Born in India on 5^th December 1865 , Frederick Charles Laing was the son of Frederick Ernest Laing, a Major in HM’s Bengal Army, and Lucy Augusta Laing. Destined to follow in his father’s footsteps, Laing soon journeyed to England where he received his education and military training.

          Following his schooling, Laing joined the militia on 14^th December 1885 , where he was commissioned into the 5^th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment ). One year later, on 8^th December 1886 , he received his regular commission into the Border Regiment of the British Army. Returning to India , Laing joined the Bengal Staff Corps on 21^st February 1888 , and thereafter was attached to the 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie) Regiment of Bengal Infantry.

          His first bout of active service took place in 1895. By chance, the 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie) Regiment was stationed at Nowshera when the events surrounding the siege of Chitral Fort unfolded. Although not part of the Relief Force itself, by virtue of the fact that Nowshera was the base camp of operations, the 12^th Infantry was tasked with providing escorts for stores and treasure bound for the front, by which “…nearly every man qualified for the medal by crossing the frontier”. Lieutenant Laing was amongst these, and was awarded the 1895 India General Service Medal with ‘Relief of Chitral 1895’ clasp.

Lt.Colonel Laing's Medals.

          Laing did not have to wait long to see active service again. In the summer of 1897, virtually every tribe along the North-West Frontier of India rose up against the British. Perhaps the most important of these were the Afridi. Citing an increase in salt tax, interference with tribal customs, and encroachment into tribal territory, the Afridis, in conjunction with their Orakzai neighbours, soon gathered their strength. On 23^rd August, a 10,000 strong lashkar began their advance, taking the Khyber forts of Ali Musjid, Fort Maude and Landi Kotal from the Khyber Rifles in quick succession.

          At the time, the 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie) Regiment was stationed at Bareilly . As a result of the Frontier risings, it soon received orders to proceed up to Rawalpindi where it was to join a reserve brigade. The 12^th (KIH) Regiment left Bareilly on 20^th August, but upon arrival, were immediately ordered onward to Kohat without even detraining.

The North-West Frontier of India in 1897

          In September, after a series of minor skirmishes, the Orakzais made their move when they attacked in force Fort Gulistan and the signaling post at Saragarhi along the Samana ridge. Gulistan successfully held out, but all twenty men of the 36^th Sikhs under Havildar Ishar Singh at Saragarhi were killed and mutilated after a seven hour siege.

         In response to these outrages, a two division strong ‘Tirah Field Force’ under Lt.General Sir William Lockhart was formed to march deep into the heart of Afridi territory. Instead of joining this force, the 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie) Regiment left on 23^rd September for Sadda in the Kurram Valley where it joined the ‘Kurram Movable Column’ under Colonel W. Hill.  The purpose of this column was to cover the left flank of the Tirah Field Force, maintain order in the Kurram Valley , and be ready to operate in concert with the Tirah Force if needed.

          The Kurram Valley remained quite for several weeks until 26^th October, when a hostile lashkar 3000-4000 strong built a barrier across the Kurmana defile. To deal with this threat, Col.Hill lead a reconnaissance in force into the Kurmana defile on 7^th November. Included in this were 100 rifles of the 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie) Regiment, including Lieutenant Laing. Being roughly seven miles long, the defile was narrow with very steep sides covered with jungle scrub. At around 11 A.M. , some slight opposition was encountered at Hissar. It would not be until 1 P.M. however, when the column began to withdraw, that opposition became substantial. During a delay in waiting for a piquet of the Kapurthala Infantry to retire, the enemy attacked in force. After a sharp engagement, they were beaten off with heavy casualties for the loss of only one killed and three wounded. Unfortunately, the next day, it was discovered that a different piquet of the Kapurthala Infantry was left behind, despite the Regiment reporting ‘all present’. As soon as Col.Hill learned of this, he sent out a force to look for them, but in vain. In was soon discovered that the entire piquet of one NCO and thirty-five other ranks of the Kapurthala Infantry was wiped out during their withdrawal.

Preparing to advance on the Frontier - 1897

          Little would occour afterwards in the Kurram until late November. It was then, that due to the refusal of the remote Khani Khel Chamkannis to make peace, Col.Hill received orders to march into the Kurram Valley and link up with a Brigade from the Tirah Field Force marching in from Bagh to the east. The 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie) Regiment provided 400 rifles for this column, again including Lt.Laing. On 30th November, the two forces met at Lwara Mela.

