Badge, 1st Sikh Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force, pre-1901

Silver plate badge with regimental number, '1', within a garter bearing the inscription, 'Sikh Infantry', within a wreath and surmounted by a crown, with scrolls below bearing the battle honour, 'Punjab', and the unit title, 'Punjab Frontier Force'.

The origin of this regiment goes back to 1846 when Captain J S Hodgson raised the 1st Sikh Infantry following the 1st Sikh War (1845-1846). It was one of four Sikh infantry regiments created to form the Frontier Brigade, named after the North West Frontier with Afghanistan. In 1851 the force became known as the Punjab Irregular Force (The 'Piffers' for short) and later became the Punjab Frontier Force in 1865.

As part of the reorganisation of the Indian Army in 1903, the regimental name was changed to the 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force). In 1922 the 51st became the 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales' Own Sikhs) 12th Frontier Force Regiment. The unit's final name change under British rule came in 1945 when the Regiment became the 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales' Own Sikhs) Frontier Force Regiment. The Regiment was allocated to the Pakistan Army after Partition in 1947.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.