Zaid-Ullah Khan joined the Indian Army on 5th April 1902,  subsequently serving with the 121st Pioneers. During the decade or so leading up to the Great War, the Regiment did not see any active field service overseas. In 1908 however, with the hope of stemming the arms trade between Persia and Afghanistan, the 121st did send a detachment of around 200 men to the outpost of Robat. Nothing more than a desolate spot in northern Baluchistan, Robat was over a month's dusty and difficult march from the nearest railhead. In 1913, the 121st sent another detachment of 5 British Officers, 5 Indian Officers, and 350 other ranks to Kacha near Robat for similar duty. Zaid-Ullah Khan may or may not have taken part in these operations.

          Upon the outbreak of the Great War, the 121st Pioneers did not proceed abroad as so many other Pioneer regiments did. Instead, the Regiment, Zaid-Ullah Khan included, served in Waziristan in 1915. Only in September 1916, while station at Tank, did the 121st Pioneers finally receive its mobilization orders to proceed overseas. As such, on 23rd September, the Regiment embarked at Karachi onboard the S.S.Purnea bound for Mesopotamia, where it was to relieve the 107th Pioneers. 

          The 121st Pioneers arrived in Basra on 30th September, and immediately proceeded up the Tigris to the Sannaiyat front to carry out much needed pioneer work. Over the following year, the 121st Pioneers took part in the advance up the Tigris, including the final breakthrough at Sannaiyat, the occupation of Baghdad, and the occupation of Samarra. Although the 121st had engaged the Turks on several occasions, the primary contribution of the Regiment was further arduous but necessary pioneering duties such as trench digging, anti-flood bund building, and bridge construction.

          By late 1917, it was decided that the 7th Division, to which the 121st Pioneers was attached, should proceed to Palestine for the final breakthrough against the Turks. The 121st Pioneers therefore proceeded by foot, rail, and steamer back down to Basra, where they embarked for Suez on 29th December 1917. Arriving on the 15th January, the 121st Pioneers quickly proceeded north to Palestine, where for the next six months, they worked on road making, building entrenchments, and laying wire entanglements at the front. In addition to suffering some casualties during this period, the Regiment earned one Military Cross, one Indian Order of Merit 2nd Class, and one Indian Distinguished Service Medal.

          In early June 1918, the 121st Pioneers sent its Pathan (mostly Yusafzais) Company under Major Grieg and Lt..Borlase to Ludd. On 12th June 1918, it joined with one company each from the 1/23rd, 2/23rd, and 2/32nd Sikh Pioneers to form the 2nd Battalion, 155th Pioneers*. Zaid-Ullah Khan, by then a senior NCO in the 121st Pioneers' Pathan Company, joined the 2/155th as well, and was promoted Jemadar on the same day.

          For General Allenby's September 1918 offensive, the 2/155th was attached to 'Watson's Force'; a temporary formation made up of the Worcester Yeomanry, 1/155th Pioneers and 2/155th Pioneers under the command of Col.G.B.Young 1/155th Pioneers. Sandwiched between the 10th Division on the left and the 53rd Division on the right, 'Watson's Force' was placed opposite to the strong Turkish defences along the Nablus road. The objective of Watson's Force was to hold the line, while the 10th and 53rd Divisions encircle the Turks from either side. On 19th September, Allenby launched his offensive, which rapidly broke through the Turkish line. The route was so complete, that within a few days, the role of the infantry was largely over, with the rapidly moving cavalry leaving those on foot far behind.

          Thereafter, the role of the 2/155th Pioneers over the next year was primarily one of railway construction in Palestine, Syria, and then Kurdistan. In early 1920, after much good work, the 2/155th Pioneers was disbanded, which allowed Jemadar Zaid-Ullah Khan to finally proceeded home to India on 28th April 1920. For his service in the Great War, Jemadar Zaid Ullah Khan was awarded a 1914-15 Star, British War Medal (pictured above), Victory Medal, and for his post war service, the 1918 General Service Medal with Kurdistan clasp (pictured above). 

          During the course of the war, the 121st Pioneers earned one Order of British India, one IOM 2nd Class  (to an officer attached from the 107th Pioneers), 9 IDSMs, 49 IMSMs, and one Silver Serbian medal. Meanwhile, the 2/155th Pioneers earned one IDSM, and six IMSMs.