          On 1^st December, Col.Hill was ordered to proceed into Khani Khel Chamkanni territory. He divided his force in two, with three hundred rifles of the 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie) Regiment proceeding with the ‘Left Column’. Both were to march on Thabai, the primary village of the Chamkanni, though over different routes. Slowed down by difficult and rocky ground, the ‘Left Column’ only arrived at Thabai by 12 noon . With some loss inflected upon the enemy,  the withdrawal began at 4 P.M. Casualties during the day amounted to one British Officer and five Other Ranks killed, and one India Officer and fifteen Other Ranks wounded. Of these, four of the killed and three of the wounded were from the 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie) Regiment.

          The next day, Col.Hill led another column again Thabai, which did not include the 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie). Much damage was inflicted on the Chamkannis this time, with only two men killed and one British Officer and three Other Ranks wounded.

          With the Khani Khel Chamkanni now punished, the Kurram Moveable Column marched back to Sadda on 3^rd December. The 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie) Regiment remained in the Kurram Valley until January 1898 when they returned to Kohat. During this period, Lt.Laing was promoted to Captain on 8^th December 1897 . By 3^rd June, with the Frontier crisis over, the Regiment returned to Bareilly . For his service in these operations, Captain Laing was awarded the Punjab Frontier 1897-98 and Tirah 1897-98 clasps to his 1895 India General Service medal.

          In 1903, the 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie) Regiment of Bengal Infantry was converted to the 12^th Bengal Pioneers (Kelat-i-Ghilzie Regiment) during the reorganization of the Indian Army. The class composition also changed, with the composition becoming 2 Double-Companies of Lobana Sikhs and 2 of Hindu Jats. This was a far cry from its previous organization, which since 1893 had been a class regiment of Hindustani Muslims. Previous to that, it was made up of Jat Sikhs, Pathans, Brahmans, Ahirs, Rajputs, and Punjabi and Hindustani Muslims. As a Pioneer Regiment, the role of the 12^th was to serve both as infantry, and as light field engineers tasked with building roads, bridges, earthworks, barracks, and assisting the Sappers & Miners in their duties.

Lt.Col.Laing's miniatures.

          Continuing to serve in the 12^th (Kelat-i-Ghilzie) Regiment, Capt.Laing was promoted Major on 8^th December 1904 . By this time, he had qualified in a school of musketry (extra or distinguished), a school of machine gun (extra or distinguished), earned an equestrian certificate, and qualified in lower standard Persian.

          On 30^th April 1910 , Major Laing was promoted to substantive Lieutenant-Colonel and was given command of the 121^st Pioneers. In 1911,  he oversaw the reorganization of his new regiment. The previous organization had been that of 4 companies of Deccani Mahrattas, 2 of Rajputana Muslims (Meos), and 2 of Deccani Muslims. There was also a few Parwaris which stayed with the Regiment until on into the Great War. The new organization was to be two companies each of Deccani Mahrattas, Pathans (Yusufzais, Gaduns, and Bunerwals), Rajputana Muslims (Meos), and Jats. Those that did not fit with the new organization were either transferred or mustered out. This reorganization did not go as smoothly as hoped, for there soon developed a serious rivalry between the Meos and the new Pathans.

          At the end of 1911, Lt.Col.Laing was awarded the 1911 Delhi Durbar Medal, being one of only two British Officers of the 121^st Pioneers to receive it.

          In 1913, the 121^st Pioneers provided a detachment of five British Officers, five Indian Officers, and three-hundred and fifty mean to Kacha, which was nearly a month’s desolate march out of the nearest railhead at Quetta, Baluchistan. Once there, they built a series of barracks from sun-dried mud bricks that they made themselves. The occupation of Kacha was carried out effort to put an end to the illegal arms-trade, with different Pioneer regiments being stationed there since 1906. In 1908 the 121^st Pioneers had also put in some time.

          During the 1913 occupation, the rivalry between the Meos and Pathans erupted. Following a semi-final inter-company hockey tournament, a fight broke out between the two with hockey sticks and stones. One Meo and one Pathan were killed, and seventeen wounded. This event however finally cleared the air between the two, and once informed of the incident, the headquarters of the 4^th ( Quetta ) Division simply replied “Let us know when the final is being played.”

          When the Great War erupted in August 1914, the 121^st Pioneers were stationed at Jhansi. Instead of proceeding overseas, the 121^st Pioneers were instead sent to the North West Frontier of India. They would remain there until late 1916, when they received orders to embark for Mesopotamia . Lt.Col.Laing however would not join his Regiment. In September 1915,  his time as commandant was up, and was replaced by Lt.Col.F.A.Andrews. Proceeding on leave form India , Laing would finally retire from the Indian Army on 30^th June 1920 after a military career spanning nearly thirty-five years.

