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by
Christopher Trevelyan
During the
British Raj, few could rival the status and fighting reputation of
the Indian Mountain Batteries. Throughout their existence, hardly
an expedition on the North-West Frontier went by without at least
one Battery being attached to provide always needed artillery
support. Indeed, wherever the infantry went, no matter how
treacherous the terrain or fierce the enemy, so too did the
Batteries of the Indian Mountain Artillery follow. In addition to
service on the 'Frontier', Indian Mountain Batteries served in
North-East India, Burma, Afghanistan, Tibet, the Middle East,
Africa, and during the Great War; Mesopotamia, Gallipoli, East
Africa, Persia, Palestine and of course the North-West Frontier
again. In each campaign and on each front they served, Indian
Mountain Artillery consistently proved that they were second to
none in fighting skill, physical endurance and unflinching
loyalty.
The oldest Indian Mountain Battery can trace its origins back to
1827, while a further four were raised by the time of the 1857
Great Mutiny. With its conclusion, these five batteries would be
the only Indian artillery units to avoid disbandment. Throughout
the remainder of the 19th Century, and during the years
leading up to and including the Great War, a total of twenty-five
more Batteries were raised. Of these fifteen were 'war babies',
but such was their value that only six would be disbanded in the
early 1920's.
Throughout their history, the reputation of Indian Mountain
Batteries was enhanced by the fact that they were officered by the
very best the Royal Artillery had to offer. Such talented men
competed to join because a tour in an Indian Mountain Battery,
unlike other branches of artillery, virtually guaranteed seeing
active service. Indian officers (VCO's) and other ranks were also
the best available, as the relatively small number of batteries
and their role as the only Indian artillery meant that there was
always a surplus of volunteers, and this in turn meant that only
the highest quality of recruit was accepted.
Although light in calibre, the guns of Mountain Batteries were
designed to be disassembled and transported by pack mule in up to
eight loads for use in terrain that would otherwise be impossible
to traverse with larger and more conventional artillery.
The earliest guns were the tiny 3 Pounder SBML (Smooth Bore Muzzle
Loading) and 4 2/5 Inch SBML howitzer of c.1850. These were
replaced in 1865 by the 7 Pounder RML (Rifled Muzzle Loading) and
this in turn was replaced in 1879 by the significantly improved
and significantly heavier 2.5 inch RML, also known as Kipling's
Screw Gun (all mountain gun types from this 2.5 inch RML on had
barrels that split in two for transport).
For the Great War, the 10 Pounder BL (Breech Loading) and 2.75
Inch guns (pictured above) equipped the Indian Mountain Artillery.
Only in the last year of the war was the next model, the 3.7 Inch
(pictured below), introduced in East Africa. Upon entering
service, it immediately became clear that this piece was vastly
superior to all previous models, and it would soldier on as the
standard mountain gun during the inter-war years and throughout
World War II.
WAR
SERVICES OF THE INDIAN MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY
The following is a brief outline of the war services of the first
five Indian Mountain Batteries that were raised before the Great
Mutiny. Only space restrictions prevent the mention of the other
batteries; many of which would come to compile war records that
would rival those of the Batteries mentioned below.
1st
ROYAL (KOHAT) MOUNTAIN BATTERY
F.F.-
The premier
Indian Mountain Battery was raised at Bannu in 1851 from disbanded
Sikh artillerymen following the second Sikh War of 1849. The
Battery saw action keeping the Frontier quiet during the Indian
Mutiny, and would see continuous action in the small campaigns
there throughout the 19th Century. During the Second
Afghan War of 1878-80, the 1st (Kohat) Battery served
with Lord Roberts at Peiwar Kotal, and would see heavy action at
Kabul. During the Great 1897 Frontier uprising, the Battery would
be on strength with the sizable Tirah Field Force. In the early
stages of the Great War, the 1st helped defend Egypt
from Turkish aggression, and soon thereafter landed at Gallipoli
where they would support the Australians and New Zelanders until
the eventual pullout. Later, the Battery would be sent to
Mesopotamia and Persia, where it would finish the war. During the
inter-war years, the Battery saw service in Waziristan in the
early 1920's and again in the late 1930's.
2nd
(DERAJAT) MOUNTAIN BATTERY F.F.
-
The 2nd,
like the first, was also raised from disbanded Sikh artillerymen,
although two years earlier in 1849 at Dera Ghazi Khan. In 1857,
one detachment saw service against mutineers in Oudh and
Bundlekand. The Second Afghan War, saw the Derajat Mountain
Battery at Roberts' side throughout the war; from the heights of
Peiwar Kotal and Charasia to the defense of Kabul and then on to
that most famous march south to Kandahar. After the war, in
addition to numerous minor Frontier campaigns throughout the
Century, the 2nd took part in the Major-General Low's
relief of Chitral Fort in 1895 while two years later it took part
in the operations of the Tirah Field Force. In the Great War, the
2nd in 1916 joined the campaign against
Col.Von-Lettow-Vorbeck in German East Africa, where it would
remain until the Armistice. After the war, the Battery saw service
during the Third Afghan War of 1919, the Mohmand Campaigns of 1933
and 1935 and operations in Waziristan against the Fakir of Ipi
from 1936 on..
3rd
(PESHAWAR) MOUNTAIN BATTERY F.F.
- The
3rd Battery was raised in Peshawar in 1853, and soon
thereafter took part in numerous Frontier campaigns, the most
important of which was the brutal Ambala (Umbelya) Campaign of
1863. From December 1871 to February 1872, the Battery took part
in the Looshai campaign far across on the other side of India.
During the Second Afghan War, the 3rd saw service
around Kandahar in 1878. In the Great War, the 3rd was
one of the two original mountain batteries to land in Mesopotamia
in late 1914, where the battery remained until returning to Indian
in 1917 to see yet more Frontier fighting, including the Third
Afghan War. The Battery would soldier on in Waziristan during the
early 1920's and again in the late 1930's.