          Upon his return to India, Jemadar Zaid-Ullah Khan rejoined his old Regiment. There would not be long to rest however, for at the end of 1920, the 121st Pioneers was ordered, as five years before, to Waziristan. Over the next year, the Regiment carried out road building and piquet construction duties, only returning in March 1922. For service in these operations, Jemadar Zaid-Ullah Khan earned the 1908 India General Service medal with Waziristan 1921-24 clasp. 

          In the sweeping post war re-organization of the Indian Army, regiments were linked together into groups of four or five, becoming battalions in one large multi-battalion new regiment. One pre-1922 regiment in each group also become a training battalion, with no prospect of ever again serving in the field. This was the fate of the 121st Pioneers, which became the 10th (Training) Battalion of the new 2nd Bombay Pioneers. During this process, all Pathans were also mustered out of the old 121st Pioneers, including Jemadar Zaid-Ullah Khan, thus ending nearly twenty years service as a pioneer. 

          Instead of accepting de-mobilization as so many others did, Jemadar Zaid-Ullah Khan joined the 4/10 Baluch Regiment (formerly the 129th DCO Baluchis) and then the 1/10 Baluch Regiment (formerly the 124th DCO Baluchis) by 1924. On 14th May 1925, Jemadar Zaid-Ullah Khan was promoted Subadar. Remaining with the 1/10 Baluch Regiment for several years, he was with the 5/10 Baluch Regiment (formerly the 130th Baluchis) by January 1929, although by 1931 he was back with the 1/10 Baluch Regiment. Subadar Zaid-Ullah Khan no doubt retired soon thereafter having served nearly 30 years, including nearly seven straight years of active field service on the N.W.Frontier, and in Mesopotamia, Palestine, Syria, and Kurdistan.

* The official title of the 2/155th Pioneers was actually the 2nd Battalion 155th Indian Infantry. However, given that it was formed exclusively from pioneer regiments and employed as pioneers throughout the war, it was often referred to as the 2/155th Pioneers in contemporary literature.

          Shah Wali Khan joined the Indian Army on 25th August 1896. In less than a year's time, while still a green recruit, he was sent to the North West Frontier of India with the 3rd Company, Bombay S&M, to help deal the uprising that had begun there. In August 1897, the 3rd Coy. was attached to the 'Malakand Field Force' under the command of Major-General Sir Bindon Blood, where it took part in operations against the Mamunds in Bajour and in Mohmand territory. Following this, it was attached to the 1st Division of the 'Tirah Field Force' under Lieutenant-General Sir William Lockhart. With his Company, Shah Wali Khan took part in the capture of the Sampagha and Arhanga passes, followed by a reconnaissance in force around Dwa Toi, the action of 24th November 1897, operations against the Khani Khel Chamkanis and operations in the Bazaar Valley, from the 25th to 30th of December 1897. Throughout these operations, the Sappers were responsible for considerable and dangerous demolition work, in addition to facing the Frontier tribes and the elements. Following the conclusion of hostilities, Shah Wali Khan was awarded the 1895 India General Service Medal with 3 clasps for his service.

          For the next twelve years, Shah Wali Khan worked his way up the ranks, although he did not take part in any significant military operations. On 1st May 1913, he received the Viceroy's commission, being promoted Jemadar. Just over a year later, and serving with the 20th Field Coy. (Bombay) Sappers & Miners, Jemadar Shah Wali Khan would embark for an entirely new and unexpected theatre of war; France.

          Within the opening weeks of the Great War, Indian Expeditionary Force 'A' was hastily organized in preparation for overseas service. As part of this, the 20th and 21st Companies (Bombay) S&M were to be the divisional Sappers & Miners of the 3rd Lahore Division, which was one of the two Indian Infantry Divisions chosen for IEF'A'. On 24th August 1914, the Sappers embarked from Bombay on the S.S.Taiybeh, which was at the time in such poor condition, that she had previously been condemned as "unfit" to take pilgrims to Mecca. Despite floodings and a mechanical break-down, the Taiybeh made it to Alexandria, where after a brief stop-over, she continued on to Marseilles. Arriving on 26th September 1914, the 20th Company S&M was to be the first fully assembled formation of IEF'A' to land in France. As the 20th Company railed to the front, they along with all of the other Indian troops received the most encouraging of welcomes at every stop from the French people. By late October, the Sappers arrived at the frontline near Neuve Chapelle, where the military situation was desperate. On 28th October, the 20th and 21st Companies were thrown into the fray as regular infantry, in an attack upon the German lines with the 47th Sikhs & 9th Bhopals. In the Indian Sappers & Miners, Lt.Col.Sandes relays an account given by Brigadier-General J.E.Edmonds which describes the event.

