Chris_Baker Posted 24 February , 2004 Share Posted 24 February , 2004 10780 Pte F. W. Watson. Serves with 2nd Kings (Liverpool) from 1909, and is in India with them when war starts. Enters, according to his medal index card, theatre of war 5G in April 1915. Now as far as I know, 5G is the Hafiz region of the sub-continent. And I don't even know where that is, let alone what happened there to make it a theatre of war! Can anyone tell me? At some point he is transferred and becomes 94489 Pte in the Machine Gun Corps. A quick analysis on Soldiers Died tells me that this number is indicative of either 222 or 260 Company MGC, both in India. PROCAT database tells me they both have war diaries but only from mid 1919. Watson is however discharged with a silver badge in February 1919. Can anyone tell me anything at all about theformation of these Companies and what they did? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 24 February , 2004 Share Posted 24 February , 2004 Chris, These MG Coys were in the Indian Army and therefore their War Diaries are at the India Office. I have some moreinfo at home post later. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Parker Posted 27 February , 2004 Share Posted 27 February , 2004 Chris 222nd MG Coy served with 2nd (Nowshera) Bde., 2nd (Rawalpindi) Div. Joining in June 1917. 260th MG Coy served with Lahore Bde., 16th (Indian) Div. Joining in August 1918. I've never delved into Indian units so I'm not sure of their history. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 27 February , 2004 Share Posted 27 February , 2004 Nice one Geoff. Sorry Chris - I have no more info - only 14th (Indian) Division which included the 185/186/187 MG Coys. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 28 February , 2004 Author Share Posted 28 February , 2004 Thanks guys. Bit obscure to say the least, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 28 February , 2004 Share Posted 28 February , 2004 Chris Regards location, Hafiz Kor- North West Frontier Province. This also fits in in well with his previous unit 2nd Kings, who were at Peshawar on the outbreak of war with 1st (Peshawar) Division. In April 1915, the Division defeated some 2,400 Mohamands at Hafiz Kor, the first of three engagements in that area during the war. Operations continued between 17th August and and 28th October against Mohamands, Bunerwals and Swatis. On 5th September, a force of of some 10,000 tribesman were defeated in a hard fought battle. During 1916, a blockade line of trenches, fences and blockhouses were set up to prevent raiding by the Mohamands and in November a force of some 6,000 tribesmen were defeated at Hafiz Kor. The blockade continued into the summer of the following year when the Mohamands eventually dispersed, and in July submitted. Both of your machine gun units also served on the North West Frontier. Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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