          Francis Gordon Andersson was born on 1^st March 1899 in Formby, Lancashire, England. He was the second son of William Henry Andersson, an Insurance Manager, and Georgina Andersson. Francis was educated at Oundle School from 1913 until 1917, and served in the Oundle School's Officer's Training Corps as a Lance-Corporal. Following this, he went on to attend the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Upon graduation, on 24th April 1918, he received his commission and was placed onto the Unattached List for the Indian Army. On 29^th October 1918, he was admitted to the Indian Army, and attached to the 86^th Carnatic Infantry. On 24^th April 1919, 2^nd Lt.Andersson was promoted Lieutenant. He also qualified during this time in colloquial Hindustani.

          The 86^th Carnatic Infantry had remained in India during the entirety of the Great War. Only in June 1920 was it called upon for overseas service, when it embarked for Mesopotamia to help deal with the very serious Arab revolt then in full stride.  The Regiment disembarked at Baghdad on 4^th June 1920 with 6 British Officers, including Lt.Andersson, 12 Indian Officers, 554 Indian Other Ranks, and 60 Followers. During its stay, the 86th C.I. carried out lines-of-communications duties under very challenging circumstances and without support, in addition to taking part in several moveable columns.  The 86^th C.I. would continue on in Iraq until May 1921, when it returned to India. Lt.Andersson served with his regiment during the entire campaign, and did not enjoy any leave during his time in 'Mespot'. He was thus awarded the 1918 General Service Medal with 'IRAQ' clasp, in addition to the British War Medal he earned serving in India during the closing days of the Great War. He was not entitled to a Victory Medal.

           Lt.Andersson officially resigned from the Indian Army on 25^th April 1922, and returned to England. A few years later, he joined the Territorial Army, and served as a Lieutenant with the 4^th/5^th (Earl of Chester's) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, with rank dating from 22^nd July 1925. On 16^th April 1930, Lt.Andersson transferred to the 4^th Territorial Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's). On 7^th September 1932, he was promoted Captain. The following year, on 11^th November 1932, Capt.Andersson transferred from the active list to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers.

          In his civilian career, it appears that Andersson followed in his father's footsteps and worked in the insurance business, being employed by Norwich Union. In July 1932 Andersson was engaged to Miss Barbara Windebank, but this was quickly fell through the following month. It would not take him long to move on however, as seven months later, in March 1933, he married a Miss Sylvia Soutar.

          Throughout this period, Andersson remained busy in battalion social events. On 2^nd December 1932 he attended the 4^th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment's Friday Night Dance at the Berystede Hotel in Berkshire. On 5^th March 1934, he attended the annual service dinner of the 4^th Battalion at Trocadero Restaurant. Andersson also took part in civic events. In November 1934 he attended the opening of an extension of the Radcliffe Library at Oxford in company with such notable individuals as the Princess Royal herself. Andersson was also quite active in golf and yachting.

          During the Second World War, Andersson was re-employed as a Class 1 Territorial Army Reserve Officer with the Royal Berkshire Regiment from 24^th August 1939, and served in this capacity for its duration. He thus earned his Defence Medal. By the end of the war, he was 46, and so left the army soon afterwards.

Courtesy of the Mark Wagner Collection 

          Guy Ernest Lockington Bates was born on November 3^rd, 1899 in Playden, East Sussex. His early years were spent raised by his Grandfather, the Rev. John Lockington Bates MA*, and his Grandmother, Mary Bates. Guy later moved to India, where as a young man of 19, he graduated from the Gentleman Cadet College at Quetta India on 31st August 1918, thereby receiving a wartime commission and subsequent placement on the Indian Army Unattached List. 

          On the 16^th of September, 1918, 2^nd Lt. Bates was admitted to the Indian Army and attached to the 38^th King George's Own Central India Horse. On the 31^st of August, 1919, 2^nd Lt.Bates was promoted Lieutenant. He probably served with his Regiment in Palestine & Syria, as the 38th C.I.H. had remained in the Middle East for some time following the conclusion of hostilities. By April 1921 however, Lt.Bates had left his Regiment, to be attached to the 112^th Infantry. He then later transferred to the (unrelated) 112^th Indian Labour Corps by July 1922. On 2^nd March 1923, Lt.Bates retired from the Indian Army, and probably returned to England. For his brief wartime service, he was awarded the British War Medal.

