The Colours, mess plate, and band instruments were handed over to the new Battalion, and Lieut.-Colonel J. Jackson, of the old 16th, was appointed Commandant. Drafts of about two hundred non-commissioned officers and men were received from various Punjab Battalions and the new Battalion recruited up to full strength, the majority of the British officers being those of the 16th Madras Infantry.
The new composition of the Battalion was:—
- Two companies of Sikhs.
- Two companies of Hindu Jats.
- Four companies of Punjabi Mussalmans.
The uniform remained scarlet, but the facings were changed to emerald green from yellow.
In this year sanction was accorded for General Officers, who had been previously connected with Battalions of the Indian Army, being appointed Honorary Colonels thereof. Accordingly Major-General Henry S. Elton, who had formerly served for thirty-two years in the 16th Madras Infantry, was appointed the first Honorary Colonel.
1904.
By the end of 1904, the Battalion was reported fit for service.
1908.
In March, 1908, the Battalion proceeded to Tientsin, North China, for garrison duty, finding detachments at Chinwangtao and Shanhaikwan. It returned to India in 1911 and was stationed at Jhelum.