This article on the short-lived 2nd Battalion 98th Infantry aims to help you research the Battalion and those who served with it during the First World War. I have written a separate article on 1st Battalion 98th Infantry and also a series of guides to help you research soldiers who served in the Indian Army during the war. The links below will take you to the guides:
- Guide to the 1st Battalion 98th Infantry
- Guides to Researching Soldiers who Served in the Indian Army
The 2nd Battalion 98th Infantry in the First World War
Lineage: The 2nd Battalion 98th Infantry was formed at Jubbulpore (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India) on 20 January 1918 and disbanded on the 15 March 1921. For a history of the Regiment’s lineage see my page on the 1st Battalion 98th Infantry.
Class Composition of Battalion in April 1919: 1 Company of Rajputs, 1 Company of Hindustani Muslims and 2 Companies of Ahirs.
The 2nd Battalion 98th Infantry was a short-lived Indian infantry battalion formed at Jubbulpore (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India) on 20 January 1918. The Battalion’s first commanding officer was Acting Lieutenant-Colonel William Ogilvie Grant who was appointed from the 127th Baluchistan Light Infantry on 24 January 1918. The Battalion served in the Jubbulpore Brigade, 5th (Mhow) Division. In the Battalion’s confidential report for 1918-1919, Major-General George Vere Kemball, Commanding 5th (Mhow) Division reported:
I inspected this Regiment 3rd and 4th October 1918, and again on 17th February 1919. It has improved a good deal and is quite a satisfactory new unit and fit for service. It is recruited from the Western United Provinces and nine-tenths of the men are Ahirs who are of satisfactory physique and are keen. Some 200 men have been raised and trained in this unit since its formation. The results are creditable to the Commandant Lt.-Col. W. O. Grant.
Confidential review reports on Indian Army units, depots, British officers, etc. for 1918-1919: IOR/L/MIL/7/17030
The 2nd Battalion 98th Infantry served at Quetta (Balochistan, Pakistan) and in East Persia during the Third Anglo-Afghan War from July 1919 having been mobilized at Ambala (Haryana, India). Unfortunately, there are no war diaries for the Battalion which served overseas into 1920. While the Battalion was overseas its Depot was at Jubbulpore. The 2nd Battalion 98th Infantry was disbanded on 15 March 1921. The extract below was taken from the April 1919 Indian Army List which recorded the British officers serving with the Battalion. 
War Diaries of the 2nd Battalion 98th Infantry
Unfortunately, there are no war diaries for the 2nd Battalion 98th Infantry.
Further Sources for the 2nd Battalion 98th Infantry
For information regarding British and Indian officers who served with the 2nd Battalion 98th Infantry, the Indian Army List can be consulted. There is only one confidential report for the Battalion, however, it is detailed. This report also contains the annual confidential reports of the British officers serving with it: Confidential review reports on Indian Army units, depots, British officers, etc. for 1918-1919: IOR/L/MIL/7/17030.