          During the Second World War, Lt.Bates came out of military retirement to serve in the Royal Artillery as a reemployed retired officer, with seniority dating from December 31^st, 1939. As of the 2^nd of May, 1942, he was made Temporary Captain. On the 11^th of March, 1943, he was promoted to the rank of WS/Captain. On the 24^th of July, 1946, Capt.Bates was relegated to unemployment and granted the honourary rank of Major. He no doubt  earned several Second World War medals, but his British War Medal remains is his sole named medal after service in both wars.

         * The Reverend John Lockington Bates died in his Parish of Iden, Sussex in 1923, where he had served for nearly sixty years. He received his MA in 1861 from Trinity College, Oxford.

Courtesy of a Private Collection

          Clement Leonard Berg was born on 1^st January 1898. He was the second son of Richard Berg, a Russian national and a manufacturer of bamboo furniture in Middlesex, England. Clement's mother, Mary Berg, was from British India. Befitting this international background, Berg was at first educated at Ebor House in Switzerland, where he attended from 1908-11. He then continued on at the Margate Grammar School back in England. Following graduation, Berg was to pursue a career in civil engineering. Before he could begin this however, the demands of the Great War would temporarily intervene.

          Sailing to India, on 3^rd August 1918, Berg joined the Indian Army, and received a commission in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers. On 1^st March 1919, he was attached to the 1/81^st Pioneers, and served with the battalion during the Third Afghan War of May-August 1919, thereby earning his India General Service Medal. He was released soon thereafter, on 20^th November 1919, to pick up where he left off, by attending the City & Guilds Engineering College in London, apprenticed to a Mr.P.Hawkins.

          Graduating in 1921, Berg returned to India, when in October of that year he received an appointment in the Public Works Department, employed as an assistant executive engineer in Madras. In 1922 he worked in agriculture and works, while during 1922-23 he was on loan to the University of Madras as an examiner in the same fields. Berg continued on with the Public Works Department, being promoted to officiating executive engineer in 1927. He also worked for Grindlays & Co for various periods from 1926 on.

          In March 1929, Berg returned to military life when he joined the Army in India Reserve of Officers, being attached to the QVO Madras Sappers & Miners, and later Engineers-A and Engineers-B. While serving in the AIRO, he was granted the rank of Captain, dated for seniority from 24^th August 1928.

          In October 1930, Berg was confirmed as an executive engineer with the Public Works Department. On 4^th December 1934, he was also finally admitted to the Institution of Civil Engineers, to whom he had applied for membership a full eight years earlier.

          On 14^th October 1937, Berg was re-called to the colours, and deputied to the Military Engineering Service (MES) at Karachi. He remained on active military duty for the next six months, until released in April 1938. The next month, Berg resigned his commission in the AIRO. In 1939, he returned to England, but was back in India for much of the Second World War.

          On 11^th July 1941, Berg received an emergency commission in the Indian Army, serving with the Royal Indian Engineers, and in particular the Garrison Engineers (Civil) at Quetta. He made War Substantive Lieutenant and Temporary Captain on 28^th October 1941, then War Substantive Captain and Temporary Major on 1^st January 1942. On 20^th July 1943, he was released from military service, being recalled by the Government of India for civil duties. Berg then continued on in the Public Works Department until at least 1947, retiring sometime thereafter and returned to England, probably for good.

           Robert Denis Beadle was born on 24^th June 1882 in Bombay, India. He later moved to England where he attended Rossall School in Lancashire from 1896 until 1900. While there, he was a scholar, school monitor, captain of the school, and member of the school cricket XI and rugby XV teams for three years. He then went on to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. After graduating and receiving his commission, 2^nd Lt.Beadle was placed on the unattached list on 18^th January 1902.

          On 27^th March 1903, Beadle joined the Indian Army. He was subsequently attached, on 28th August 1903, to the 46^th Punjabis, with whom he served as a company officer. On 18^th April 1904, he was promoted Lieutenant. On 13^th December 1909, Beadle was appointed Adjutant of his Regiment. On 18^th January 1911 he was promoted Captain and from 13^th April 1915, he served as a Company Commander.

          Following the outbreak of the Great War, the 46^th Punjabis were stationed at Nowshera on the North-West Frontier of India, where it would remain until 1917. During this period, the Regiment saw active service against the Mohmands along the Landakai Ridge in August 1915, and then later against the Swatis in October 1915. Captain Beadle was with the 46^th Punjabis during both actions.

