END OF THE GREAT WAR—THIRD AFGHAN WAR
During the siege large drafts for the Battalion had collected with the
relieving force, including Lieut.-Colonel Rodney-Anderson, who had been
appointed Commandant, Lieutenants R. D. E. Darell, E. J. D. McElwaine, A.
H. Dobbs, T. M. Graves, 2nd-Lieutenants Lechler and Mahoney, Indian Army
Reserve of Officers. The first-named died in hospital, and Lieutenants
Dobbs and Graves were killed in action with the relieving force. The
men were all attached to the 82nd Punjabis (now 5th Battalion 1st
Punjab Regiment) and the 92nd Punjabis throughout the operations of the
relieving force.
On January 1st, 1917, the Depot of the Battalion received orders to
expand to a battalion and reform the 76th, the drafts in Mesopotamia
being returned to assist in the making up of numbers. Lieut.-Colonel W.
L. Malcolm, from the 31st Punjabis, was appointed to command in March,
and the Regiment moved to Chaman for garrison duty there. In November a
nucleus was sent to join the new 2nd Battalion of the Regiment which was
being raised at Nasirabad. This Battalion eventually did good service on
the frontier in 1919-20 in the Waziristan and Mahsud Campaigns, being
mentioned in despatches. Several officers of the 76th served in it and
it was demobilized in September, 1922, some of the officers and men
rejoining the 1st Battalion.
Lieut.-Colonel L. A. Watson, from the 74th Punjabis, took over command
on February 1st, 1918, and in the same month the Battalion moved to Dera
Ismail Khan and thence to Tank, leaving a depot at the former place. In
June Major J. F. Woodham returned from service and took command.
The Regiment remained at Dera Ismail Khan and Tank, from time to time
holding the outposts.
While at Tank two-thirds of the Regiment were at one time in hospital
with Spanish influenza, of which sixty-four died. In December, 1918,
and January, 1919, the released Kut prisoners of war rejoined and were
at once sent off to their homes on furlough. The numbers that rejoined
were 8 Indian officers, 183 non-commissioned officers and men, and 17
followers.
The following battle honours were granted to the Regiment for the Great
War:—
“Suez Canal,”
“Egypt, 1915,”
“Shaiba,”
“Kut-al-Amarah, 1915,”
“Ctesiphon,”
“Defence of Kut-al-Amarah,”
“Mesopotamia, 1915-18,”
and the undermentioned decorations were granted to officers and men of
the 76th:—
Commander of the Order of the British Empire 1
Distinguished Service Order 5
Order of the British Empire 2
Military Cross 1
Order of British India, 1st Class 1
Order of British India, 2nd Class 5
Indian Order of Merit, 2nd Class 14
Indian Distinguished Service Medal 53
Foreign Orders 4
Meritorious Service Medal 9
Mentions in Despatches 101
and four Indian officers were given Honorary King’s Commissions.
On war being declared on Afghanistan the Battalion was in Dera Ismail
Khan with a company at Jandola, three platoons in other outposts, and
one at Tank. A large draft was received from the 87th Punjabis. Various
detachments were sent out to reinforce threatened points from time to
time.
[Sidenote: Siege of Jandola.]
During May, as many of the Waziristan Militia deserted and the tribesmen
had risen, it became imperative to evacuate many of the posts held by the
Militia, and the result was that the company under Captain Anderson and
Lieutenant Proctor in Jandola became isolated and surrounded by large
numbers of hostile tribesmen.
Owing to the forethought and energy of the commander, the reserve water
tanks in the fort had been filled, providing water for twelve days, and
there were twenty-six days’ rations available. The water supply was cut
off by the tribesmen on May 28th, on which day the siege of Jandola
commenced.
On the 29th the enemy opened fire on the main fort and pushed in an
attack on a detached tower held by a party under Havildar Bari Sher,
by whom he was driven off. That night the fort was attacked, as also
was the detached tower, no less than three times, but all attacks were
repulsed. Communication was interrupted the next day except by means
of friendly Bhittanis. Heavy attacks were again made during the night
May 31st/June 1st. The men now suffered greatly from thirst, as water
was strictly rationed to two water-bottles a day, and the heat was very
great. Many attempts were made to obtain water, but the enemy had all
sources of supply accurately covered by fire. Bhisti Gurditt Singh, with
great gallantry and although wounded, several times succeeded in bringing
in water under fire, for which he was later awarded the Indian Order of
Merit.
Continual sniping took place day and night, and several further attacks
took place, but were in each case driven off with loss. On June 9th the
Movable Column arrived and raised the siege, and the garrison were
relieved and rejoined the Battalion. The casualties were:—Indian other
ranks, 1 died of wounds and 1 wounded, and 1 follower wounded.
Captain Anderson was awarded the Military Cross for the able manner in
which he had defended the post. Two Indian Orders of Merit and two Indian
Distinguished Service Medals were awarded to men of the Regiment, and
seven officers and men were mentioned in despatches for services in the
Afghan Campaign.
The complete Battalion concentrated in Tank in July, and remained there
till the end of August, finding escorts for convoys, and dealing with
raiders. In September it moved to Khirgi, where a month was spent working
on defences and roads, attempting to round up Mahsud raiders, and day
piqueting. Several men died of cholera.
By October 3rd the Battalion had concentrated at Darya Khan. The men left
for their homes on furlough preparatory to proceeding to Palestine, and
headquarters was despatched by rail to Dhond.
For its services on the frontier the Battalion was granted the battle
honour “Afghanistan, 1919,” and General Service Medal, India, 1908,
with clasps, “Afghanistan, North-West Frontier, 1919,” and “Waziristan,
1919-21.”