          The attack of four companies - two of the 47th Sikhs with the 20th and 21st Companies of the Bombay Sappers & Miners on either side of them - was carried out with the greatest of gallantry. Their right was to have been protected by the Bhopal Regiment, but as this unit advanced it came under very heavy fire and halted and continued the action by fire from a trench that it had reached. The Sikhs and Sappers went on. Covering the 700 yards of open ground between them and Neuve Chapelle by rushes alternating with fire, as if on a training ground, the four companies reached the ruins of the village and drove out the Germans - reported by prisoners to be three battalions - by close hand to hand fighting. They even penetrated to the eastern and northern borders. here they were met by heavy shell and machine-gun fire, and counter-attack after counter-attack was launched against them. Major S.R. Davidson, commanding the 47th Sikhs, finding that he was unsupported except by the Sappers and Miners, eventually ordered a retreat. This had to be carried out under enemy fire, and so heavy were the losses that of his men he rallied only 68 out of 289, whilst of the Sappers & Miners all the officers were killed or wounded and over a third of the other ranks of each company.

An artist's depiction of Indian soldiers on the offensive in France 1914

          Lt F.P.Nosworthy R.E., who was with the 20th Company, gives another account in The Indian Sappers & Miners of the 28th October attack on Neuve Chapelle:

           When dawn broke on October 28th, the 20th Company had finished a trench along their sector, and meanwhile the gap between them and the 21st Company had been filled by two companies of the 47th Sikhs. Paris (Captain A.L.Paris, C.O. of the 20th Coy.) told them later that the artillery would put down a short concentration of fire, after which they were to attack as infantry in conjunction with the Bhopals on their right and the 47th Sikhs and 21st Company on their left, but without supports or reserves as they were already so widely extended. 

          I was in command of No.2 Section...and we began to move forward about 11 a.m. The ground between us and the village was dead flat plough, devoid of cover, but the advance continued with parade-ground precision in spite of some casualties. Paris was so worried by the exposure of our right flank through the lateness of the Bhopals in starting that he went back to get them on, and that was the last we saw of him. It seems that he collected a few Bhopals and them towards the village but was soon wounded and afterwards picked up by the enemy (footnote: Capt.A.L.Paris was in a German hospital in France until May 1915, and afterwards a prisoner-of-war in Germany until 1918, when he was sent to Switzerland), His loss was felt severely, for he had commanded the 20th Company for more than seven years. 

          My section came under heavy fire from the right, and we swung right and charged a German trench with the bayonet. Meanwhile the Bhopals were heavily engaged on our right rear. After entering Neuve Chapelle there was bitter street fighting. Havildar Muhammad Khan rushed up to me, trying to speak, but he could not do so as he had been shot through the throat and was bleeding profusely. I persuaded him to go back, but his wound proved mortal and so I lost a particular friend. Then Hayes-Sadler (a Lieut. in the 20th Coy.) appeared with his section and together we worked steadily forward, clearing the main street, house by house. At the cross-roads in the centre of the village, a machine gun opening fire on us a point-blank range, and Hayes-Sadler charged forward against it. He was killed immediately, but we soon got that machine gun and avenged his death. Though now in complete possession of the cross-roads, we could get no further. Less than twenty men remained with Rait Kerr (another Lieut. in the 20th Coy.) and myself in the centre of the village. Others had joined forces with the 47th Sikhs on our left. We barricaded the main street with furniture and I sent Rait Kerr to get reinforcements. Sappers posted in windows covered the road block, and three attempts to dislodge us failed with heavy loss. Rait Kerr never returned, nor did reinforcements arrive. It appears that Rait Kerr made his way to the south-western edge of the village where he saw some Bhopals under Major G.A.Jamieson trying to check a German outflanking attack. With a few sappers he went to join them but was wounded in the arm and collapsed. 

          We were now completely isolated and were too weak to send out patrols as only Subadar Ganpat Mahadeo and 13 Sappers remained. About 4 p.m., however, I decided to attempt to find out what had happened and reconnoitered alone down the main street. At he outskirts of the village I met Major Jamieson who was surprised to hear that we were in the middle of the place and advised a withdrawal. This was accomplished successfully, taking with us as many wounded as we could. On the way we came across Rait-Kerr sitting in a shell-hole with a shattered arm. This ended our fight at Neuve Chapelle. On the day after the battle there was not a single British officer available for duty with either of the two Bombay sapper companies.

