A demi-rampant lion holding a cross crosslet. The demi-rampant lion is part of the arms of the Russell family whose ancestor had started the body of troops now formed into the Kumaon Regiment.
Military unit
The Kumaon Regiment is one of the oldest infantryregiments of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its origins to the 18th century and has fought in every major campaign of the British Indian Army and the Indian Army, including the two world wars, and is one of the highest decorated regiments of the Indian Army.[1]
The troop composition has been predominantly Kumaonis along with other several communities.[2][1][3] Some companies recruit only Ahirs from Ahirwal like the "C" Company of India's 13 Kumaon battalion.[4][5][6]
History
Indian soldiers from the 6th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment pull security before entering a room while conducting company movement procedures with the United States Army during Ex. Yudh Abhyas 2015 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.Members of the Kumaon Regiment Pipes and Drums during the opening ceremony of Yudh Abhyas in 2015.
Soldiering has been an important profession of the Kumaonis and the region has a long history of warfare with neighbours, including the Nepal and Garhwal.[3] The Kumaonis were never fully subjugated by the powerful Muslim dynasties of Delhi. They often offered their martial services as mercenaries, and fought on British side in the Anglo-Nepalese War.[7]
The Fierce fighting battalions of the Nizam of Hyderabad made up of Kumaonis and men from this region of the Himalayan foothills. Well before the split from royal Gurkha rifles, the kumaonis had been enlisted in the five regiments of Gurkhas belonging to the Bengal Infantry and the Punjab Frontier Force. The Third Gorkha Rifles recruited heavily from the then greater kumaon kingdom(which included parts of terai presently in Nepal) the large recruitment of Kumaonis led to this being known the Kemaoon Battalion.
The Kumaonis were recruited in the military of the East India Company from the early 19th century.[citation needed] They often moved to other states in search of military service, including in the service of the Nizam of Hyderabad.
In 1813, Sir Henry Russell, then British Resident in the court of Nizam of Hyderabad, raised the Russell Brigade comprising two battalions. Later, four more battalions were raised and they were known as the Berar Infantry. In addition, two battalions known as the Elichpur Brigade, were raised by Nawab Salabat Khan, Subedar of Berar, as a part of the Nizam's forces. The men of the Russell Brigade were chiefly Hindus, recruited from Oudh and other parts of Uttar Pradesh. Kumaonis, along with other North Indian classes served in the Hyderabad contingent which was raised, trained and led by British officers under Russell, but paid for by the Nizam of Hyderabad.[1]
By 1853, at the time of the signing of a treaty between the Nizam and the British, the Nizam's forces consisted of 8 battalions. The force was renamed as the Hyderabad Contingent, and became part of the British Indian Army, subsequently, becoming the 19th Hyderabad Regiment. Over time, the class composition changed to Kumaonis and several other communities.[1]
During World War I, a Kumaon battalion was raised at Ranikhet on 23 October 1917 as 4/39th Kumaon Rifles. In 1918, it was redesignated as 1st Battalion, 50th Kumaon Rifles and a second battalion was raised. These were merged with the Hyderabad Contingent into the 19th Hyderabad Regiment in 1923. The first battalion of the 50th Kumaon Rifles survived to become the 1st Kumaon Rifles, and is today the 3rd Battalion, Kumaon Regiment (Rifles) of the Indian Army. Some units of the Berar and Elichpur infantry were demobilized after World War I. However, the Hyderabad Regiment was again expanded during World War II.[1]
On 27 October 1945, after the Second World War, the 19th Hyderabad Regiment was renamed as 19th Kumaon Regiment. Post-independence, it has been known as the Kumaon Regiment.[1]
Two state forces battalions, 4th Gwalior Infantry and Indore Infantry were allocated to the Kumaon Regiment becoming 14 Kumaon (Gwalior) and 15 Kumaon (Indore) respectively.[1]
The senior battalion, 1 Kumaon, originally raised in March 1813, was converted to the airborne role in 1946. It fought with distinction in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 as 1 Kumaon (Para). It remained a part of the regiment until April 1952 when it was formally inducted into the Parachute Regiment as 3 Para (Kumaon). In 2000, the battalion was converted to Special Forces as part of the expansion of the special operations forces of the Indian Army, and renamed 3rd Battalion Para (Special Forces) or 3 Para (SF).
Upon conversion to Para(SF), class composition has been made heterogeneous, consisting of men from all across India.[1]
On 1 November 1970, the Naga Regiment was raised and affiliated with the Kumaon Regiment.[1] The class composition of this regiment comprises Nagas, Kumaonis, Garhwalis and Gurkhas.
