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

The story begins in 1776, when a new native battalion was raised to bolster the Madras Presidency's forces against French incursions and the rising threat of Hyder Ali. Drawn from drafts of existing units, the soldiers first saw action at Pondicherry and later defended key forts such as Permacoil, earning commendations for steadiness under fire. Their early experiences on the Carnatic frontier set the tone for a tradition of resilience and adaptability.

In the following decades the unit would be redesignated several times, eventually becoming the third battalion of the First Punjab Regiment. It marched from the jungles of Burma to the deserts of Egypt, fighting in the First World War’s brutal Mesopotamian campaigns and later in the Third Afghan War. Listeners are invited to travel through campaign diaries, honors lists, and personal anecdotes that illuminate a century‑long saga of sacrifice and camaraderie.