This article looks at the 31st Punjabis 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 articles about how to research soldiers who served in the Indian Army during World War One. To view these guides click on the blue link below:
The 31st Punjabis in the First World War
Lineage: Raised by Captain G. C. Bloomfield at Ferozepore in 1857 as Van Cortlandt’s Levy and designated the 23rd Regiment of Punjab Infantry the same year. In 1861 the Regiment became the 35th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry and then the 31st Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. Then the 31st (Punjab) Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in 1864 and the 31st (Punjab) Regiment of Bengal Infantry in 1885. Then the 31st Punjab Infantry in 1901, the 31st Punjabis in 1903 and in 1922 became the 2nd Battalion 16th Punjab Regiment.
Class Composition of Battalion in 1914: 4 Companies of Sikhs, 2 of Dogras and 2 of Punjabi Muslims. 1919: 2 Companies of Sikhs, 1 Company of Dogras and 1 Company of Punjabi Muslims.
Location in 1914: The 31st Punjabis was stationed at Fort Sandeman (Zhob, Baluchistan, Pakistan), having arrived from Nowshera on 29th November 1912.
The 31st Punjabis was an Indian infantry regiment which was stationed at Fort Sandeman when the First World War began in August 1914. The 31st Punjabis served with the 4th (Quetta) Division as Divisional Troops before the Regiment was mobilized for service in Mesopotamia (Iraq) in the winter of 1915. The 31st Punjabis left India at Kiamari (Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan) 9 December 1915 and arrived at Basra, Mesopotamia on the 16 December. On arrival, the 31st Punjabis joined the 34th Indian Infantry Brigade which was part of the 15th Indian Division in which it served between December 1915 and August 1917. The extract below was taken from the October 1914 Indian Army List and recorded the British officers serving with the Regiment.
There is a war diary covering the Regiment’s service with the 15th Indian Division but it is very poor with little detail. The 31st Punjabis moved to Hakika soon after arrival where it stayed until mid-August 1916 when it moved to Khamisiyah. The Regiment subsequently moved to Tel el-Lahm on 19 December 1916 and then to Nasiriyah on 14 January 1917. The 31st Punjabis moved to Magil on 5 April 1917 and then to Amara on 13 May 1917. During the period the 31st Punjabis spent with the 15th Indian Division very little happened.
In September 1917, the 31st Punjabis joined the 34th Indian Infantry Brigade, 17th Indian Division and there is a war diary covering its service between September 1917 and September 1918. The 31st Punjabis moved to Baghdad on 9 September 1917 and marched to the Iron Bridge Camp where they joined the 34th Indian Infantry Brigade. The Regiment remained at the Iron Bridge Camp until it moved to Sadiyah on 26 October 1917 and where they remained until mid-December. For the Regiment’s location for 1918 onwards it’s best to turn to the war diary as it is constantly on the move.
In October 1918, the 31st Punjabis joined the 83rd Infantry Brigade, 28th Division which was part of the Allied forces occupying Turkey following the Armistice of Mudros. In March 1919, the 31st Punjabis joined the 85th Infantry Brigade, 28th Division and was stationed at Buyuk Dere, Constantinople (Istanbul) where, apart from brief interludes, it remained for the duration of the year. The Regiment returned to India either in late 1920 or early 1921 and was at Peshawar in the July 1921 Indian Army List. In 1922 the 31st Punjabis became the 2nd Battalion 16th Punjab Regiment.
War Diaries of the 31st Punjabis
There are four war diaries for the 31st Punjabis and the first two have been digitized by the National Archives. To download these two war diaries for a small fee click on the first two blue links below which will take you to the National Archives’ website The last two war diaries haven’t been digitized and can only be viewed at the National Archives. I have copies of all war diaries and have transcribed some entries below.
- Date: 9 December 1915 – 30 August 1917
- 34th Indian Infantry Brigade, 15th Indian Division, Mesopotamia
- Reference: WO 95/5195/4
- Notes: A poor war diary with very little detail where the majority of months are written on a single page.
- Date: 01 September 1917 – 30 September 1918
- 34th Indian Infantry Brigade, 17th Indian Division, Mesopotamia
- Reference: WO 95/5209/2
- Notes: Another poor war diary with very brief entries. There are lists of British officers serving with 31st Punjabis at the end of each month between March and August 1918.
- Date: 01 October 1918 – 28 February 1919
- 83rd Infantry Brigade, 28th Division
- Reference: WO 95/4915
- Notes: A poor war diary where the vast majority of days have no entry and all the months are written on a single page. There is a list of 10 British officers who were attached to the 31st Punjabis on 27 October 1918.
- Date: 01 March 1919 – 30 November 1919
- 85th Infantry Brigade, 28th Division
- Reference: WO 95/4922
- Notes: Another poor war diary in which very little occurred during the 31st Punjabis stay at Buyuk Dere, Turkey. British and Indian officers are mentioned throughout.
Further Sources for the 31st Punjabis
The good source of information for the Regiment and the British officers who served with it 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. However, when the 31st Punjabis was abroad only its Depot and the British officers serving with it were reported on. For information regarding the British and Indian officers who served with the 31st Punjabis, the Indian Army List should be consulted.
The gravestone of Sepoy Mohammed Ayub of the 31st Punjabis, who is buried in the Haidar Pasha Cemetery, Istanbul, Turkey.
Extracts from War Diaries of the 31st Punjabis
01 March 1919 – 30 November 1919, WO 95/4922
26 September 1919 – Buyuk Dere – No. 4707 Sepoy Channan Singh D Company was tried and convicted by S.C.M. Charge – voluntary causing grievous hurt to a person subject to military law; I.A.A. Section 42. Under arrest pending trial from 1 September 1919. Sentence- To suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months [see 05 November 1919 below].
03 September 1919 – Buyuk Dere – 652 Sepoy Nur Mohd. B Company was tried and convicted by S.C.M. on 3 October 1919. Charge – Being grossly insubordinate to his superior officer in the execution of his office. I.A.A. Section 28. Sentence – To suffer rigorous imprisonment for three months.
29 October 1919 – Buyuk Dere – 64 Sepoy Dulla Singh D Company was tried and convicted by S.C.M. Charge – An act prejudicial to good order and military discipline, in that he, at Rumeli Kavak on 27 October 1919 was found in possession of one bottle of spirits. I.A.A. 39(i). Sentence – To suffer rigorous imprisonment for two months.
05 November 1919 – Buyuk Dere – General G. F. Milne C-in-C Army of the Black Sea in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by the I.A.A. passed the following orders in the case of 4707 Sepoy Channan Singh D Company who was tried and convicted by S.C.M. on 26 September 1919. “I remit 3 months of the sentence which will be put into execution”.
22 November 1919 – Buyuk Dere – Summary General Court Martial on 12 November 1919. Charge – Using criminal force on his superior officer, knowing him to be such I.A.A. Sec 27 (d). Under arrest pending trial 23 October 1919. Sentence – To suffer rigorous imprisonment for 6 months. Sentence confirmed by G.O.C. 85 Infantry Brigade.
30 November 1919 – Buyuk Dere – The Commanding Officer regrets to announce that Captain K. R. Scott M.C. 31st Punjabis attached Political Department, Mesopotamia was killed by Kurds near Akra East of Mosul on November 3rd.