A brief history of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment

A BRIEF HISTORY of the 3rd Battalion 1st PUNJAB REGIMENT
formerly
76th Punjabis 16th Madras Infantry 16th Regiment, Madras Native Infantry 2nd Battalion, 5th Madras Native Infantry 16th Madras Battalion 16th Carnatic Battalion, or Lane’s Battalion
Printed by GALE & POLDEN LIMITED Wellington Works, Aldershot 1927
THIS HISTORY IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF OUR COMRADES OF ALL RANKS OF THE 76TH PUNJABIS WHO WERE KILLED OR DIED DURING THE GREAT WAR
This brief history has been compiled and published to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Raising of the 16th Carnatic Battalion and its continuous service from 1776 to this date.
December 10th, 1926.

December 10th, 1776: Formation.
Owing to a threatened invasion of the Carnatic by the Mahrattas, the growing power of Hyder Ali of Mysore, and war with the French, it was considered necessary to increase the troops of the Madras Government. The native portion of the army then consisted of eight battalions, and eight more were raised, the present 3rd Battalion 1st Punjab Regiment being formed by drafts from the other battalions and designated the 16th Carnatic Battalion or “Lane’s” Battalion. Captain Thomas Lane was the first Commandant, and Ensign James Richardson the first Adjutant.
1778.
The Battalion remained at Trichinopoly, where it was raised, until 1778, when it joined the main army under Sir Hector Munro for the reduction of the French Settlement of Pondicherry. This place was invested on August 8th and capitulated on October 17th. The Battalion’s casualties were:—Killed—1 sergeant, 1 naik, 19 sepoys. Wounded—1 lieutenant, 5 havildars, 2 naiks, 1 drummer, 26 sepoys. A total of 56.