4th
(HAZARA) MOUNTAIN BATTERY F.F.
-
The 4th
was raised in 1851 at Haripur from Hazara gunners that were
trained by a Major Abbot in order to help defend the Hazara
District of the North-West Frontier. Like the three other Frontier
Force Mountain Batteries, the 4th soon saw action in
numerous small campaigns on the North-West Frontier. In 1878, the
4th helped Sir Sam Browne take the great Khyber Fort of
Ali Musjid, and later took part in the relief of Kabul, where it
remained as part of the garrison when Roberts marched on Kandahar.
From 1885-87, the Battery took part in the war with Burma. In
1895, the Battery was back fighting on the Frontier as part of the
Chitral Relief Force. During the Great War, the 4th
left India in 1917 for East Africa where it would remain until the
Armistice. Between the wars, the Battery saw service in the Third
Afghan War of 1919, the Red Shirt and Afridi Disturbances of
1930-31, the Mohmand Campaign of 1933, and operations against the
Fakir of Ipi in Waziristan in the late 1930's.
5th
(BOMBAY) MOUNTAIN BATTERY
-
Raised in 1827 as
the Bombay Foot Artillery, the 5th is the oldest Indian
Mountain Battery, and the only one that served in the Second Sikh
War at the siege of Mooltan in 1849. The 5th was also
the first Battery to serve outside India, when it took part in the
1867-68 Abyssinia Expedition. The Battery did not play a role in
the Second Afghan War, but took part in the war with Burma from
1885-87. In 1896, the Battery was back in Africa, although this
time at Suakin in the Soudan. By 1897, the Battery had returned to
the Frontier, and served in the Second Division of the Tirah Field
Force. In the Great War, The 5th served on the
Frontier, the Persian Seisten Cordon in 1917 and during the last
mopping up operations in Mesopotamia in 1917-1918. During the
inter-war years, the 5th only saw active service
against the Fakir of Ipi in Waziristan in the late 1930's. It
should be pointed out that, unlike the 1st-4th
Indian Mountain Batteries, the 5th (Bombay) was never
part of the Punjab Frontier Force.
INDIAN
MOUNTAIN BATTERY TITLES
Over
their long history, Indian Mountain Batteries altered their
numerical designations and titles several times, although for the
most part maintaining some consistency. This can nonetheless be
confusing to the medal collector, especially if he is interested
in World War One medals or the 1908 and 1936 India General Service
Medals. For example, one may come across such medals named to the
21st Mountain Battery, the 21st Pack
Battery, the 101st Pack Battery and the 1st
Mountain Battery, even though all are to the same Battery. To help
clarify this, the following brief outline of Mountain Battery
Designations is given. This is not a list of every little change
(and there were many), but it does cover the majors ones, and the
ones that would be encountered on a medal.
From 1880, the Batteries were known by their name and number; for
example, No.1 Kohat Mountain Battery, P.F.F. or No.3 Peshawar
Mountain Battery, P.F.F.
In
1903, the number 20 was added to the old number, so the No.1 Kohat
Mountain Battery, P.F.F. became the 21st Kohat Mountain
Battery (F.F.) and the No.3 Peshawar Mountain Battery, P.F.F.
became the 23rd Peshawar Mountain Battery (F.F.). This
change was made to avoid confusion with British Mountain Batteries
(which while serving in India, were made up of British officers
and gunners, and Indian drivers.). Indian Mountain Batteries would
be known by these designations during the Great War.
In 1920, the word 'Pack' replaced 'Mountain', so the 21st
Kohat Mountain Battery (F.F.) became the 21st Kohat
Pack Battery (F.F.) and the 23rd Peshawar Mountain
Battery (F.F.) became the 23rd Peshawar Pack Battery (F.F.).
In 1921, the number 80 was added to the numerical designation and
the 'Frontier Force' title was omitted, so the 21st
Kohat Pack Battery (F.F.) became the 101st (Kohat) Pack
Battery and the 23rd Peshawar Pack Battery (F.F.)
became the 103rd (Peshawar) Pack Battery. 1922 brought
the 'Royal' title to the 101st (Kohat) Pack Battery (F.F.)
only, and returned the (Frontier Force) title to the first four
batteries.
1924 saw the Indian Mountain/Pack Batteries become Batteries in
the Royal Regiment of Artillery. As a result, 'R.A.' was added to
the title of each Battery. Other than adding these two letters, no
other effect was made in organization or administration.
In 1927, the number 100 was dropped from the numerical
designations, 'Pack' was reverted to 'Mountain' and 'Indian' was
added, so the 101st Royal (Kohat) Pack Battery, R.A. (F.F)
became the 1st Royal (Kohat) Indian Mountain Battery,
R.A. (F.F.) and the 103rd (Peshawar) Pack Battery R.A.
(F.F.) became known as the 3rd (Peshawar) Indian
Mountain Battery, R.A. (F.F.). In 1928, 'Indian' was dropped from
the titles, while in 1939, Indian Mountain Batteries were
transferred from the Royal Regiment of Artillery to the Indian
Regiment of Artillery, which had been formed in 1935. As a result
of this, 'R.A' was dropped, while the brackets around F.F. of the
first four batteries were also eliminated. With this last title
change, the Batteries of the Indian Mountain Artillery would fight
throughout World War Two.
Although brief, it is hoped that this overview of the history of
the Indian Mountain Artillery, the war services of the five oldest
batteries, and the titles the Batteries fought under from
1880-1947, will be of some use to medal collectors who may
encounter medals named to Indian Mountain Batteries, and students
of military history who may encounter these Batteries in their
readings.
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