Grave stones and memorial tablets are silent sign posts that provide a window not only to a life but a whole era. Memorial tablet of Major Philip Hockin at a church in Lahore is one such story.
He joined Indian army on 08 March 1841. He was promoted Lieutenant on 24 January 1845, Captain on 23 November 1856 and Major on 08 March 1861. He served with several regiments during his career and each regiment had its own unique history.
He was commissioned in 48th Bengal Native Infantry. Later, he transferred to 17th Bengal Irregular Cavalry. In October 1857, he raised and commanded 2nd Irregular Sikh Cavalry.
His parent 48th Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) was raised in 1804 as 2nd Battalion of 24th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. In 1824, it was renamed 48th BNI. Hockin joined the regiment immediately after it came back from the First Anglo Afghan War of 1839 41. In May 1857, regiment was stationed at Lucknow where part of the regiment mutinied and disappeared from Indian army list. During mutiny, he was second in command of 17th Bengal Irregular Cavalry and commanded a wing during minor operations in Leiah division of Punjab. This regiment was raised in January 1846. It survived the mutiny and in 1861 re-organization numbered 7th Bengal Cavalry. In 1921 reorganization, it was amalgamated with 6th King Edward’s Own Cavalry to form 18th Cavalry. In 1947, it was allotted to Indian army and survives today as an elite armor regiment of Indian army.
Later, he raised and commanded 2nd Irregular Sikh Cavalry. This regiment was the most irregular of the irregular regiments. It consisted of old soldiers of Khalsa army who responded to the call of Chief Commissioner of Punjab John Lawrence. They brought all types of horses and ponies and a wide variety of their own arms. 2nd Irregular Sikh Cavalry participated in some minor skirmishes in Oudh in 1858. In post mutiny re-organization, 2nd Irregular Sikh Cavalry was re-named 12th Bengal Cavalry and Hock in remained in command with new number. He died in March 1865 in England.
During mutiny, Captain Frederick Wale raised, and commanded Wale’s Horse also called Ist Sikh Irregular Cavalry. When Wale was killed in action on 01 March 1858, Major Dighton Probyn VC took over command. In post-mutiny re-organization, Ist Sikh Irregular Cavalry became 11th Bengal Lancers. In 1921 re-organization, 11th & 12th were amalgamated to form 5th King Edward’s Own Probyn’ s Horse. In 1947, regiment was allotted to Pakistan army. It is considered an elite armor regiment and many fine officers including Colonel Aga Javed Iqbal, Lieutenant General Shamsur Rahman Kallue, Major General Shah Rafi Alam and Lieutenant General S. M. Amjad belong to this regiment.
