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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= The Bahawalpur Regiment
| image= Badge of Bahawalpur Regiment (1952-56).jpg
| image_size = 190
|caption=
|dates= 1952–1956
|country= {{flag icon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistan]]
|branch= [[File:Flag of Bahawalpur.svg|23px]] Bahawalpur State Forces {{Army|Pakistan}}
|type= Line Infantry
|role= Standard Infantry
|size=4 [[Battalion]]s
|command_structure=
|garrison=Dera Nawab Sahib
|garrison_label=Regimental Centre
|War Cry =
|War Cry_label=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=Rifle green; faced scarlet
|colors_label=Uniform
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=[[Second Sikh War]] 1848 [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]] [[Second Afghan War]] 1878-80 [[First World War]] 1914-18 ([[Sinai and Palestine Campaign#Palestine campaign begins|Egypt]], [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign#Palestine campaign begins|Palestine]]) [[Third Afghan War]] 1919 [[Second World War]] 1939-45 ([[Malayan Campaign|Malaya]])
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
}}The '''Bahawalpur Regiment''' was a regiment of [[Pakistan Army]]. The regiment was formed in 1952 from the infantry battalions of the erstwhile Princely State of [[Bahawalpur (princely state)|Bahawalpur]], which had acceded to [[Pakistan]] in 1947. In 1956, the Bahawalpur Regiment was merged with the Pakistan Army ( 4 battalions of infantry merged with Baloch Regiment,<ref name="Ahmad 2010">Ahmad, Lt Col RN. (2010). ''Battle Honours of the Baloch Regiment''. BRC.</ref><ref name="Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin 2000">Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin. (2000). ''History of the Baloch Regiment 1939-1956''. BRC.</ref> elements of artillery with 14 Field Regiment while Armour elements with 19 lancers)

==The Bahawalpur State Forces==
Bahawalpur was a semiautonomous [[Princely State]] within [[British India]], lying along the left bank of the [[River Sutlej]] in areas now comprising southwestern [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]. At the time of [[Partition of India|independence]] in 1947, it acceded to Pakistan.<ref name="Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin 2000"/>
The two senior battalions of Bahawalpur Regiment trace their origin to 1827, when the [[Nawab of Bahawalpur]] first organized his forces. In 1848, [[Bahawalpur (princely state)|Bahawalpur State]] actively supported the British war effort during the Second [[Sikh War]] with 7000 infantry and 2500 cavalry, who were engaged in operations near [[Multan]]. During the Great [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], Bahawalpur State troops aided the British "''in quelling mutinies in [[Oudh]], a Bahawalpur contingent of 1000 men occupying [[Sirsa, Haryana|Sirsa]] and maintaining quiet in the district''."<ref name="Beatson 1903">Beatson, Brig Gen S. (1903). ''A History of the Imperial Service Troops of Native States''. Calcutta: Superintendent of Government Printing, India.</ref> During the [[Second Afghan War]] of 1878–80, “''Five hundred men of the State Infantry and 100 [[sowar]]s were stationed at [[Dera Ghazi Khan]] and did useful service in strengthening the frontier posts vacated by regular regiments''.”<ref name="Beatson 1903"/>
In 1889, Bahawalpur State Forces were accepted as [[Imperial Service Troops]], and a small force of cavalry and infantry was placed at the disposal of the British for use in emergencies. However, in 1901, the force was disbanded and in its place, Bahawalpur raised a camel baggage train with an escort of mounted infantry, called the Bahawalpur Imperial Service Mounted Rifles and Camel Transport Corps, which would go on to become the 1st Bahawalpur Sadiq Battalion in 1924. In 1912, the colour of their uniform was [[khaki]] with green facings.<ref name="Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin 2000"/><ref name="Head, RW. 1981">Head, RW. (1981). ''The Bahawalpur Army''.</ref>

