This Day in History: 1936-10-01

Lieutenant Colonel Francis Tuker assumed command of the 1st Battalion. It enabled him to put into practice for the first time a reversal of the long-held defensive approach to campaigning on the North West Frontier to offensive tactics.  He identified the need for greater mobility, better communications and improved marksmanship, all of which could be achieved through more and better training.  The regimental diarist commented: ‘Tuker was no more than in command when he began to put ideas into practice, and during November and December 1936  the 1st Battalion, freed from other duties, concentrated upon the basic exercises of manhunting’ .