This article will give you an overview of the 67th Punjabis during the First World War and help you research those who served with it. I have written a separate article for the 2nd Battalion 67th Punjabis and a series of guides to help you research those who served with the Regiment:
The 67th Punjabis in the First World War
Lineage: Raised at Trichinopoly in 1761 as the 8th Battalion of Coast Sepoys. In 1769 it became the 8th Carnatic Infantry and the 7th Carnatic Battalion in 1770. Then in 1784 the 7th Madras Battalion and the 1st Battalion 7th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry in 1796. Then the 7th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry in 1824 and the 7th Regiment of Madras Infantry in 1885. Then the 7th Madras Infantry in 1901, the 67th Punjabis in 1903 and the 1st Battalion 2nd Punjab Regiment in 1922.
Composition in 1914: 4 Companies of Punjabi Muslims, 2 Companies of Sikhs (other than Jats and Mazbis) and 2 Companies of Punjabi Hindus. 1919: 2 Companies of Punjabi Muslims, 1 Company of Sikhs (other than Jats and Mazbis) and 1 Company of Punjabi Hindus.
Location in August 1914: The 67th Punjabis was stationed at Loralai (Balochistan, Pakistan) having arrived from Quetta (Balochistan, Pakistan) on 15th August 1914.
The 67th Punjabis was preparing to move from Quetta to Loralai when the First World War began in August 1914. The extract below was taken from the October 1914 Indian Army List and recorded the British officers serving with the Regiment. The Indian Army List is a great resource to use to research both officers and regiments of the Indian Army and I have written a guide to help you with its jargon: Indian Army Abbreviations and Acronyms.
In 1922 the 67th Punjabis was redesignated as the 1st Battalion 2nd Punjab Regiment.
War Diaries of the 67th Punjabis
- Date: 01 October 1915 – 30 November 1915
- Detachment, 34th Indian Infantry Brigade, 6th (Poona) Division, Mesopotamia
- Reference: WO95/5125/9
- Notes: A good war diary with British and Indian officers, and Indian Other Ranks mentioned throughout. This war diary has been digitized and is available to download from the National Archives’ website.
- Date: 06 March 1915 – 30 April 1916
- 30th Indian Infantry Brigade, 12th Indian Division, Mesopotamia
- Reference: WO95/5146/11
- Notes: A good war diary, which provides plenty of information regarding the activities of the 67th Punjabis. Entries for 1916 tend to be shorter. The only appendices are a diagram by Brigade major showing positions of 12th Brigade before the action of the 24 July 1915 commenced. (not to scale), along with map issued by General Staff, 12 Division, Scale 2″ – 1 mile. This war diary has been digitized and can be downloaded from the National Archives’ website.
- Date: 01 May 1916 – 31 December 1916
- Tigris Defences and Communications
- Reference: WO95/5018/9
- Notes: This war diary has been digitized and can be downloaded from the National Archives’ website.
- Date: 01 January 1917- 30 September 1918
- 37th Indian Infantry Brigade, 14th Indian Division, Mesopotamia
- Reference: WO95/5181/3
- Notes: A detailed war diary, with a large number of appendices including a 4-page account of the recapture of Kut-al-Amara on 24 February 1917. There are nominal rolls of British officers serving with the 67th Punjabis from December 1917 to September 1918.
- Date: 01 October 1918 – 30 November 1919
- 82nd Infantry Brigade, 27th Division
- Reference: WO95/4896
- Notes:
Further Sources for the 67th Punjabis
There is a regimental history History of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment Late 67th Punjabis, and Originally 7th Madras Infantry by Colonel N. Ogle and Lieut. Colonel H.W.Johnston which has been reprinted by the Naval & Military Press. A short regimental history giving an overview of the 67th Punjabis from their 18th-century origins until after the First World War. Appendices include battle honours, a roll of British officers 1902-1928, a roll of British officers attached during the war, and honours and awards 1915-1920 (though no citations are given).
Extracts from War Diaries of the 67th Punjabis
06 March 1915 – 30 April 1916, Mesopotamia, WO 95/5146
12 April 1915 – Ahwaz – The enemy’s artillery shelled our camp from direction of the sand hills from 5.30 am to 12.30 pm, our guns replied with good effect. No.1 Double Company manned the fire trenched, the remaining three Double Companies went into the reserve trenched. The enemy’s aiming mark was apparently the funnels and smoke of our ships in the river, the majority of shells falling into the old perimeter camp. No casualties in camp with the exception of one man slightly wounded, not of this regiment.
01 October 1915 – 30 November 1915, Mesopotamia, WO 95/5125
12 October 1915 – En Route to Kurna – Regiment embarked and sailed for Kurna at 7.15 am in thirty-one lake bellums (holding from 10- 35 men with stores). Strength of Regiment, 7 British Officers, 15 Indian Officers, 1 Sub-Assistant Surgeon, 1 Interpreter, 403 Rank and Files, 11 Private Followers, 30 Public Followers, 8 Officers Charges, 12 Machine Gun Mules.
24 November 1915 – No. 1016 Sepoy Ilm Din sentenced to 20 lashes for insubordination.