===The First World War===
During the [[First World War]], Bahawalpur State Forces, served in [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign|Egypt]], [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign#Palestine campaign begins|Palestine]], [[East African Campaign (World War I)|East Africa]], [[Mesopotamian Campaign|Mesopotamia]], [[North-West Frontier (military history)#1914–1918 (First World War)|Baluchistan]] and the North West Frontier of India.[[File:Bahawalpur Infantry Delhi 1903.jpg|thumb|right|Bahawalpur Infantry, Delhi, 1903.|350px]]
A detachment of 73 men from the Bahawalpur Mounted Rifles was sent to Egypt as reinforcement for the [[Alwar]] State Infantry Battalion with whom it served throughout the war; except briefly in 1915, when it served with the [[Bikaner Camel Corps]]. In February 1915, [[Turkey]] launched an attack on [[Suez Canal]] from Palestine. The detachment of Bahawalpur Mounted Rifles took part in reconnaissance of the Turkish advance and then pursuit of the retreating Turks after their attack was repulsed. It then served on line of communication during the British advance into Palestine, in the [[Third Battle of Gaza]] and the [[Battle of Megiddo (1918)|Battle of Megiddo]], which resulted in Turkish defeat. In Palestine, it operated in the [[Jordan Valley (Middle East)|Jordan Valley]] and took part in the capture of [[Amman]].<ref name="Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin 2000"/><ref name="Head, RW. 1981"/>
Meanwhile, the rest of the Camel Corps was dispatched to the [[Mesopotamian Campaign|Persian Gulf]] in November 1914 in support of the Indian Expeditionary Force. However, the detachment soon returned, as the camels were no longer required. In February 1915, a detachment of 38 men and 100 camels was sent to [[Jubaland]] in [[British East Africa]] but returned in November after the death of most of the camels. From May 1917 to January 1918, the Bahawalpur Camel Transport Corps operated with the [[South Waziristan]] Field Force against hostile [[Mahsud]] tribesmen, while between March and May 1918, it took part in [[Operations against the Marri and Khetran tribes|a punitive expedition against rebellious Marri and Khetran tribesmen]] in Baluchistan.<ref name="Head, RW. 1981"/>

===Post First World War===
In 1917, Bahawalpur State raised the Imperial Service Double Company, which was designated as 2nd Bahawalpur Household Infantry in 1922 and redesignated as 2nd Bahawalpur Haroon Infantry a year later. During the [[Third Afghan War]] of 1919, Bahawalpur Mounted Rifles and Camel Transport Corps operated in the [[Zhob]] Valley in Baluchistan. After the war, the Camel Corps was disbanded and the remaining elements eventually emerged as the 1st Bahawalpur Sadiq Battalion in 1924. In 1921, Bahawalpur joined the Indian State Forces Scheme, placing its two infantry battalions at the disposal of the Government of India. The '''Bahawalpur Infantry''' was mostly composed of Pashtuns from Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Lakki Marwat. Their uniforms underwent numerous changes, until settling for grey colour in 1930.<ref name="Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin 2000"/><ref name="Head, RW. 1981"/> Ceremonial headdress included the distinctive '[[fez (hat)|fez]]', which was unique to the Bahawalpur State Forces. The badges of Bahawalpur Infantry also underwent numerous changes but included the pelican as their central theme.<ref name="Poulsom and Ahmad 2011">Poulsom, Lt Col NW, and Ahmad, Lt Col RN. (2011). ''Uniforms & Devices of the Baloch Regiment''. Abbottabad: The Baloch Regimental Centre.</ref>

===The Second World War===
On the outbreak of the [[Second World War]], the Nawab of Bahawalpur placed his forces at the disposal of the British Government. In March 1941, the 1st Bahawalpur Infantry (Sadiq Battalion) was dispatched to [[British Malaya|Malaya]] in anticipation of impending hostilities with [[Japan]]. The battalion was deployed for the protection of airfields in [[Kedah]] in North Malaya. Following the Japanese invasion in December and their rapid advance, the battalion was forced to retreat towards [[Singapore]] with the rest of the British forces. On 15 February 1942, it was taken Prisoner of War at Singapore after the British surrender. Captain [[Mahmood Khan Durrani]] was awarded the [[George Cross]] for displaying outstanding courage, loyalty and fortitude during the harsh and brutal Japanese captivity. On repatriation after the war, the battalion was reformed in 1946.<ref name="Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin 2000"/>
Bahawalpur raised two more battalions in 1940 and 1944. The 4th Battalion was redesignated as 3rd Bahawalpur Light Infantry in 1946 on conversion of the 3rd Battalion into Training Centre. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions remained in India.<ref name="Head, RW. 1981"/>

==The Bahawalpur Regiment==

On [[Partition of India|independence]], Bahawalpur State acceded to Pakistan and in 1952, Bahawalpur Infantry was integrated into Pakistan Army as the '''Bahawalpur Regiment'''. The first and third Battalions were entirely composed of [[Pashtun]]s from [[Lakki Marwat]] and [[Dera Ismail Khan]] while the second and fourth Battalions were composed of Punjabi Muslims from Potohar along with local Baloch, Jat Muslim and [[Khokhar]] recruits. The Regimental Centre was based at Dera Nawab Sahib.<ref name="Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin 2000"/> Uniform of the new regiment was of rifle green colour with scarlet facings. Officers' winter mess kit was of French grey cloth with black cuffs and facings, and blue overalls. Cummerband was rifle green. Cap badge of gilding metal consisted of a pelican surmounted by a star and crescent, the whole surrounded by a date palm wreath, with a scroll below, inscribed 'Bahawalpur Regiment'. Backing for the cap badge was of circular maroon cloth. The lanyard was of maroon cord.<ref name="Poulsom and Ahmad 2011"/><ref>''Army Dress Regulations 1953''. Rawalpindi: Government of Pakistan.</ref>