- Account of Operations of the 46th Punjabis on the Swat border 1915 -

          In 1916, Captain Beadle became acting 2^nd in command of the 46^th Punjabis, and on 18^th January 1917, he was promoted Major. Although the 46^th Punjabis remained on the North-West Frontier until 1918, Major Beadle left his Regiment in mid 1917 to proceed on active service to Mesopotamia. On 7^th June 1917, he was attached to the 59^th (Scinde) Rifles (F.F.) which was by then north of Baghdad. While he was with the 59^th Rifles, Major Beadle served as 2^nd in Command, and was present with the Regiment at the Battle of Tekrit.

          In March 1918, the 59^th Rifles left Mesopotamia for Palestine. Major Beadle would not serve with the 59th Rifles in Palestine however, as he was attached to the 2/151^st Indian Infantry on 20^th July 1918, and served with the Regiment as 2^nd in command until after the end of hostilities.

          On 1^st April 1919, Major Beadle was attached to the 71^st Punjabis (Christians) and served as 2^nd in command. In 1922, he was posted to the 30^th Punjabis, which was soon re-named 1^st Battalion, 16^th Punjab Regiment during the reorganization of the Indian Army. In 1924, he became 2^nd in command, and on 1^st May 1926, he was promoted Lt.Colonel and appointed Commandant of the Battalion. In June, 1930, he left the 1/16^th Punjab Regiment, and five months later, on 1^st November 1930, retired from the Indian Army, although he remained in the Reserve until 24^th June 1937. Sometime thereafter he returned to England.

         While in retirement, Lt.Col.Beadle continued to be active in the military community. In 1935, he attending a dinner of the 16^th Punjab Regiment, and also made contributions to the King George V memorial fund. Over the following years, he also attended several military funerals, including those of Col.F.Moore in July 1938, and Admiral Sir F.Tudor in April 1946.

          Lt.Col.Beadle died in Chamberly on February 22^nd 1951 at the age of 69. His funeral was held one week later.

          Edward Lawrence Gavaghan was born in India on 18^th December 1885. He later moved to England to attend school at Mount St.Mary's College, thereafter becoming a chartered accountant in 1907. In April of the following year, Gavaghan returned to India, where he joined the Finance Department of the Government of India as assistant examiner of Public Works Accounts.

          Following the outbreak of the Great War, Gavaghan joined the Indian Army, and received a commission in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers (IARO) on 31^st December 1915. Nearly one year later, 2nd Lt Gavaghan embarked for France, where on 7^th December 1916, he was attached to the 29^th Lancers (Deccan Horse). He was soon promoted Lieutenant on 31^st December 1916. Over the next fifteen months, the 29th Lancers, like the rest of the Indian Cavalry in France, did not take part in any large scale cavalry actions, but rather provided working parties to improve trenches, sent out patrols, and temporarily relieved the infantry in the trenches.

          As an example operation in which Lt.Gavaghan took part; on 14th March 1917, in the region around Bonneville, the 29th Lancers received order to move up to the Loupart Wood and proceed in the direction of Ervillers with the intent of encountering German troops, who were thought to be withdrawing. Lt.Gavaghan was in command of 'A' Echelon, which was directed to move via Pys to the north of Loupart Wood, and then follow the Regiment on to Bihucourt. Advancing through the wire and mud, the regiment soon arrived south of Bihucourt, where it was subjected to intermittent shelling, and Machine-Gun fire, albeit without loss, which put a halt to any further advance that day.

          From the 12th October 1918 until the 22nd February 1918, Lt.Gavaghan was detached for service with the Brigade 'Pioneer Battalion', which was made up of working parties from the 8th Lucknow Cavalry Brigade, to which the 29th Lancers was attached.

          In March 1918, the 29th Lancers received orders, along with the rest of the Indian Cavalry Regiments in France, to proceed to the Middle Eastern theatre of operations. Over the course of March, the 29th Lancers embarked on several ships for Egypt. Most sailed from Marsailles, although a separate party proceeded via Taranto, Italy. By early April, most of the Regiment had arrived in Egypt, and by 8th April, it was fully re-formed at Tel-el-Kebir. The Regiment soon moved on to Palestine, arriving via train at Belah on 22nd April. At this point, a number of the officers and men went down sick, including Lt.Gavaghan, who was evacuated on 24th April. After recovering, Lt.Gavaghan was appointed as a Special Service Officer from 6th August, and continued to serve in Palestine until at least the end of the year. 

