91st Punjabis (Light Infantry)

[1] The origin of the regiment can be traced back to 1759 when it was first raised as Irregular Troops of East India Company and was formed into a Battalion of "Coast Sepoys".

In 1887, the battalion was formed into SHWEBO BATTALION of UPPER BURMA POLICE and between 1887 and 1890 remained engaged in eliminating the rebels of SHWEBO area in Central Burma where it captured the WUNTHO SWABWA's DAH and SHEATH which later became part of its cap badge.

Subsequent to the reforms brought about in the Indian Army by Lord Kitchener in 1903, all former Madras units had 60 added to their numbers.

It moved to Mesopotamia in 1916 and participated in operations on both the Tigris and the Euphrates Fronts, including the First Battle of Ramadi.

In 1918, the regiment moved to Palestine and took part in the Battle of Megiddo, which led to the annihilation of Turkish Army in Palestine.During the war, the 91st Punjabis suffered 443 casualties including 185 killed.

On 9 August, the battalion embarked on active service during World War II as part of 8th Infantry Division and took part in numerous operations of Italian Campaign.3/8th Punjab fought with great gallantry in the Italian Campaign and suffered 1,289 casualties including 314 killed.

At the time of partition, in 1947, the 8th Punjab Regiment was stationed at Allahabad and was allocated to Pakistan Army.

In September 1947 Unit moved to Peshawar Under LT Colonel Raja Muhammad Sarwar.

The battalion returned from East Pakistan in 1950 and served at Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Chamman.

A monument in the memory of these Shaheeds stands at the Bank of BRBL at Main GT Road at Batapur.

Indian Officers of 1st Battalion 91st Punjabis (Light Infantry), Poona, 1920.
Sepoy 31st Regiment (Trichonopoly) Madras (Light) Infantry. Illustration by Richard Simkin, c. 1888.