A close-up of the naming on Jemadar Shah Wali Khan's 1914 'Mons' Star

          Jemadar Shah Wali Khan survived the 28th of October. Remaining  at the front, the 20th Coy, 3rd S&M continued to be shelled by the Germans from time to time, largely without effect. On the night of 4th-5th November however, the Germans "...dropped a bouquet of howitzer shells right in the working party, killing 3 men and wounding Jemadar Shah Wali Khan and two others" (History of the 20th Field Company by Hamilton). This is supported by the 16th November 1914 edition of The Times, in which Jemadar Shah Wali Khan is listed as being wounded in France. Not reappearing in any further Indian Army Lists after the January 1915 edition, it is clear that his wounds took him out of the war, and possibly left him invalided throughout the rest of his life. The whereabouts of his 1895 India General Service Medal with three clasps, and his British War Medal are unknown.

          Har Chand joined the Indian Army on 8^th June 1907, where he served with the 99^th Deccan Infantry. During the Great War, he proceeded overseas to Mesopotamia, most likely as a draft to another battalion, where he served from 15^th August 1915 until 15^th May 1916. Har Chand then returned to India, where he re-joined the 99^th Deccan Infantry, and served with them in operations against the Mahsuds around Sarwakai on the N.W.Frontier, from the 3^rd to 23^rd of March 1917. In these operations, the 99^th Infantry were priased for their good work by the General Officer Commanding. 

          In early April 1917, the 99^th Deccan Infantry was at last called for duty overseas, arriving in Mesopotamia on 8^th April 1917. Har Chand was with his battalion, in what was for him a return to a now familiar theatre of war. The 99^th Infantry was soon attached to the Euphrates Defence Force, which was charged with lines-of-communication duties along the river. On 20^th February 1918, Har Chand was commissioned Jemadar. Although not at the front fighting the Turks, the battalion took part in numerous operations against hostile Arabs, including two punitive expeditions from Nasiriyeh in March 1918. In June 1918, the battalion again saw action around hostile Arabs around Rumaithah, while in July, the battalion suffered 19 casulaties in a major engagement. 

          Following the conclusion of the Great War, the 99^th Infantry remained in Mesopotamia, and subsequently took a very active role in operations during the Iraqi uprising of 1920. During these opeations, Jemadar Har Chand was awarded the Indian Order of Merit, 2^nd Class, for gallantry in the field. Returning to India, Jemadar Har Chand continued to serve in the Indian Army, being promoted Subadar on 23^rd September 1923. Around this time, he left the 99^th Deccan Infantry to join the 1^st Battalion, 19^th Hyderabad Regiment (formerly 94^th Russell's Infantry). Soon afterwards, in 1924, the 99^th Deccan Infantry was disbanded after one hundred and thirty six years of existance. Subadar Har Chand IOM retired from the Indian Army at some point over the next several years, and had certainly left by 1928. In addition to his British War Medal, Subadar Har Chand IOM was also entitled to a 2^nd Class Indian Order of Merit, a 1914-15 Star, a Victory Medal, a General Service Medal with the Iraq clasp, and India General Service Medal with the Waziristan 1921-24 clasp.

          Ramji Lal joined the Indian Army on 3^rd April 1904, serving with the 10^th Jats. During the opening stages of the Great War, he served with his battalion on the North-West Frontier of India, taking part in active operations in and around Miranshah from 6^th February to 27^th March 1915. The 10^th Jats remained on the Frontier until January 1918, when it proceeded overseas to Mesopotamia. 

          Ramji Lal however, had already left for that theatre in February 1917 with a draft bound for another battalion, possibly the 6^th Jats. Shortly thereafter, and almost certainly upon joining his new battalion in the field, he was commissioned Jemadar on 1^st April 1917. In May 1918, Jemadar Ramji Lal left to join yet another battalion, this time the newly created 2/150^th Infantry, which remained in Mesopotamia until the conclusion of hostilities with Turkey. The battalion then returned to India. 

          Unlike many wartime commissioned officers, Ramji Lal did not retire in the early 1920s, but rather was transferred to the 3/15^th Punjab Regiment (formerly 27^th Punjabis) with who he served until at least 1930 and was promoted substantive Subadar. He probably retired in the early 1930s, and had certainly left by 1936, thus serving for close to thirty years in the Indian Army. In addition to his British War Medal, Subadar Ramji Lal was also entitled to the 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal.