Indian Lancers in Palestine c.1918

          With the Great War over, Lt. Gavaghan was released from the Indian Army on 22^nd July 1920, and returned to his career in the Finance Department. In January 1921, he became Assistant Accountant General in Bombay. The next month, he became Deputy Accountant General in Bengal. In December 1921, he became Deputy Accountant General in the United Provinces.

         In April 1923, Gavaghan became Deputy Accountant-General in the Central Provinces. Some three years later, in October 1926, he became Deputy Director of Audit in the United Provinces. In March 1927, he became Officiating Deputy Accountant-General in the Punjab. Later, in November 1927, Gavaghan became Officiating Deputy Accountant-General of posts and telegraphs in Calcutta.

          In November 1929, he became Deputy Accountant-General in Bengal for the second time. In December 1930, Gavaghan became Officiating Deputy Auditor-General, and then two months later, in February 1931, Officiating Comptroller in Assam. He held this post until January 1934, when he became Chief Auditor of the East Bengal Railway and Exchequer of Accounts of the Assam Railway.

         Two months later, he became Officiating Accountant-General of the Central Provinces, a post he held until his retirement in August 1936 at the age of fifty. It was during this last period of employment that he was awarded the 1935 Jubilee Medal, no doubt in recognition for his many years of public service.

          John Stuart Beresford Forde was born on 16th December, 1898. Nineteen years later, on 30th January 1917, he was commissioned into the Indian Army after graduating from the Cadet College at Quetta. Forde was then appointed on 7th February 1917 to the 1/119^th Infantry (Mooltan Regiment) as a Company Officer. On the same day or possibly the next, he was attached to the 120^th Rajputana Rifles, and is listed in its regimental history.

          On 24^th May, 1917, Forde left the 120th Rajputana Rifles and was attached to the 122nd Rajputana Infantry, which was by then already in Mesopotamia. As such, Forde did not join his Regiment in the field for another four months, arriving on 24^th September 1917. He then served with the 122nd Rajputana Infantry in 'Mespot' for over a year, carrying out routine, fairly uneventful, but very necessary lines-of-communication duties along the Tigris River.  On 30th January 1918, he was promoted Lieutenant. 

- Account of the 122nd Rajputana Infantry in Mesopotamia 1917-1918 -

          Forde left Mesopotamia on 15th December 1918 when he transferred back to India for duty with the Regimental Depot. Six months later, on 12^th June, 1919, Forde was attached to the 2/153^rd Punjabis, and served as a company commander with the battalion during the Third Afghan War of 1919. The 2/153^rd did not however, see any significant action.

- Account of the 2/153rd Punjabis during the Third Afghan War 1919 -

          On the 20^th April 1920, Forde was appointed to the Indian Signal Service, and served with 'C' Divisional Signals. On 30^th January 1921, he was promoted Captain. Forde retired from the Indian Army with gratuity on 1^st April 1923,  having taken the terms offered during the 1922 re-organization.

          A few years later, Forde began a new career as a physician. In April 1927, he passed the entrance examination of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of England in the field of anatomy and physiology. He then attended Manchester Medical School, and on 30^th January 1931, Forde completed the programme and was granted a license to practice physiology. Soon thereafter, he received a probationary appointment in the Indian Medical Service (IMS), and returned to military life in India. On 21^st January 1933, Forde married Nancy Narcisse Carter (MB ch.B)., and roughly one year later, on 28^th February 1934, he relinquished his probationary appointment in the IMS, and probably returned to England.

_________________________________

          If anyone has or knows the whereabouts of the British War Medal and or Victory Medal of 'No.185 Syce"-------" 122nd Infantry', I would be very interested in hearing from you. This man was Lt.Forde's Syce in Mesopotamia.

Courtesy of the Dr.Tim Moreman Collection

          Cyril Victor Bolton Pearson was born on 3^rd January 1897 in Bury St.Edmunds, Suffolk, England. The son of Percy William Norton Pearson and Helen Matilda Pearson, he was educated at East Anglian School in Bury St.Edmunds, and then became an apprentice with a firm of outfitters and clothiers. On 26^th February 1914, at the age of 17, Cyril volunteered to join the 5^th Battalion Suffolk Regiment of the Territorial Force. At the time of application, he was described as being 5 feet 7 3/4 inches tall, Anglican and unmarried. Upon acceptance, he was given regimental number 1934. On 2^nd September, 1914, one month after the outbreak of the Great War, Private Pearson volunteered to serve outside of the United Kingdom, thus making him eligible for his Territorial Force War Medal. On 12^th November 1914 he was appointed Lance Corporal. Three months later, on 2^nd February 1915, he applied unsuccessfully for a commission in the Suffolk Regiment. He was appointed acting Corporal on 26^th June 1915.

