This article on the 64th Pioneers will look at the role of the Regiment during the First World War and help you research those who served with it. I have also created a series of guides to help you research those who served with the Indian Army during the First World War:
The 64th Pioneers in the First World War
Lineage: Formed from independent companies at Madras in 1759 as the 5th Battalion of Coast Sepoys. Then in 1769, it became the 5th Carnatic Battalion and the 4th Carnatic Battalion in 1770. In 1784 the 4th Madras Battalion, the 1st Battalion 4th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry in 1796, the 4th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry in 1824 and then the 4th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry (Pioneers) in 1883. The 4th Regiment of Madras Infantry (Pioneers) in 1885 and the 4th Madras Pioneers in 1901. It was designated the 64th Pioneers in 1903 and became the 2nd Battalion 3rd Madras Pioneers in 1922.
Composition in 1914: 4 Companies of Tamils, 2 of Madrasi Muslims, 2 of Paraiyans and Christians. 1919: 2 Companies of Tamils, 1 Company of Madrasi Muslims, 1 Company of Paraiyans and Christians.
Location in July 1914: The 64th Pioneers was stationed at Mandalay in Burma, now Myanmar having arrived from Secunderabad, a city in the present day Indian state of Telangana, on 20 November 1913.
The 64th Pioneers was stationed at Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar) when the First World War began in August 1914. The Regiment was not mobilized to join one of the Indian Expeditionary Forces sent abroad in 1914 but instead remained in Burma where it served as part of the Burma Division. In 1915, the Regiment took part in the suppression of the Kachin Rising. The regimental history is the best source to consult for this forgotten frontier episode. By May 1915, the Regiment was reported to have had its Headquarters at Myitkyina, 340 miles northeast of Mandalay, where it was engaged on road making, with a detachment of four companies was at Shinboi and two at Pankhang. Its stay at Myitkyina was only to complete its work on the roads while its permanent station was at Mandalay. In December 1915, six of the Regiment’s eight companies were stationed at Mandalay and two at Thyetmyo. Mobilization orders for the Regiment came through in January 1916, with the 64th Pioneers to join Indian Expeditionary Force D in Mesopotamia, now Iraq.
The extract below was taken from the October 1914 Indian Army List and recorded the British officers serving with the Regiment. As the Indian Army List is full of jargon I have written a guide to help you: Indian Army Abbreviations and Acronyms.
Once the 64th Pioneers was mobilized you can turn to the Regiment’s war diaries to learn more about its activities and location. The Regiment arrived in Mesopotamia in late February 1916 where the Regiment served before moving to Persia, now Iran later in the war. The 64th Pioneers returned to India in 1920 and took part in the suppression of the Malabar Rebellion in 1921. In 1922, the 64th Pioneers was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion 3rd Madras Pioneers.
War Diaries of the 64th Pioneers
A war diary was written by an officer of a unit and recorded its location and activities. They often contain appendices in the form of orders, maps and reports which add even more information. There are nine good war diaries for the 64th Pioneers and all of the war diaries have been digitized. To download these war diaries for a small fee click on the blue links below which will take you to the National Archives’ website.
- Date: 07 August 1916 – 31 December 1916
- 3rd Indian Corps
- Reference: WO 95/5079/10
- Notes: A good war diary for a pioneer regiment. There are interesting ration statement tables showing the rations issued between March and September 1916. There is also a ration report which makes very interesting reading and I have transcribed part of it below. There is an appendix concerning the health of the 64th Pioneers which related to the ration table which was “compiled with a view of ascertaining if there was any special cause for the considerable amount of bowel complaint that has occurred in the regiment”. There is a chart showing the number of sick between March and September 1916. The final appendix shows a defence scheme and how it was to be carried out.
- Date: 01 January – 31 May 1917
- Army Troops
- Reference: WO 95/5002/1
- Notes: A good war diary with longer entries than is typically found. There are a few appendices including an account of “Closing of breach in the bund at Umm Mosahr (5 m S.W. of Baghdad)” with a map.
- Date: 31 May – 11 August 1917
- Army Troops
- Reference: WO 95/5002/2
- Notes: Another good war diary with a map of Mufraz Station and a “Report on work of the 64th Pioneers on Hinaidi-Baqubah Railway”.
- Date: 01 September – 19 December 1917
- Army Troops
- Reference: WO 95/5002/3
- Notes: A good war diary. There is a “Report on the work of B & C Companies 64th Pioneers on the Shahraban Railway extension” between 25 October and 28 November 1917. Also, a list of British and Indian officers serving with the 64th Pioneers on 31 December 1917.