          Gird Ali joined the Indian Army on 6th April 1893, and served with the 24th Regiment of Bombay Infantry. In April 1895, the Regiment embarked for Mombassa in British East Africa to help quell tribal raiding on trade caravans. While there, the Regiment performed as escorts, took part in flying columns, and manned outposts. The 24th would remain in East Africa until July 1896, when it returned to Quetta. For his service, Gird Ali was awarded the East and West Africa Medal with M'wele 1895-1896 around the rim. He also received, on 1st October 1895, his Viceroy's Commission. In the summer of 1900, Jemadar Gird Ali along with a detachment of his Regiment, went to China with the 26th Regiment of Bombay Infantry to take part in putting down the Boxer rebellion. Following the campaign, on 6th November 1901, Jemadar Gird Ali was promoted Subadar. He was also awarded the China 1900 medal. In 1904, Subadar Gird Ali left his Regiment to join a brand new unit that was being formed in Quetta; the 106th Hazara Pioneers. Formed by drafts from the 124th and 126th Baluchistan Infantry (formerly the 24th and 26th Regiment of Bombay Infantry), which both contained a company of Hazaras, the 106th would become a purely Harzara regiment, with all four double companies being made up of the same class.

Subadar Gird Ali, 106th Hazara Pioneers

         During the Great War, the 106th Hazara Pioneers sent one company to join the 107th Pioneers in France, but otherwise remained in India until 1918. They were however, to take part in punitive operations in Baluchistan in 1915-16, and then again on the Mohmand Blockade in 1917. In 1918, the 106th Pioneers embarked for Mesopotamia, where they would remain employed on difficult road construction work and other pioneer duties until the summer of 1921. By this time however, it appears that Subadar Gird Ali, who by 1918 had already served for twenty-five years, did not serve in Mesopotamia long if at all, and retired sometime between 1919 and 1924. In addition to his Victory Medal, Subadar Gird Ali was also entitled to an East & West Africa Medal, the China 1900 medal, a British War Medal, and possibly a 1914-15 Star. The whereabouts of these medals today is unknown, but there is a good chance his silver British War Medal may no longer exist.

          Ilam Din joined the Indian Army on 16th July 1896. He served with the 67th Punjabis, which was variously stationed on the North West Frontier and in Baluchistan during the years leading up to the Great War.  On 7th March 1915, while in Loralai, the 67th received it's orders to mobilize for overseas service in Mesopotamia. On that same day, Ilam Din, who was no doubt a senior NCO by then, received his Viceroy's Commission. In one months time, the 67th Punjabis arrived in Basra, where it was attached to the 12th Brigade. It soon proceeded east to Persia, where it took part in operations against Turkish regulars and hostile tribesmen around Ahwaz. Following this, the 67th Punjabis with its Brigade were transferred to the Euphrates front to take part in the capture of Nasiriyah. After a stiff fight on the 24th & 25th July 1915, Nasiriyah was taken, although the 67th Punjabis suffered 31 killed and 36 wounded. 

          In October 1915, the Battalion moved to the Tigris River, where it left detachments at Qalat Saleh and Ali-eh-Gharbi. The headquarters and the two remaining companies, including Jemadar Ilam Din with 'C' Company, continued north to Kut-al-Amara. Soon thereafter, General Townshend's weary 6th Poona Division arrived in Kut following its reverse at the Battle of Ctesiphon. Close on its heels was a much superior Turkish force, which then besieged Kut, until the 6th Division surrendered on 29th April 1916. One of those taken prisoner on that fateful day was Jemadar Ilam Din. Like so many others, Jemadar Ilam Din would never see India again, as he died on Sunday 16th July 1916 in Turkish captivity, exactly 20 years to the day of his joining the Indian Army. In addition to his Victory Medal, Jemadar Ilam Din was also awarded a 1914-15 Star and a British War Medal; the whereabouts of either is unknown.

