The 128th Pioneers were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army

British Indian Army

The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...

. The regiment traces their origins to 1846, when they were raised as the 28th Bombay Native Infantry.

The regiments first action was in Afghanistan during the Second Afghan War in the Battle of Kandahar

Battle of Kandahar

The Battle of Kandahar, 1 September 1880, was the last major conflict of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The battle in southern Afghanistan was fought between the British forces under command of General Roberts and the Afghan forces led by Ayub Khan, inflicting nearly 3,000 casualties in...

. In 1885, they were sent to Egypt to take part in the Sudan Campaign. They played an active part in the Battle of Tofrek

Battle of Tofrek

The Battle of Tofrek was fought between the British forces under the leadership of General Gerald Graham and General John McNeil, against the Mahdist forces led by Osman Digna in the deserts of eastern Sudan.-Details:...

 and the Battle of Suakin

Battle of Suakin

The Battle of Suakin occurred on 20 December 1888 when Francis Grenfell defeated the Mahdi forces near Suakin a chief port of Sudan. After one and a half hours of fighting, the casualties were 12 on the side of the British and Egyptians, and 1,000 on the side of the Arabs...

. On their return to India they were part of the force gathered for the Tirah Campaign

Tirah Campaign

The Tirah Campaign, often referred to in contemporary British accounts as the Tirah Expedition, was an Indian frontier war in 1897–98. Tirah is a mountainous tract of country.-Rebellion:...

 in 1897. During World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 they were sent to Egypt, to guard the Suez Canal

Suez Canal

The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...

 from Turkish forces. They were originally attached to the 10th Indian Division

10th Indian Division

The 10th Indian Division was a formation of the British Indian Army during World War I. It was the basis of Indian Expeditionary Force F which served in Egypt and was disbanded in March 1915....

 but moved to the 11th Indian Division

11th Indian Division

The 11th Indian Division was formed in Egypt in 1914, to defend the Suez Canal. It was one of two divisions in the Indian Expeditionary Force F....

 in 1916.

After World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments. In 1922, the 128th Pioneers became the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Bombay Pioneers

2nd Bombay Pioneers

The 2nd Bombay Pioneers were a regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment was formed in 1922, when the Indian army moved from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...

. The regiment was disbanded in 1932.

William St. Lucien Chase

William St. Lucien Chase

William St. Lucien Chase

Colonel William St. Lucien Chase VC CB was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...

 was awarded the Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....

 when a lieutenant

Lieutenant

A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...

 in the 28th Bombay Native Infantry during the Second Afghan War when, on 16 August 1880, at Deh Khoja, near Kandahar, Afghanistan, Chase, with the help of Private

Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...

 Thomas Elsdon Ashford

Thomas Elsdon Ashford

Thomas Elsdon Ashford was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....

, rescued and carried, for a distance of over 200 yards, under enemy fire, a wounded soldier who had taken shelter in a block house. Several times they were compelled to rest, but they persevered and finally brought the wounded man to a place of safety.

Predecessor names

• 28th Bombay Native Infantry - 1846
• 28th Bombay Infantry - 1885
• 28th (Pioneer) Regiment of Bombay Infantry - 1888
• 28th Bombay Pioneers - 1901
• 128th Pioneers