Here are the movements of the 1st/2nd Punjab Regiment after leaving India through 1942: War Office Control – 6 May 1940 to May 1940 The battalion embarked from India on May 6th, 1940 and arrived in Aden later in May 1940. British Troops in Aden – May 1940 to 30 June 1940 On arrival in Aden, it reconnoitered the border of the colony and constructed the landward defences. It embarked for Berbera, British Somaliland on June 30th. OC Somaliland Camel Corps – 1 July 1940 to 18 August 1940 The battalion landed at Berbera, British Somaliland on July 1st. When operations began on August 5th, the battalion was despatched to Tug Argan, where ‘D’ Company was engaged. It evacuated British Somaliland on August 18th and returned to Aden on the next day. British Troops in Aden – 19 August 1940 to 14 March 1941 It then garrisoned Aden until March 14th, 1941, when it embarked again for service in the colony. It left ‘B’ Company behind and landed at Berbera on March 16th. Aden Force – 15 March 1941 to 30 June 1941 It landed at Berbera, British Somaliland on March 16th. After recapture of the colony, it returned to Aden on June 30th. British Troops in Aden – 30 June 1941 to July 1941 The battalion left Aden in July for Egypt. British Troops in Egypt (BTE) – July 1941 to February 1942 The battalion was then sent to Alexandria, Egypt in July 1941. It spent the rest of the year on garrison duties and training in Egypt. In February 1942, it moved to Qatatba to become part of the 161st Indian Motor Brigade. 161st Indian Motor Brigade – February 1942 to 23 August 1942 The battalion joined the brigade at Qatatba in February 1942. In the summer of 1942 when Rommel was approaching Egypt, the brigade moved to the Tanta area of the Delta to dig defences. It returned to Qatatba after this but returned at once to the front to reinforce the 5th Indian Infantry Division. It arrived at the 5th Divisional HQ on Ruweisat Ridge on July 21st and put in an attack on Ruweisat Ridge on July 21st-22nd. The battalion was detached to the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade on July 24th for an attack at Dier-el-Shein. A brief rest followed this action and then the battalion relieved the 1/1st Punjab Regiment in forward positions. Then after a week to ten days, it returned to its original formation to rest and refit. It left the brigade on August 23rd, 1942 in Egypt. British Troops in Egypt (BTE) – 23 August 1942 to July 1943 The battalion remained as a garrison unit in Egypt from August 23rd, 1942 until July 1943. One company was detached in Palestine on February 14th, 1943. It then moved to Palestine in July 1943.
Perfect. Thank you. Staying with battalions that spent time with 161 Motor Brigade, could I ask the same question within the same timescale of the 1/1 Punjab Regiment please.
Here is 1st/1st Punjab Regiment's Middle Eastern period: 19th Indian Infantry Brigade – December 1940 to 21 November 1941 In December 1940 it moved from Landi Kotal to Delhi to join the 19th Indian Infantry Brigade. It was mobilized at the end of May 1941 and in June 1941 it moved to Dhond and then to Bombay where it left for Iraq on August 11th. The battalion arrived at Basra on August 18th 1941. It then moved to Mosul, where it arrived on August 28th. It left the brigade on November 21st, 1941 and headed for Mersa Matruh. GHQ Middle East Force – 21 November 1941 to 4 December 1941 The battalion was in transit from Iraq to Mersa Matruh. 38th Indian Infantry Brigade – 4 December 1941 to 28 December 1941 On arrival at Mersa Matruh on December 4th, the battalion joined the 38th Indian Infantry Brigade. It took over the defences of the Charing Cross zone near Mersa Matruh under the brigade on December 6th, guarding aerodromes and supply depots. The battalion received orders on December 23rd that it was to be replaced in the 38th Brigade by 3/1st Punjab Regiment. It arrived at the railhead on December 26th and was ordered to Tobruk. It left the brigade on December 28th 1941 for Tobruk where it came under command of the 8th Army. 8th Army – 28 December 1941 to 3 January 1942 The battalion moved from Tobruk to join the 5th Indian Brigade. 5th Indian Infantry Brigade – 3 January 1942 to late February 1942 On January 3rd, 1942, it relieved the 3rd Battalion in the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade. It was located at Barce with the brigade by January 21st. The battalion then sent columns to patrol the El Abair-Carruba line until the 29th, when the columns were withdrawn. The 5th Brigade was then withdrawn over the northern road as the Germans attacked. It made Derna on February 2nd and Tmimi on the 3rd, where the battalion engaged the enemy for the first time. The brigade then withdrew to the Gazala Line, arriving at Acroma on February 4th. The brigade was relieved there during the third week of February and moved to Sollum then Sidi Barrani. Soon after arrival, the battalion was detached from the brigade to garrison the Giarabub Oasis. 8th Army – late February 1942 to April 1942 The battalion garrisoned the Giarabub oasis for two months. 161st Indian Infantry Brigade – April 1942 to 31 August 1945 Upon return to the Delta, the battalion moved to Khattaba and was ordered to convert to a motorized battalion. It joined the 161st Indian Motor Brigade at the same time. After the conversion, the battalion moved to El Alamein with the brigade. It dug defences for two weeks then went into battle with the brigade on July 19th. It was relieved in the front on July 26th and returned to the rear to rest until August 13th. It returned back to the front line at Ruweisat Ridge on August 14th and remained on the front line until November 7th, when the brigade was withdrawn to the rear. In mid-November, the brigade and battalion were sent to Iraq and the battalion was split up into detachments guarding the oil pipelines. When these duties were taken over by the Arab Legion in mid-February 1943, the battalion concentrated at Baghdad. It moved to Layafiya on March 3rdand then sailed from Iraq on May 26th, 1943 for India.
