A Lance Naik of the 25th Punjabis, 1904-1921 (c)

Photograph, 1904-1921 (c).

Lance naik was the equivalent Indian rank to lance corporal in the British Army. As well as the single rank chevron on his right sleeve the subject has three long service inverted chevrons on his lower left sleeve.

The 25th Punjabis was raised in 1857 as the 17th Regiment of Punjab Infantry and fought in the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859). It became the 25th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in 1861 and the 25th (Punjab) Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in 1863. It served in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) and in subsequent campaigns on the North West Frontier of India. The term 'Native' was dropped from the its in 1885 and with the reforms of the Indian Army in 1901 and 1903 it became the 25th Punjab Infantry and the 25th Punjabis respectively. A 2nd Battalion was formed in 1917 during World War One (1914-1918) and the regiment saw service in Mesopotamia and Salonika. Further reorganisation of the Indian Army in 1922 led to the disbandment of the 2nd Battalion and the regiment's amalgamation with four other Punjab regiments, to form the 15th Punjabis. The 25th Punjabis became the 1st Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment.

From an album of 301 photographs, 1904-1921, compiled by Lieutenant-Colonel C N Steel, 25th Punjabis.