Rawalpindi Parade 1905 facts for kids

The Rawalpindi Parade of 1905 was a huge military parade held in Rawalpindi, a city in what is now Pakistan. It took place on December 8, 1905. The parade was a special event to welcome and honor the Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales. They would later become King George V and Queen Mary of the United Kingdom.

The troops marching in the parade were part of the British Indian Army. They were led by a very famous military leader, Horatio Herbert, Viscount Kitchener of Khartoum. He was the Commander-in-Chief of the army in India at that time.

When the Prince and Princess arrived, they were escorted by soldiers from the 1st Skinner's Horse. The troops gave a special "Royal Salute" to honor them. Then, the Prince and Princess, along with Lord Kitchener, inspected the soldiers. After the inspection, all the different army units marched past them in a grand display.

Who Led the Parade?

The parade was a chance for the British Indian Army to show its strength and organization. Many important military leaders were present.

Key Commanders at the Parade

• Viscount Kitchener of Khartoum: He was the top commander of the army in India.
• Major General Douglas Haig: He was in charge of all cavalry (horse-mounted soldiers) in India.

What Kinds of Soldiers Marched?

The parade featured many different types of army units. Each unit had a specific role, like riding horses, firing cannons, or fighting on foot.

Cavalry Units: Soldiers on Horseback

Cavalry units were soldiers who fought while riding horses. They were often used for scouting, quick attacks, and chasing enemies.

• 1st Cavalry Brigade: Led by Brigadier General Robert Bellew Adams.
  • 22nd Sam Browne's Cavalry
  • 23rd Cavalry
  • Queens Own Corp of Guides Cavalry
• 2nd Cavalry Brigade: Led by Colonel F.S. Garratt.
  • 12th Royal Lancers
  • 8th Cavalry
  • 9th Hodson's Horse
• 3rd Cavalry Brigade: Led by Colonel A. Phayre.
  • 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
  • 7th Hariana Lancers
  • 11th Prince of Wales Own Lancers
• 4th Cavalry Brigade: Led by Brigadier General B.T. Mahon.
  • 3rd The King's Own Hussars
  • 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers
  • 15th Lancers (Cureton's Multanis)
• Other Cavalry Regiments:
  • 19th Lancers (Fane's Horse)
  • 1st Duke of York's Own Lancers
  • 25th Cavalry
  • 12th Cavalry

Artillery Units: Big Guns and Cannons

Artillery units were responsible for firing large guns and cannons. These weapons could hit targets from far away.

• Royal Horse Artillery: This group used cannons that could be moved quickly by horses.
• Royal Field Artillery: These units used cannons that were a bit heavier but still mobile.
• Royal Garrison Artillery: This group handled very heavy cannons, often used for defending forts or important areas.
• Mountain Division: Special artillery units designed to operate in hilly or mountainous terrain.

Engineers: Sappers and Miners

These soldiers were like the army's builders and problem-solvers. They built bridges, dug trenches, and handled explosives.

• Sappers and Miners: Led by Colonel A.E. Sandbach.
• Telegraph and Telephone Sections: These groups helped with communication, setting up telegraph and telephone lines for the army.

Infantry Divisions: Soldiers on Foot

Infantry soldiers are the main fighting force, moving and fighting on foot. The parade showed several large infantry divisions.

1st (Peshawar) Division

This division was led by Lieutenant General Sir E. Barrow. It included various brigades.

• 1st (Peshawar) Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st Seaforth Highlanders
  • 2nd Gordon Highlanders
  • 36th Sikhs
  • 38th Dogras
• 2nd (Nowshera) Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
  • 25th Punjabis
  • 45th Rattray Sikhs
  • 54th Sikhs
• 3rd (Frontier) Infantry Brigade:
  • 52nd Sikhs
  • 53rd Sikhs
  • 59th Scinde Rifles
  • Queens Own Corps of Guides

2nd (Rawalpindi) Division

This division was led by Major General J.H. Wodehouse.

• 5th (Jhelum) Infantry Brigade:
  • 25th Punjabis
  • 30th Punjabis
  • 56th Infantry
  • 58th Vaughan's Rifles
• 6th (Abbottabad) Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st 5th Gurkha Rifles
  • 2nd 5th Gurkha Rifles
  • 1st 6th Gurkha Rifles
  • 2nd 6th Gurkha Rifles
• 4th (Rawalpindi) Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
  • 1st Royal Irish Regiment
  • 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers
  • 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers

3rd (Lahore) Division

This division was led by Major General Walter Kitchener.

• 7th (Mian Mir) Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st Northamptonshire Regiment
  • 20th Duke of Cambridge's Own Infantry (Brownlow's Punjabis)
  • 21st Punjabis
  • 40th Pathans
• 8th (Ferozepore) Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st Dorsetshire Regiment
  • 14th Ferozepore Sikhs
  • 15th Ludhiana Sikhs
  • 19th Punjabis
• 9th (Baklok) Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st 1st Gurkha Rifles (The Maluan Regt)
  • 2nd 1st Gurkha Rifles (The Maluan Regt)
  • 1st 4th Gurkha Rifles
  • 2nd 4th Gurkha Rifles

4th (Quetta) Division

This division was led by Major General Sir O'Moore Creagh.

• 11th (Derajat) Infantry Brigade:
  • 22nd Punjabis
  • 29th Punjabis
  • 55th Coke's Rifles
  • 78th Moplah Rifles
• 12 (Garwhal) Infantry Brigade:
  • 2nd King's Royal Rifles
  • 1st Royal Irish Rifles
  • 1st 2nd Prince of Wales Own Gurkha Rifles
  • 2nd 2nd Prince of Wales Own Gurkha Rifles
• 10th (Sirkind) Infantry Brigade:
  • 1st Royal Sussex Regiment
  • 1st Gloucestershire Regiment
  • 2nd North Staffordshire Regiment
  • 1st Wiltshire Regiment