and collective training is in progress; practice in fire direction and control is very much needed.

The report also contained the view of Major-General Oliver Stewart Wood Nugent, Commanding Meerut Division dated 20 August 1919:

The training of this battalion was in my opinion hampered and delayed owing to the battalion having been ordered to proceed on service in November 1918, 9 months after they were first formed. The result was that training was hurried on before the men were ready.

Confidential review reports on Indian Army units, depots, British officers, etc. for 1918-1919: IOR/L/MIL/7/17030

The Battalion served on the North West Frontier and in the April 1920 Indian Army List was recorded as being with the “Field Army” with its Depot at Agra. In the July 1921 Indian Army List, the Battalion was serving at Idak, Waziristan. Lieutenant-Colonel Cutler is still in command. The Battalion was disbanded on 11 March 1922.

War Diaries for the 2nd Battalion 4th Rajputs

Unfortunately, there are no war diaries for the 2nd Battalion 4th Rajputs.

Further Sources for the 2nd Battalion 4th Rajputs

For information regarding British and Indian officers who served with the 2nd Battalion 4th Rajputs, the Indian Army List should be consulted. Confidential reports for the Battalion are held at the British Library: Confidential Reports on Regiments etc. Though confidential reports for the years 1919-1920 and 1920-21 consist of the Depot only. These reports also contain confidential reports of the British officers serving with the Battalion for 1919-1920 and with the Depot for 1920-21.

Guides to Researching Soldiers who Served with the Indian Army

Guides to Researching Soldiers who Served with the British Army