Unit numbering on Indian medals.

[Guest Duncan]

I've noticed that most Indian WW1 medals indicate battalion e.g. 1/19 or 2/19 indicating 1st and 2nd battalions of the 19th Punjabis. However, some do not. The one I was interested in was to 2343 Sepoy Malook, 33 Pjbis. There's no indication of whether its either the 1st or the 2nd battalion. Anyone know if there's a reason for this?

Cheers,

Duncan.

[Ed_Haynes]

The WWI naming question is complex and will have to await access to the mint records in Calcutta (or, maybe, Karachi - a long story here).

But I think part of your question is easy to address. While the 1/33rd was old (raised in 1857; by WWI it was 2 companies of Punjabi Muslims, 1 of Pathans, and 1 of Sikhs), the 2/33rd was only raised at Rawalpindi in January 1918 (2 companies of Punjabi Muslims, 1 of Sikhs, 1/2 of Dogras, and 1/2 of Pathans).

I doubt the 2/33rd came along early enough to get any WWI medals, so any medal entitlement to the 33rd Punjabis would almost certainly be the 1/33rd.

Your "Malook" is almost surely from the Pathan company.

[Guest Duncan]

Many thanks. That's loads of help. Can you tell me the background or possible religion of this man?

Sepoy 3519 Sher Mohd, 93rd Burma Infantry.

Again, it's from a Victory Medal I have.

Thanks,

Duncan.

[Ed_Haynes]

Many thanks. That's loads of help. Can you tell me the background or possible religion of this man?

Sepoy 3519 Sher Mohd, 93rd Burma Infantry.

Again, it's from a Victory Medal I have.

Thanks,

Duncan.

The 93rd Burma Infantry in WWI had 2 companies of Sikhs, 2 of Punjabi Muslims. 3519 Sepoy Sher Muhammad was one of the Punjabi Muslims.

Edited March 2, 2006 by Ed_Haynes

[Guest Duncan]

Once again, many thanks.