- Date: 01 January – 31 May 1918
- Army Troops
- Reference: WO 95/5002/4
- Notes: Another good war diary. There is a “Report on Linking 4′ 8 1/2″ Gauge railway from Felujah [Fallujah] to Dhibban” and a list of British and Indian officers serving with the Regiment in January, February and March 1918.
- Date: 01 April – 30 September 1918
- Army Troops
- Reference: WO 95/5002/5
- Notes: A very good war diary with detailed entries. There are a variety of appendices with the most interesting detailing the rearrangement of the Regiment after the departure of the Sikh company in May 1918. Also, an appendix on company schools being established dated 22 June 1918 and a plan of Tikrit Railway Station. And a long report into the linking of the Baghdad to Hillah Railway between April and May 1918 with a map. British and Indian officers serving with the 64th Pioneers are recorded at the end of each month.
- Date: 01 October – 31 December 1918
- Army Troops
- Reference: WO 95/5002/6
- Notes: A good war diary with British and Indian officers serving with the 64th Pioneers recorded at the end of each month.
- Date: 01 January – 19 May 1919
- Army Troops
- Reference: WO 95/5002/7
- Notes: Another good war diary which recorded the British and Indian officers serving with the Regiment at the end of each month.
- Date: 01 July 1919 – 30 June 1921
- Persian Lines of Communications
- Reference: WO 95/5287/9
- Notes: A good war diary with some of the months recording the British and Indian officers serving the 64th Pioneers.
Further Sources for the 64th Pioneers
For information regarding the British and Indian officers who served with the 64th Pioneers, the Indian Army List can be consulted. An excellent resource for the Regiment is its annual confidential reports which also contain the annual reports of the British officers serving with it. However, when the Regiment was abroad only its Depot and the officers serving with it were reported on Confidential Reports on Regiments etc. The Regiment benefits from an excellent regimental history:
Baillie-KI-Paltan: Being a History of the 2nd Battalion, Madras Pioneers 1759-1930
by Lieutenant Colonel H. F. Murland. A monumental regimental history which is over 500 pages in length and covers the history of the Regiment in great detail. Of particular interest are the pages describing the Kachin uprising in 1915, and Moplah Rebellion of 1921, as there are no war diaries for these dates. There is an appendix detailing the pioneer work undertaken by the 64th Pioneers from 1883-1920. Another appendix provides a complete list of British officers who served with the Regiment, which is very detailed. A list of Indian Officers is also included, and for officers who served during the First World War, their war services are listed, as well as any honours, and when they were pensioned etc.
Extracts from War Diaries of the 64th Pioneers
The following extract was taken from WO 95/5079/10
Ration Report March to September 1916 64th Pioneers
Rice: This unit is a rice eating unit and the supply of rice has been a constant difficulty. It is only by continually pointing out to Supply Officers, that a rice eating unit expects to receive a rice ration and not an atta ration, that rice has been obtained as regularly as it has been up to Sept 21st. The 13th Division Supply Unit always issued a full ration of rice, when rice was available in the Advanced Supply Depot Shaik Saad.
As all units have drawn full ration ( 1 1/2 lbs) atta or rice daily the fact that there has been a difficulty in getting a regular and sufficient rice ration, proves that the wrong proportion of rice and atta has been sent up from Basrah. Another reason for shortage of rice, is, that rice has been issued to atta eating regiments in a proportion, which they did not require.
On several occasions in consequence, an arrangement has been made with an atta eating Regiment for exchanging atta for rice to the satisfaction of both units.
It stands to reason that by an issue of rice and atta in a proportion, which satisfied neither rice nor atta eaters should have been a matter of adjustment by the officer in command supplies and should not have been left to Regiments to exchange privately.
On drawing rations from the Advanced Supply Depot from September 21st 1916 we were informed that the scale of issue of rice and atta (when both were issued) was 4 oz. rice and 1 1/4 lbs of atta – as a special case the officer in command supplies increased the rice to 8 oz, atta 1 lb.
This being an insufficient proportion of rice, on representation being made by this unit to Deputy Director Supply and Transport 3rd Indian Army Corps, the matter was at once adjusted and it was explained that the restrictions on the issue of rice applied only to atta eaters and that the issue of 1 1/2 lbs rice was sanctioned.
Potatoes and vegetables: No systematic arrangements for the supply of vegetables during the hot weather appears to have been made above Amarah.
Garlic, Turmeric and Ginger: The irregular supply (at times) of these articles has been of little consequence.
Chilies: Chillies on the whole have not been of very good quality and any irregularity in their issue has been felt by Indian Ranks. Their issue was reduced from 1/6 to 1/12 on the recommendation of the medical authorities, who thought the issue of chilies had some connection with the prevalence of bowel complaints. This was only a temporary measure.