36th Jacob’s Horse

This article will look at the 36th Jacob’s Horse and will give you an overview of the Regiment’s service during the First World War and help you to research a soldier who served with the Regiment. I have written other guides to help you research those who served in the Indian Army:

The 36th Jacob’s Horse in the First World War

Lineage: Raised by Captain J. Jacob in 1846 as the 2nd Regiment of Scinde Irregular Horse and became the 2nd Regiment of Scinde Horse in 1860. Then the 9th Regiment, Scinde Silladar Cavalry in 1861 before reverting to its previous designation the same year. In 1885 became the 6th Bombay Cavalry (Jacob-ka-Risallah) in 1885, the 6th Bombay Cavalry (Jacob’s Horse) in 1888 and the 36th Jacob’s Horse in 1903. The Regiment was amalgamated with the 35th Scinde Horse to form the 35th/36th Cavalry in 1921 and became the 14th Prince of Wales’s Own Scinde Horse in 1922.

Composition in 1914: 2 Squadrons of Derajat Muslims and Baluchis, 1 of Pathans and 1 of Sikhs.

Location in July 1914: The 36th Jacob’s Horse was stationed at Cawnpore (Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India) having arrived from Ambala (Haryana, India) on 11 January 1912.

The 36th Jacob’s Horse was stationed at Cawnpore, now Kanpur, when the First World War broke out in August 1914. The Regiment had been inspected by Major-General G. A. Cookson, Commanding Lucknow (Cavalry) Brigade on 12 December 1913 who reported the following:

Turn-out: Very Good.

Efficiency in drill : Very satisfactory, a most marked improvement. Equitation very satisfactory.

Manoeuvre: Works well and quietly at manoeuvres, and the combination of ‘fire’ with ‘shock’ tactics is intelligently appreciated, but requires more constant practice in brigade.

Musketry: Satisfactory. A marked improvement in control of fire and fire discipline.

General efficiency: A very fine regiment, fit for active service.

Confidential review reports on Indian Army units for 1913-1914IOR/L/MIL/7/17023

War Diaries of the 36th Jacob’s Horse

There are four war diaries for the 36th Jacob’s Horse and the first two war diaries have been digitized by the National Archives. To download these war diaries for a small fee click on the first two blue links below. The other two war diaries can only be viewed at the National Archives.

  • Date: August 1914 – December 1916
  • 1st Indian Cavalry Division, Lucknow Cavalry Brigade
  • Reference: WO 95/1174/4
  • Notes:
  • Date: January 1917 – March 1918
  • 4th Cavalry Division, Lucknow Cavalry Brigade
  • Reference: WO 95/1161/5
  • Notes:
  • Date: March – July 1918
  • 1st Mounted Division, 8th Mounted Brigade
  • Reference: WO 95/4509
  • Notes:
  • Date: August 1918 – March 1920
  • 4th Cavalry Division, 11th Cavalry Brigade
  • Reference: WO 95/4514
  • Notes:

Further Sources for the 36th Jacob’s Horse

The best source of information concerning the 36th Jacob’s Horse and the British officers who served with it are its confidential reports held at the British Library: Confidential Reports on Regiments etc. However, when the 36th Jacob’s Horse was abroad only its Depot and the British officers who served with it were reported on.

For information regarding the British and Indian officers who served with the 36th Jacob’s Horse, the Indian Army List can be consulted.

Regimental History: Prince of Wales’s Own, The Scinde Horse by Colonel E. B. Maunsell. A very good history which has been reprinted and is easily obtainable online.

Guides to Researching Soldiers who Served with the Indian Army

Guides to Researching Soldiers who Served with the British Army