39th Garhwal Rifles
Encyclopedia
The 39th Garhwal Rifles were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army
. They could trace their origins to 1887, when they were raised as the Aligarh Levy, but was disbanded after disgracing itself at the Rawalpindi Review in 1888.
In 1891, the 39th (The Garhwali) Regiment of Bengal Infantry was formed from the 2nd battalion 3rd Gurkha Rifles. In 1892, they were given the title of 'Rifles'. The second battalion was raised in 1901, making them apart from the Gurkhas, the only two battalion regiment in the Indian Army.
During World War I
both battalions were in the Garhwal Brigade, 7th (Meerut) Division
and suffered heavy casualties on the Western Front
. They were then sent to take part in they Mesopotamia Campaign. Two more battalions were raised during the war. The regiment was next in action during the Waziristan campaign 1919–1920
.
In 1921, they were titled the 39th Royal Garhwal Rifles. After World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments. In 1922, they were the only Indian Infantry regiment to remain intact without being amalgamated. They were renumbered 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles
with three active battalions and the 4th battalion becoming the 10th training battalion.
"during an attack on the German position Rifleman Gobar Singh Negi was one of a bayonet party with bombs who entered their main trench, and was the first man to go round each traverse, driving back the enemy until they were eventually forced to surrender. He was killed during this engagement."
His Majesty the KING-EMPEROR
has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned soldiers of the Indian Army for conspicuous bravery whilst serving with the Indian Army Corps, British Expeditionary Force: —
For great gallantry on the night of the 23rd-24th November, near Festubert
, France
, when the regiment was engaged in retaking and clearing the enemy out of our trenches, and, although wounded in two places in the head, and also in the arm, being one of the first to push round each successive traverse, in the face of severe fire from bombs and rifles at the closest
range.
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers:—
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Kot Kai (Waziristan), on the 2 January, 1920, when in command of a company holding an advanced covering position, which was repeatedly attacked by the Mahsud
s in greatly superior numbers.
For over four hours this officer maintained his position, repulsing three determined attacks, being foremost in the hand-to-hand fighting which took place, and repeatedly engaging the enemy with bomb and bayonet. His gallant leadership undoubtedly saved the situation and kept intact the right flank, on which depended the success of the operation and the safety of the troops in rear.
In the subsequent withdrawal, recognising that a diversion was necessary to enable the withdrawal of the company, which was impeded by their wounded, with a handful of his men he turned back and counter-attacked the pursuing enemy, and, with the rest of his party, was killed fighting to the last.
This very gallant act of self-sacrifice not only enabled the wounded to be withdrawn, but also averted a situation which must have resulted in considerable loss of life.
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
. They could trace their origins to 1887, when they were raised as the Aligarh Levy, but was disbanded after disgracing itself at the Rawalpindi Review in 1888.
In 1891, the 39th (The Garhwali) Regiment of Bengal Infantry was formed from the 2nd battalion 3rd Gurkha Rifles. In 1892, they were given the title of 'Rifles'. The second battalion was raised in 1901, making them apart from the Gurkhas, the only two battalion regiment in the Indian Army.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
both battalions were in the Garhwal Brigade, 7th (Meerut) Division
7th (Meerut) Division
The 7th Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army that saw active service during World War I.-Pre-Mutiny:The Meerut Division first appeared in the Indian Army List in 1829, under the command of Sir Jasper Nicolls, KCB...
and suffered heavy casualties on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. They were then sent to take part in they Mesopotamia Campaign. Two more battalions were raised during the war. The regiment was next in action during the Waziristan campaign 1919–1920
Waziristan campaign 1919–1920
The Waziristan campaign 1919–1920 was a military campaign conducted in Waziristan by British and Indian forces against the fiercely independent tribesmen that inhabited this region...
.
In 1921, they were titled the 39th Royal Garhwal Rifles. After World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments. In 1922, they were the only Indian Infantry regiment to remain intact without being amalgamated. They were renumbered 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles
18th Royal Garhwal Rifles
The 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, after the Indian government decided to reform the army moving away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments. They were they only Indian Infantry regiment to remain intact...
with three active battalions and the 4th battalion becoming the 10th training battalion.
Victoria Cross
- 'Gabar Singh Negi Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
was a RiflemanRiflemanAlthough ultimately originating with the 16th century handgunners and the 17th century musketeers and streltsy, the term rifleman originated from the 18th century. It would later become the term for the archetypal common soldier.-History:...
in the 2nd Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles, during World War I], and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 10 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
:
"during an attack on the German position Rifleman Gobar Singh Negi was one of a bayonet party with bombs who entered their main trench, and was the first man to go round each traverse, driving back the enemy until they were eventually forced to surrender. He was killed during this engagement."
- Darwan Singh Negi was among the earliest IndiaBritish RajBritish Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
n recipients of the Victoria Cross a NaikNaikNaik is an administrative title and surname derived from the Sanskrit word "vash" means to control. Naik is a surname attributed to the Anavil Brahmin caste.Naik may refer to:...
in the 1st Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles during World War I when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC, the citation was published in a supplement to the London GazetteLondon GazetteThe London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
of 4 December 1914 (dated 7 December 1914), and read:
His Majesty the KING-EMPEROR
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned soldiers of the Indian Army for conspicuous bravery whilst serving with the Indian Army Corps, British Expeditionary Force: —
For great gallantry on the night of the 23rd-24th November, near Festubert
Festubert
Festubert is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. The village was on the Western Front during the First World War and was largely destroyed in the May 1915 Battle of Festubert.-Geography:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, when the regiment was engaged in retaking and clearing the enemy out of our trenches, and, although wounded in two places in the head, and also in the arm, being one of the first to push round each successive traverse, in the face of severe fire from bombs and rifles at the closest
range.
- William David KennyWilliam David KennyWilliam David Kenny VC born Saintfield, County Down on 1 February 1899 was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
was a lieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 4the Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles during the Waziristan CampaignWaziristan campaign 1919–1920The Waziristan campaign 1919–1920 was a military campaign conducted in Waziristan by British and Indian forces against the fiercely independent tribesmen that inhabited this region...
,when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in a supplement to the London GazetteLondon GazetteThe London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
of 7 September 1920 (dated 9 September 1920):
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers:—
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Kot Kai (Waziristan), on the 2 January, 1920, when in command of a company holding an advanced covering position, which was repeatedly attacked by the Mahsud
Mahsud
Mahsud is a Pashtun tribe in South Waziristan, a tribal region in Pakistan. Mahsud are considered to be one of the bravest and toughest Pashtun Tribes. The Mahsud tribe lives in the centre of South Waziristan valley, surrounded on three sides by the Darwesh Waziris, and being shut off by the...
s in greatly superior numbers.
For over four hours this officer maintained his position, repulsing three determined attacks, being foremost in the hand-to-hand fighting which took place, and repeatedly engaging the enemy with bomb and bayonet. His gallant leadership undoubtedly saved the situation and kept intact the right flank, on which depended the success of the operation and the safety of the troops in rear.
In the subsequent withdrawal, recognising that a diversion was necessary to enable the withdrawal of the company, which was impeded by their wounded, with a handful of his men he turned back and counter-attacked the pursuing enemy, and, with the rest of his party, was killed fighting to the last.
This very gallant act of self-sacrifice not only enabled the wounded to be withdrawn, but also averted a situation which must have resulted in considerable loss of life.
Predecessor names
- 2nd Battalion, 3rd (Kamaon) Gurkha Regiment - 1887
- 39th (Garhwali) Bengal Infantry - 1890
- 39th (Garhwal Rifles) Bengal Infantry - 1892
- 39th Garhwal Rifles - 1903