22nd Derajat Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)
Encyclopedia
The 2nd Derajat Mountain Battery (Frontier Force) was an artillery battery in the British Indian Army
. The battery was raised in 1851, from disbanded Sikh
artillerymen following the Second Sikh War.
In 1857, one detachment saw service against mutineers in Oudh and Bundlekand in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
. The Second Afghan War, saw the Derajat Mountain Battery with Lord Roberts
throughout the war; from the Battle of Peiwar Kotal
and the Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment
and then on to that most famous march south to the Battle of Kandahar
. After the war, in addition to numerous minor Frontier campaigns throughout the Century, the 2nd took part in the Chitral Expedition
. When Major-General Low's was in charge of the relief of Chitral Fort in 1895, which was under siege after a local coup. Two years later it took part in the operations of the Tirah Campaign
. To honour the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Indian they took part in the Rawalpindi Parade 1905
. In the Great War, the 2nd in 1916 joined the Indian Expeditionary Force B in the campaign against the Germans 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 and Bajaur Operations (1933), Mohmand Campaign (1935) and operations in Waziristan against the Fakir of Ipi from 1936. In World War II
they were part of the force sent to the East African Campaign
.
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 battery was raised in 1851, from disbanded Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
artillerymen following the Second Sikh War.
In 1857, one detachment saw service against mutineers in Oudh and Bundlekand in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
. The Second Afghan War, saw the Derajat Mountain Battery with Lord Roberts
Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on...
throughout the war; from the Battle of Peiwar Kotal
Battle of Peiwar Kotal
The Battle of Peiwar Kotal was fought on November 28-29 1878 between British forces under Sir Frederick Roberts and Afghan forces under Karim Khan, during the opening stages of the Second Anglo-Afghan War...
and the Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment
Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment
The Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment was a battle fought in December 1879, during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.On 3 September 1879 Sir Pierre Cavagnari, the British Resident in Kabul, and his escort were massacred by mutinous Afghan troops, initiating the second phase of the Second Anglo-Afghan War.A...
and then on to that most famous march south to 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...
. After the war, in addition to numerous minor Frontier campaigns throughout the Century, the 2nd took part in the Chitral Expedition
Chitral Expedition
The Chitral Expedition was a military expedition in 1895 sent by the British authorities to relieve the fort at Chitral which was under siege after a local coup.-Background to the conflict:Chitral was at the extreme north west of British India...
. When Major-General Low's was in charge of the relief of Chitral Fort in 1895, which was under siege after a local coup. Two years later it took part in the operations of 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:...
. To honour the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Indian they took part in the Rawalpindi Parade 1905
Rawalpindi Parade 1905
The Rawalpindi Parade 1905 was a parade by the British Indian Army held in Rawalpindi, India on 8 December 1905 to honour the Prince and Princess of Wales. The troops were under the Command of Horatio Herbert, Viscount Kitchener of Khartoum, G.C.B., O.M., G.C.M.G., Commander-in-Chief India...
. In the Great War, the 2nd in 1916 joined the Indian Expeditionary Force B in the campaign against the Germans in German East Africa
German East Africa
German East Africa was a German colony in East Africa, which included what are now :Burundi, :Rwanda and Tanganyika . Its area was , nearly three times the size of Germany today....
, where it would remain until the Armistice. After the war, the Battery saw service during the Third Afghan War of 1919, the Mohmand and Bajaur Operations (1933), Mohmand Campaign (1935) and operations in Waziristan against the Fakir of Ipi from 1936. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
they were part of the force sent to the East African Campaign
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
.