The period of April and May 1942 was a very confusing period for Indian Army organisation in the Middle East. Veteran battalions were being replaced in the 4th and 5th Indian Divisions by relatively inexperienced battalions from the 8th and 10th Indian Divisions. One of these exchanges was the replacement of the 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry by the 3/9th Jat Regiment. All the dates below are from the regimental histories and Ball of Fire, the 5th Divisional History. 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry - Moved from 9th Indian Brigade to 25th Indian Brigade 17/4/42 - Battalion placed on 24 hours notice to move 23/4/42 - Entrained at Quassasin, Egypt for Habbaniya 25/4/42 - Reached Atira Camp, Haifa 1st week May 1942 - Reached Habbaniya and 25th Brigade HQ 9th Indian Infantry Brigade 15/4/42 - Left Qassasin for Halfaya Pass (No arrival date) 1st West Yorkshire Regiment - 9th Indian Brigade 16/4/42 - Entrained at Qassasin for Halfaya Pass 18/4/42 - Reached Halfaya Pass 3/12th Frontier Force Regiment - 9th Indian Brigade 13/4/42 - Left Qassasin for Halfaya Pass (No arrival date) 3/9th Jat Regiment - Moved from 25th Indian Brigade to 9th Indian Brigade 17/4/42 - Left Baghdad for Haifa and entrained at Haifa for Qassasin After a few days at Qassasin, during which it reequipped, it moved to Halfaya Pass to join 9th Brigade As can be seen, other than the date the the 3/9th Jat Regiment left Baghdad, there are no dates for its arrival at Qassasin, departure from Qassasin, and arrival at Halfaya Pass. Does anyone have any more information regarding these three dates for the 3/9th Jat Regiment? Also does anyone know when the 3/9th Jat Regiment embarked from Basra (Ship?) and when did it arrive in India?
Hi dryan67, Unfortunately, I cannot add any dates to your question. However, the 3/9th Jat Regt were in action at Bir El Aslagh on 5/6 June 1942 loosing their Commanding Officer and Second-in-Command - see recommendations for awards. Regards Bruneval
Bruneval: Thanks for the details of the Battalion's action during the Cauldron battle. This is the area I am moving onto now. dryan67
I have also added a request regarding the 3/9th Jats move to India from Iraq for when it embarked at Basra, on which ship, and then did it arrive at Bombay?