          Jota Singh joined the Indian Army on 18th October 1896. Serving with the 28th Bombay Infantry (Pioneers), Jota Singh soon saw active service during the Tirah Campaign of 1897-98 on the North West Frontier of India, where his regiment was the Pioneer Regiment of the 1st Division under Major-General Symons CB.  At some point over the next few years, Jota Singh transferred to the 7th Bombay Pioneers. In late 1902, the Regiment, including Jota Singh, embarked for active service in Somaliland, where it arrived on 1st January 1903. Over the next year or so, the 7th Bombay Pioneers was tasked with the extremely tedious work of road construction, well cleaning, and supply escort duties in a hostile and foreign land. Following the conclusion of active operations against the 'Mad Mullah', the 7th Bombay Pioneers continued on in Somaliland, holding advanced posts on the Southern Frontier until 29th November 1904, when it finally embarked for its return to India. 

          The 7th Bombay Pioneers, which was re-named the 107th Pioneers in 1903, would see no further active service until the Great War. On 9th August 1914, shortly after its outbreak, the 107th Pioneers received orders to mobilize for active service with the 7th (Meerut) Division. On that same day, Jota Singh received his Viceroy's Commission. The 107th Pioneers embarked at Bombay on 2nd September, and un-unbeknownst to the officers and men, was destined for the primary theatre of operations; France. Jemadar Jota Singh was not with his Regiment however. Being one of its junior Indian Officers, he remained behind to run the Regimental Depot. During the following few months however, Jemadar Jota Singh did proceed to France to join his Regiment. He was not with it for long however, for while in the trenches, he was wounded in February 1915. Following recovery, Jemadar Jota Singh proceeded to Egypt along with the rest of his Regiment in November 1915. From there, the 107th Pioneers sailed for Mesopotamia, where they would assist in the attempt to relief the 6th Poona Division besieged in Kut-al-Amara. On the 29th February 1916, Jemadar Jota Singh was promoted Subadar. After much work and hardship in 'Mespot', including taking part in the failed attempts to relive Kut, the 107th Pioneers were finally relieved by the 121st Pioneers, and embarked for Karachi and home on 2nd October 1916.

          While the 107th Pioneers would continue to see service on the Frontiers of India, most notably against the Mahsuds in 1917 and then the Marri in 1918, Subadar Jota Singh took a different route when he was transferred to a brand new battalion; the 2/128th Pioneers, which was raised at Arangaon in late February 1918. In March 1920, the battalion embarked for Constantinople as part of the Army of the Black Sea. Engaged with keeping the peace, the 2/128th Pioneers would briefly clash with 'Kemalist' rebels, and later, from the sidelines, observed some of the fighting between Turkish and Greek forces. In May 1922, the 2/128th Pioneers left Constantinople, and via Egypt, would make their way back to India where the battalion was disbanded. By July 1922 however, Subadar Jota Singh had retired, after completing over twenty-five years service. 

          Interestingly, his Victory Medal, pictured above, is named to Jemadar Jota Singh 107th Pioneers, which was his rank and unit at the time he was wounded in France, whereas his Victory Medal should read Subadar Jota Singh 2-128th Pioneers, which was his rank and unit at the end of the war. Presumably, his wound may have somehow created two paper-trials; with at least one ending with his wound; perhaps he was not expected to return to active service and his records were filled out as such. In addition to his Victory Medal, Subadar Jota Singh was also entitled to an 1895 India General Service Medal with Punjab Frontier 1897-98 & Tirah 1897-98 clasps, Africa General Service Medal with Somaliland 1902-04 clasp, a 1914, or more probably a 1914-15 Star, and a British War Medal. The wherabouts of these medals are unknown.

Courtesy of the Samir Arora Collection

          Chatra Ram enlisted in the Indian Army on 27^th February 1899. He was commissioned Jemadar on 20^th November 1912, and promoted Subedar on 1^st May 1916. Subedar Chatra Ram most probably served with the 113^th Infantry throughout his early career until transferred to the newly raised 2^nd Battalion, 113^th Infantry upon its formation in Bombay on 27^th November 1916.

          The 2/113^th Infantry was to remain in India until early 1918, when it began preparations to depart for active service in Egypt. Unrest around Shiraz and the questionable loyalty of the South Persia Rifles however, necessitated immediate reinforcements to the Persian theatre. As a result, the 2/113^th Infantry, along with the 48^th Pioneers, 2 sections of an improvised Indian machine gun company, and No.169 Indian Field Ambulance, were diverted to the port of Bushire in late May 1918.

