The 15th Punjab Regiment was formed in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th Punjabis. All five battalions were raised during the upheaval of the Indian Mutiny in 1857 by John Lawrence in the Punjab. The 27th Punjabis served in China during the Second Opium War in 1860–62, while the 26th and 29th Punjabis participated in the Bhutan War of 1864–66. All battalions saw service on the North West Frontier of India and took part in the Second Afghan War of 1878–80, while the 26th and 27th Punjabis also served in the Third Anglo-Burmese War of 1885–87. In 1901, the 27th Punjabis were dispatched to British Somaliland to suppress the resistance movement led by Diiriye Guure of the Dervish State.