This article is about the 3rd Battalion 153rd Rifles and will help you to research both the Battalion and those soldiers who served with it during the First World War. I have also written guides to the 1st and 3rd Battalions:
NB: The 3rd Battalion was designated 153rd Rifles while the 1st and 2nd Battalions were designated 153rd Punjabis. The 3rd Battalion is sometimes referred to as the 3rd Battalion 153rd Punjabis.
The 3rd Battalion 153rd Rifles
Lineage: Formed at Surafend, Palestine in May 1918 and disbanded on 24 June 1922.
Class Composition of Battalion in 1919: 1/2 a Company Konkani Mahrattas, 1/4 of a Company Dekhani Mahrattas, 1/4 Company Dekhani Muslims, 2 1/2 Companies of Punjabi Muslims, and 1/2 a Company of Rajputana Jats.
The 3rd Battalion 153rd Rifles was one of eighteen new Indian infantry battalions formed in the Middle East during 1918. These new battalions were created from drafts from existing Indian infantry regiments to replace British battalions which left for the Western Front. This was in consequence of the large casualties sustained by the British Army in the German Spring Offensive which began in March 1918. The 3rd Battalion 153rd Rifles was formed at Surafend, Palestine in May 1918 from drafts from the following regiments:
- One Company 105th Mahratta Light Infantry
- One Company 123rd Outram’s Rifles
- One Company 2nd Battalion 124th (The Duke of Connaught’s Own) Baluchistan Infantry
- One Company 125th Napier’s Rifles
Once formed, the Battalion joined the 158th Infantry Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division, Egyptian Expeditionary for the closing stages of the Palestine Campaign. The Battalion saw action at the Battle of Megiddo in September 1918 and remained in the Middle East after the end of the war. In 1919, the 3rd Battalion 153rd Rifles joined the 232nd Brigade, 75th Division. The Battalion served in Mesopotamia in 1920 and on returning to India was disbanded on 24 June 1922.
The extract below is taken from the July 1919 Indian Army List and records the British officers serving with the 3rd Battalion 153rd Rifles. The Indian Army List is a great resource to use to research British and Indian officers and individual units. I’ve written a guide to help you cut through all the military jargon: Indian Army Abbreviations and Acronyms.
War Diaries of the 3rd Battalion 153rd Rifles
There are three war diaries for the 3rd Battalion 153rd Rifles and they can only be viewed at the National Archives. I have transcribed some entries from the diaries at the bottom of the page.
- Date: 24 May 1918 – 31 March 1919
- 158th Infantry Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division, Egyptian Expeditionary Force
- Reference: WO 95/4627
- Notes: A very good war diary. Typed from 13 September 1918. British and Indian officers are mentioned throughout. There is a list of British officers with the Battalion on 12 October 1918. A handful of appendices, the most interesting being an account General Allenby’s visit to the Battalion on 31 October 1918.
- Date: 01 April – 30 November 1919
- 232nd Brigade, 75th Division, Egyptian Expeditionary Force
- Reference: WO 95/4689
- Notes: A typed war diary. There are daily entries but most are very brief. British and Indian officers are mentioned throughout.
- Date: 14 August 1920 – 31 January 1921
- 76th Indian Infantry Brigade, 6th Indian Division, Mesopotamia
- Reference: WO 95/5126
- Notes: A very good war diary which has the benefit of being typed. British and Indian officers mentioned throughout. There is a list of British and Indian Officers who embarked on SS Cooeyanna on September 1920 with their company.
Further Sources for the 3rd Battalion 153rd Rifles
If you are researching either a British or Indian officer who served with the 3rd Battalion 153rd Punjabis, the Indian Army List can be consulted. Unfortunately, there was no regimental history published for the 153rd Punjabis. There are two confidential reports for the Battalion’s Depot which also include the reports of the British officers serving with the Depot:
- Collection 405/26 Review reports on certain units of Indian Army 1920-1921: IOR/L/MIL/7/17032.
- Confidential review reports on Indian Army units, depots, British officers, etc. for 1919-1920: IOR/L/MIL/7/17031
Extracts from War Diaries of the 3rd Battalion 153rd Rifles
24 May 1918 – 31 March 1919, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, WO95/4627
24 May 1918 – Surafend – Formation of 3rd Battalion 153rd Rifles. One Company from 1st Battalion 123rd Outram’s Rifles reported their arrival consisting of… One Company from 125th Rifles reported their arrival…
01 June 1918 – Surafend – One Company from 105th Mahratta Light Infantry joined the Battalion…
06 June 1918 – Decided that the Natalina shall wear a distinguishing badge ? a 4″ black square worn diamond wise on the back of the left sleeve. British officers to wear 1/8″ black piping to show above helmet puggry. Rifle drill abolished and infantry customs adopted.
01 April – 30 November 1919, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, WO 95/4689
Appendix A
On 14th July 1919, the day appointed for general rejoicing for the signing of the peace, a triumphal march was under taken by the troops at Mansourah. The Regiment led the column, troops presented arms and gave three cheers at British, Italian, Greek, French and Belgium Consulates respectively, and fired three rounds. A sum of LE [Egyptian Pounds] 10 per company was given from funds for Burra Khana [entertainment].
14 August 1920 – 31 January 1921, Mesopotamia, WO 95/5126
14 August 1920 – Bombay – Orders received to mobilize for Field Service Mesopotamia… An epidemic of influenza and malaria was effecting the Regiment and the number in Hospital at this time as about 60. Strength of Regiment in Bombay at this time was British Officers 4. Indian Officers 18. Indian Other Ranks 587. 2 Indian Other Ranks absent over 60 days struck off strength.
17 August 1920 – Bombay – Subadar Sita Ram Goade complimented on his presence of mind and prompt action in saving men from drowning off Butcher Island.
01 September 1920 – Bombay – 50 Indian Other Ranks arrived on transfer from 105th Mahrattas Light Infantry the only draft received from our link Battalions.
18 September 1920 – Arrived Basra 8.30 am – Disembarked and proceeded at 11 am to M Camp Makina, 4 miles by rail: grass and mud huts and comfortable quarters with electric lights and fans for the British Officers. 22 Indian Other Ranks and 1 Follower evacuated to Hospital.
02 October 1920 – Nasiriyah – Last night enemy fired on posts No. 1=2 and, Gorringe Gate. Machine Gunners in No. 2 Post retaliated, as also did the men in No. 1 and 2 Posts. Enemy quiet after. Patrol send out to look for enemy -dead or alive – but nothing found.
12 October 1920 – Nasiriyah – Last night enemy estimated at 40-50 approached to within about 70 yards of No. 8 post under cover of bund, shouting and cheering. He then opened rapid fire on to the camp at Bridge Head, and then retired still shouting. Feet marks seen, and empty cartridge cases (15) picked up this morning. Ambush laid for enemy from 19.00 hours but no Arabs appeared. Weather suddenly became much cooler: fans not needed.
09 November 1920 – A larger party than usual arrived in front of No.11 post at about 23.15 last night. They fired heavily on to Right Bank… Arabs called out in Hindustani to our men telling them to leave this country and let the Arabs have it.