          Over the course of the next three months, the newly reinforced garrison of Bushire (which now consisted of one squadron of the 15^th Lancers, the 35^th Mountain Battery less one section, 2 15-pounder field guns, No.3 Indian Machine Gun Company (less 2 sections), a local machine gun section, the 54^th Company Sappers and Miners, the 81^st Pioneers, the 71^st Punjabis and the 2/113^th Infantry) made preparations for a fall offensive. The objectives were to be the construction of a light gauge railway to Dalaki, and then an advance on Kazerun with the intent of co-operating with a column from Shiraz to open up the Bushire-Kazerun-Shiraz trade route. Opposing the British were several hostile local Khans and Sheikhs, most notably Zair Khidar of the Tangistan district, Shaikh Hussain of Chah Kutah, Khan Ghazanfar-es-Sultaneh of Borazjan and Nasir Diwan of Kazerun. Military operations against these headmen were only to be undertaken if absolutely necessary, as although several murders and outrages had been committed by them, Persia was still considered to be a neutral country.

          On 25^th September, before the offensive began, a proclamation was issued by the British stating that they were about to construct a railway to Dalaki with the permission of the Persian Government, and that they would not interfere with peaceful inhabitants, although 'they would deal severely with any attempt at opposition.' Despite this warning, hostile forces amounting to around 600 armed men immediately began to entrench in front of the village of Chaghadak.

          On the morning of 29^th September, a small column under Major J.S.Corlett (15^th Lancers) and composed of the squadron of the 15^th Lancers, the two field guns, the 2/113^th Infantry and a machine gun section, set out to dislodge this force. The cavalry soon encountered the enemy in a trench and several palm groves outside Chaghadak at 6:15 am. The 2/113^th then moved up for an assault, but as soon as they began to deploy, the enemy turned and fled, leaving nearly 30,000 rounds of ammunition, several animals and various other supplies. As such, Chaghadak was occupied at 8:30 am with the loss of only three killed and two wounded. The enemy suffered an estimated thirty casualties. The village of Ali Changi was also occupied.

          As a result of the quick victory at Chaghadak, Khan Ghazanfar and Shaikh Hussain and their followers quickly fled to surrounding hills. Zair Khidar sent a note apologizing for taking up arms, and also expressed a desire for negotiations. Despite this, his followers fired heavily on the British camp at Ali Changi on the night of October 6^th/7^th, wounding two men, and then attacked a company of the 2/113^th Infantry who were reconnoitering in broken ground, causing nine casualties. As a result of these actions, operations had to be continued, though the 2/113^th Infantry was to remain behind on Lines of Communication duties, with one Company posted at Chaghadak, another at Khushab and the HQ and the remaining two Companies at Ahmadi.

          Soon further reinforcements arrived at Bushire from India, and operations continued on for the next few months. Daleki was occupied on 27^th October, Kazerun on 25^th January, and the 16^th Rajputs from Shiraz occupied Miyan Kutal on 27^th January. Communication between the two converging forces was then established the next day, thus re-opening the Bushire-Kazerun- Shiraz trade route.

          At some point during these operations around Bushire, Subedar Chatra Ram of the 2/113^th Infantry was awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal, possibly for the encounter at Chaghadak on 27^th September, or the attack on a company of the 2/113^th Infantry on 7^th October. Either way, it was a scarce award for an act of bravery, and the only IDSM awarded to the Regiment during its time in Persia.

          Subedar Chatra Ram and his Regiment returned to India in 1919, only to be sent to the North-West Frontier to take part in the Third Afghan War. The Regiment joined Waziristan Force on 4^th August 1919, early enough to receive the 1908 India General Service Medal with Afghanistan N.W.F.1919 clasp, but too late to see any action. The 2/113^th would however, serve on No.1 and No.2 Sections of Lines of Communications of the Derajat Column during the intense campaign against the Mahsuds during the winter of 1919/20. Subedar Chatra Ram was definitely with the 2/113^th Infantry in August to earn his India General Service Medal with Afghanistan 1919 clasp, although he may or may not have served later against the Mahsuds, as his additional clasps may be missing. Either way, he was still serving in January 1920, but had left the Indian Army by April 1920, thus ending a military career of roughly twenty-one years.

          In addition to his Indian Distinguished Service Medal and 1908 Indian General Service Medal with the Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 clasp, Subedar Chatra Ram was also entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The whereabouts of his IDSM, BWM, and Victory Medal, if they still exist, are unknown.

- Operations Around Bushire 1918-1919 -

Map from Operations in Persia 1914-1919 by Brigadier-General F.J.Moberly. 1987 Reprint, Her Majesty's Stationary Office.