          Cpl. Pearson remained in England until August 1916. On the 30^th of that month, he was posted to the 1/4^th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, given 9298 as his new regimental number, and embarked for France the following day. Arriving at Boulogne, Cpl. Pearson remained at Etaples for roughly three weeks before joining the 1/4^th Northumberland Fusiliers at the front on 20^th September, 1916.

          Cpl. Pearson's new regiment had been in France since May 1915, and was part of the 149^th Brigade, 50^th Division. From 15^th September 1916, or five days prior to Cpl. Pearson's arrival at the front, the 1/4^th Northumberland Fusiliers had been engaged in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, which was part of the Somme offensive, and notable for the first introduction of tanks into combat. The Battle ended on 22^nd September, two days after Cpl. Pearson's arrival. He was however, with the regiment during the Battles of Morval and Le Transloy, which took place from 25^th-28^th September and 1^st-18^th October 1916, respectively.

          In January 1917, Cpl. Pearson again applied for a commission. This time he was successful, being recommended for a temporary commission by both Lt.Colonel B.D.Gibson, commanding officer of the 1/4^th Northumberland Fusiliers, and Brigadier-General Ovens, commanding officer of the 149^th Infantry Brigade. Thus, after 148 days in France, Cpl. Pearson returned home to England for officer training on 25^th January 1917.

          On 9^th March 1917, Cpl. Pearson joined the No.21 Officer Cadet Battalion at Crookham, Hants. On 27^th June 1917, after successfully completing his training, Cpl. Pearson was commissioned temporary 2^nd Lieutenant in the 8^th (Service) Battalion Suffolk Regiment. He remained in England for the rest of 1917.

          In early 1918, 2^nd Lt.Pearson applied to join the Indian Army. He was accepted on probation on 27^th May, 1918, and set sail from Southampton bound for India on the same day. On 30^th June 1918, 2^nd Lt.Pearson completed the month long journey, and disembarked at Bombay. Four days later, on 4^th July, he was attached to the 1^st Duke of York's Own Lancers (Skinner's Horse). He joined his new regiment at Risalpur on 15^th December 1918. On 27 March 1919, he was promoted Lieutenant.

         Lt. Pearson's time in India was not to be quiet. On 6^th May 1919, the Third Afghan War broke out, and the 1^st Lancers (Skinner's Horse) mobilized at once as part of the 1^st Indian Cavalry Brigade*. On 13^th May, 1919 the Brigade advanced through the Khyber Pass and occupied Dakka in Afghanistan, where it would remain until the end of August. Lt.Pearson remained with the 1^st Lancers until 27^th July 1919, when he took 21 days leave on a medical certificate.

          Soon afterwards, he requested to revert to British Service, and was posted to the 1^st Garrison Battalion, Scottish Rifles (The Cameronians) on 29^th October 1919. Lt. Pearson's time with the Scottish Rifles was to be short however, as on 8^th November, he proceeded to Deolali for demobilization. He left the Service on 23^rd December 1919, and was permitted to retain the rank of Lieutenant.

          Not content to return to civilian life, Lt.Pearson applied to join the Egyptian Army in January 1920, but was informed that only regular officers would be considered. With this, Lt. Cyril V. B. Pearson's military career came to its end.

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          * 1^st Indian Cavalry Brigade was composed of the 1^st King's Dragoon Guards, 1^st Duke of York's Own Lancers (Skinner's Horse), 33^rd Queen Victoria's Own Light Cavalry and 'M' Battery Royal Horse Artillery. The 30^th Lancers (Gordon's Horse) was attached to the Brigade.

Courtesy of a Private Collection

          George Tabor Auston was born on 17^th December, 1884 in Brightlingsea, Essex, England. His parents was Albert Auston,  a gardener, and Mary Auston. By the age of 16, George was earning his keep as a porter, but by his early twenties, he had moved to India, where he settled in Lovedale, Nilgiris, and worked for the Indian Government in the Department of Finance. On October 16^th, 1907, Auston married Lilian Forgen, and by September 1914, they had two daughters and a son.