In July 1948, 5th Bahawalpur Light Infantry was raised from Muslim officers and men of 2nd [[Patiala]] Infantry and the [[9th Jat Regiment]], who had opted for Pakistan. It was redesignated as 4 Bahawalpur in 1952 (Later 21 Baluch Regiment). In 1956, a major re-organization took place in Pakistan Army and the existing infantry regiments were amalgamated to form larger regimental groups. As a result, the Bahawalpur Regiment was merged with the Baluch Regiment. The new line up of Bahawalpur Infantry with its supporting artillery regiment was:<ref name="Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin 2000"/>
* 1st (Sadiq) Battalion The Bahawalpur Regiment - 8th Battalion The Baluch Regiment - 1st Abbasia
* 2nd (Haroon) Battalion The Bahawalpur Regiment - 9th Battalion The Baluch Regiment
* 3rd (Abbas) Battalion The Bahawalpur Regiment - 20th Battalion The Baluch Regiment
* 4th Battalion The Bahawalpur Regiment - 21st Battalion The Baluch Regiment
* 1st Bahawalpur Field Artillery Regiment- 14 Field Regiment Artillery

==Battle honours of the Bahawalpur Regiment==
*'''Battle honours awarded by the Governments of British India and Pakistan'''<ref name="Ahmad 2010"/><ref>Rodger, Alexander. (2003). ''Battle Honours of the British Empire and Commonwealth Land Forces 1662-1991''. The Crowood Press.</ref>
[[First Suez Offensive|Suez Canal]], [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign|Egypt 1915-17]], [[Third Battle of Gaza|Gaza]], [[Battle of Megiddo (1918)|Megiddo]], [[Battle of Megiddo (1918)|Nablus]], [[Palestine 1917–18]], [[North-West Frontier (military history)#1914–1918 (First World War)|NW Frontier, India 1917]], [[North-West Frontier (military history)#1914–1918 (First World War)|Baluchistan 1918]], [[Malayan Campaign#Defence of Johor|Johore]], [[Battle of Singapore|Singapore Island]], [[Malaya 1941–42]].
*'''Battle honours awarded by the Nawab of Bahawalpur'''<ref name="Ahmad 2010"/><ref name="Head, RW. 1981"/>
[[First Anglo-Afghan War|1st Kabul War 1837]], [[Second Sikh War|Multan Campaign 1848]], [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Mutiny 1857]], [[Second Afghan War|2nd Kabul War 1879]], [[First World War|Great War 1914-18]], [[East African Campaign (World War I)|East Africa 1915]], [[Mesopotamian Campaign|Mesopotamia 1915]], [[Mesopotamian Campaign|Persian Gulf 1916-18]], [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign|Jordan Valley 1918]], [[North-West Frontier (military history)#1914–1918 (First World War)|Waziristan 1917]], [[North-West Frontier (military history)#1914–1918 (First World War)|Marri Field Force 1918]], [[Third Afghan War|Afghanistan 1919]], Kot Sabzal 1930.

==See also==
* [[Baloch Regiment]]
* [[Bahawalpur State]]
* [[Imperial Service Troops]]
* [[List of Indian Princely States]]
* [[Indian Princely State]]
* [[Bahawalpur]]
* [[Mahmood Khan Durrani]], [[George Cross|GC]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Ahmad, Lt Col Rifat Nadeem. (2010). ''Battle Honours of the Baloch Regiment''. Abbottabad: The Baloch Regimental Centre.
* Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin. (2000). ''History of the Baloch Regiment 1939-1956''. Abbottabad: The Baloch Regimental Centre. {{ISBN|1-84574-094-7}}
* Beatson, Brig Gen S. (1903). ''A History of the Imperial Service Troops of Native States''. Calcutta: Superintendent of Government Printing, India.
* Durrani, MK. (1955). ''The Sixth Column'', London: Cassell.
* Head, Richard W. (1981). ''The Bahawalpur Army: A History of the Army’s Origins, Composition and Achievements''. (Manuscript).
* Riza, Maj Gen Shaukat. (1989). ''The Pakistan Army 1947-49''. Rawalpindi: Services Book Club.
* Rodger, Alexander. (2003). ''Battle Honours of the British Empire and Commonwealth Land Forces 1662-1991''. Ramsbury: The Crowood Press. {{ISBN|1-86126-637-5}}
* Shah, Brig SNA. (1959). ''Sadiqnamah: The History of the Bahawalpur State'', Lahore: Maktaba Jadeed.

==External links==
*[http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/ Indian Princely States Genealogy] ''[[Queensland University]]''
* [http://flagspot.net/flags/in-princ.html Flags of Indian Princely States]

{{Pakistan Infantry Regiments}}

[[Category:Former infantry regiments of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the princely states of India]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1952]]
[[Category:Bahawalpur (princely state)]]

Bahawalpur Regiment - Revision history

Bot at 23:20, 1 December 2022