39th Garhwal Rifles

The 39th Garhwal Rifles was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army.

39th Garhwal Rifles
Active1887–1922
Country British India
Branch British Indian Army
TypeInfantry
Part ofBengal Army (to 1895)
Bengal Command
UniformGreen; faced black
EngagementsWorld War I
Waziristan campaign 1919–1920

History
Typical Garhwal riflemen (Estaire La Bassée Road, France). Photographer- H. D. Girdwood. (13875264813)

The regiment was first raised in 1887 as the Aligarh Levy but was disbanded after disgracing itself at the Rawalpindi Review in 1888.[1] 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". A second battalion was raised in 1901, making the regiment the only two battalion regiment in the Indian Army, except for the Gurkhas.[2]

During World War I both battalions were assigned to the Garhwal Brigade, which formed part of the 7th (Meerut) Division. Initially they were sent to Europe and in the early part of the war, suffered heavy casualties on the Western Front. The regiment was then sent to the Middle East take part in the Mesopotamia Campaign. Two more battalions were raised during the war. The regiment was next in action during the Waziristan campaign 1919–1920.

In 1921, the regiment was renamed as the "39th Royal Garhwal Rifles". During this time, the Indian government reorganized the structure of its infantry regiments, moving from single battalion regiments to multi-battalion regiments.[3] In 1922, the 39th RGR was the only non-Gurkha Indian infantry regiment to remain intact and not be amalgamated. They were subsequently renumbered the 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles, consisting of three active battalions.[4] The existing 4th Battalion was retitled the 10th Training Battalion.

Victoria Cross recipients
Indian officers, 39th Garhwalis (Estaire La Bassée Road, France). Photographer- H. D. Girdwood. (13875608644)
Officers of the 39th Garhwalis (Photo 24-241)

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Indian troops only became eligible for the award in 1911. Three members of the regiment won the award:

  • Darwan Singh Negi was among the earliest Indian recipients of the Victoria Cross. A Naik 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 Gazette of 4 December 1914 (dated 7 December 1914) and read:

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.[5]

His award was gazetted on the same date as that of Sepoy Khudadad Khan, But Negi considered the first Indian VC winner.[6]

During an attack on the German position Rifleman Gabar 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.[8]

  • William David Kenny was a lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles during the Waziristan Campaign when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 7 September 1920 (dated 9 September 1920):[9]

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Kot Kai (Waziristan), on 2 January 1920, when in command of a company holding an advanced covering position, which was repeatedly attacked by the Mahsuds 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

See also

References
  1. "Armed Forces: Units: Indian Infantry: 39th Garhwali Rifles". British Empire. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  2. "Gabar Singh Negi: Story of First WW Victoria Cross recipient". The Indian Hawk | Indian Defence News. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  3. Sumner 2001, p. 15.
  4. Moberly 1997a, p. 403.
  5. "No. 28999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 December 1914. p. 10425.
  6. Haythornthwaite 1996, p. 244
  7. Edmonds & Wynne 1927, p. 94.
  8. "No. 29146". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 April 1915. p. 4143.
  9. "No. 32046". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 September 1920. pp. 9133–9134.

Sources
  • Barthorp, Michael; Burn, Jeffrey (1979). Indian Infantry Regiments 1860–1914. Osprey. ISBN 0-85045-307-0.
  • Edmonds, J. E.; Wynne, G. C. (1995) [1927]. Military Operations France and Belgium, 1915: Winter 1914–15 Battle of Neuve Chapelle: Battles of Ypres. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. I (IWM and Battery Press reprint ed.). London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-89839-218-7.
  • Haythornthwaite, Philip J. (1996). The World War One Source Book. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-351-7.
  • Moberly, F. J. (1997a) [1923]. The Campaign in Mesopotamia 1914–1918, Outbreak of Hostilities: Campaign in Lower Mesopotamia. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents, Compiled at the Request of the Government of India, under the Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. I (Imperial War Museum & Battery Press repr. ed.). HMSO. ISBN 1-870423-30-5.
  • Moberly, F. J. (1997b) [1927]. The Campaign in Mesopotamia 1914–1918. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents, Compiled at the Request of the Government of India, under the Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. IV. Part V: The Campaign in Upper Mesopotamia, 1917–18, North-West Persia and the Caspian, 1918 (Imperial War Museum and Battery Press repr. ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 0-89839-290-X.
  • Sumner, Ian (2001). The Indian Army 1914–1947. Osprey. ISBN 1-84176-196-6.
  • Stout, Mark (27 March 2015). "Rescuing Tommy". War on the Rocks. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
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