          The first nine years of Auston's military career was spent with several volunteer units in India. The first was the Madras Artillery Volunteers, which he joined on 1^st April, 1907. Auston served with the battery until 25^th May 1911, when he transferred to the Madras Volunteer Guards; the oldest volunteer unit in India, which had been raised in 1857. While serving with the Madras Volunteer Guards, he was promoted Sergeant on 1^st May 1914, named extra efficient four times, and named efficient once. On 22^nd April, 1916, Auston briefly transferred to the Nigrili Volunteer Rifles, before being commissioned on 16^th June, 1916 into the Indian Army Reserve of Officers. For six weeks, from the 28^th June to the 9^th August 1916, he trained with the 1^st Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment in and around Quetta. Upon completion, Auston was attached to the 73^rd Carnatic Infantry, and served with 'D' Company. Soon thereafter, in December 1916, he completed a course of Musketry at Satara. 

          At some point early in the New Year, Auston sailed for Mesopotamia, where on 9^th February, 1917 he joined the 105^th Mahratta Light Infantry, to serve as regimental quartermaster. Roughly one month before his arrival, on 7th January 1917, the 105^th Mahrattas had suffered over two hundred casualties, including four British Officers dead, in an assault on the Abul Hassan Bend of the Tigris. Consequently, when 2^nd Lt.Auston arrived, the 105^th Mahratta L.I. was holding the line, and did not take part in the final breakthrough of the Turkish Sanna-i-Yat position between February 17^th to 22^nd 1917. After the breakthrough, the 105th Mahratta L.I. was called upon to take part in the advance up the Tigris, and bivouacked at Shumran on February 28^th 1917. On 4th March 1917, the 105th moved to the north end of the Shumran Bend, and took over the piquet line from the 93rd Burma Infantry. On 6th March, the 105th marched to Imam Mahdi, then Azizieh on 8th March, Bostan on 15th March, Dialah on 16th March, and then north of Baghdad by 17th March. On the following day, 2nd Lt.Auston along with one other British Officer and thirty-one Indian Other Ranks were evacuated sick to a Field Ambulance, only a week before the Regiment took part in the bloody battle of the Jebel Hamrin Ridge. This was to cost the 105th its Colonel*, over one hundred and fifty casualties, and another one hundred and thirty two missing.  

          On the 11^th May 1917, 2^nd Lt.Auston returned to India on a medical certificate. On 16^th June 1917, he was promoted Lieutenant. In early July 1917 Lt. Auston returned to the 73^rd Carnatic Infantry, where he was promoted Temporary Captain on 3^rd August 1917. Over the next six months, Auston served variously as Quartermaster and Adjutant at the Regimental Depot. He passed the colloquial Urdu exam on 11^th March 1918. On 7^th May 1918, Auston relinquished his temporary rank of Captain. Three days later, Auston joined the No.9 Divisional Supply Company at Bangalore.

          On 26^th August, 1918, Lt.Auston again set sail for Mesopotamia. He arrived at Basra on 4^th September, 1918, and nine days later was posted to the 'Cawnpore Bullock Corps'. He would serve in Mesopotamia for the next two years and nine months.

          On 10^th May, 1919, Auston became temporary Supply Officer 5^th Class. On 16^th June, 1920, Auston was promoted Captain. On 15^th June, 1921,  Auston finally left Mesopotamia and returned to India. He was awarded the 1918 General Service Medal with 'IRAQ' clasp for his service. Upon his return, Auston was granted a well deserved privilege leave of three months. He was subsequently released from the Indian Army on 29^th September 1921 during demobilization.

          After a couple of years absence, Captain Auston returned to serve in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers. On 7^th June, 1923, he joined the IASC-Supply and was appointed to the 9^th DSC. On 24^th February, 1933, he was promoted Major. As he was by then forty-nine years old, it is probable that he retired shortly thereafter after, thus concluding a military career of over twenty four years service. 

          * Colonel E.R.I.Chitty was mortally wounded during the battle for Jebel Hamrin, and his body was never recovered. Jemadar Hamza Khan of the 105th refused to leave his body, and was taken Prisoner by the Turks. He survived captivity, and after being released after the war, he continued to serve, being promoted Subedar. Major F.E.Thornton was also killed. - A Famous Indian Regiment: The Kali Panchwan 2/5th (Formerly the 105th) Mahratta Light Infantry by Col.Sir.R.Hennell. 

          In addition to Auston's 1918 General Service Medal with 'IRAQ' clasp and his Volunteer Force LS&GC Medal pictured above, he was also entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. If you know the whereabouts of Auston's three other medals, please contact me.