34th Sikh Pioneers, 1905 (c)

Watercolour by Alfred Crowdy Lovett (1862-1919), 1905 (c).

Portrait of a naik in service dress holding rifle with pickaxe strapped to his back.

The 34th Sikh Pioneers originated as the Punjab Sappers, raised in the Punjab, in 1857. The unit fought in the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859) subsequently becoming the 24th (Pioneer) Regiment of Punjab Infantry. Renumbered the 32nd Bengal Native Infantry in 1861, the regiment became the 32nd (Punjab) Bengal Native Infantry (Pioneers) in 1864.

The Regiment served in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) and the Chitral Expedition (1895). In 1903, the 32nd Punjab Pioneers became the 34th Sikh Pioneers. The Regiment went on to serve on the Western Front, in Mesopotamia and in Palestine during World War One (1914-1918). After the Great War, as part of the reforms of 1922, the unit became the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Sikh Pioneers.