A Border Scouts battalion was raised and named as "Kumaon Scouts".[1]
During World War I, the first all Kumaoni battalions were raised. The first was formed in 1917 as the 19th Kumaon and redesignated in 1918 as the 1st Battalion, 50th Kumaon Rifles when it fought in the Battle of Megiddo (1918). A 2nd Battalion was also raised in 1918 but disbanded in 1923. The Hyderabad Contingent, with its mixed Kumaoni, Jats, Ahirs and Deccan Muslims, continued and fought with distinction in the Great War. In 1922, during the Indian Army reorganisation, the six regiments of the Hyderabad Contingent were renamed as the 19th Hyderabad Regiment and infantry companies formed from the Kumaon region replaced many of the Deccan Muslim-based companies. In 1923 the 1/50th Kumaon Rifles joined the 19th Hyderabad Regiment as the 1st Kumaon Rifles.[9] In 1935 the battalion commanders attempted to have the regiment renamed as the 19th Kumaon Regiment, due to the diminishing links to the Deccan and Hyderabad regions. The request was refused.[8]
The 4th Battalion was part of the 12th Indian Infantry Brigade based in Malaya when the Japanese Army invaded in December 1941. The 4/19th Hyderabads were one of the few battalions in Malaya that were relatively well trained in jungle warfare. Although the battalion performed well in the fighting retreat in north-west Malaya, they were practically annihilated at the disastrous Battle of Slim River on 7 January 1942. The few survivors of the 4th Battalion were withdrawn to Singapore where they took part in the brief defence of the island before it surrendered on 15 February 1942.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48
1 Kumaon(airborne) [now 3rd PARA SF] and 4 Kumaon was dispatched to Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the defence of Srinigar. 4 Kumaon elements were decisive in the Battle of Badgam. The valor of kumaonis saved kashmir from Pakistani intruders, in recognition of the gallant action in kashmir, 1st and 4th kumaon were hailed as the saviors of kashmir and bestowed with the battle honor "Srinagar(badgam)". It was for this action that Major Somnath Sharma was posthumously awarded the Param veer chakra. It was a singular honour for the kumaon regiment to be the first to win the highest recognition for gallantry in the face of enemy.
On 21 October 1962, the Chinese attacked the Dhola sector in Arunachal Pradesh's Kameng Division at a post at Kibithu (40km away from Walong). The battle started by Chinese machine guns and mortars fire from south of Sama, followed by infantry attacks on two platoons with over 3000 soldiers. It started at around midnight and went on for three hours. At about 5 am, the Chinese reinforced their assaulting troops and launched another fierce attack. About 60-70 Chinese soldiers died in that attack and four Indian soldiers were killed, including Vir Chakra awardee Naik Bahadur Singh, who took over the light machine gun (LMG) after his LMG detachment was killed, and kept firing till he was hit in the chest. In the days to follow, multiple such skirmishes and change in deployments took place, both from the Indian and the Chinese side. Acknowledging that Kibithu could not be defended, 6 Kumaon was ordered to withdraw to Walong.[12]
"23 October marks a landmark win against the 153 Regt of PLA (Chengdu Sub area) when Delta Company of 6 Kumaon under Lt Bikram Singh Rathore (IC 11867) was ordered to establish screen position on Ashi Hill (NH 5484). Lt. Bikram Singh planned and executed a classic ambush at a small hanging bridge over Namti Nallah (5 km away from Walong). Lt Bikram removed the last few planks of the hanging bridge and positioned his men at various positions adjoining Namti Nullah and sighted the MMGs and Mortars of his men on spots likely to be enemy position and to bring down accurate fire. Lt Bikram Singh briefed his soldiers to hold fire until he fired the first 'Very Light'. At 3 a.m. on 23 October, the Chinese Army marching towards Walong walked down Ashi hill to reach the hanging bridge on Namti Nullah. The first Chinese soldier of 153 Regiment crossed the bridge and stepped on the last few plank and fell into the nullah. The following Chinese soldiers milled around and Lt. Bikram Singh fired the first Very Light revealing the Chinese in a cramped path of a planned accurate fire of Indian MMG and Mortar fire. About 200 Chinese troops were killed or wounded in this action against nine Indian fatalities. At 4 a.m. the screen by Delta Company of 6 Kumaon was ordered to withdraw.[13][14][15]
After the success at Namti Nullah, The Delta Company of 6 Kumaon was tasked to occupy critical defenses on "West Ridge" overlooking the Advanced Landing Grounds, Walong.
On 5 November, there were multiple exchanges of fire between the Indian and the Chinese troops when a company under then Captain Ravi Mathur was asked to occupy Green Pimple and rescue an Assam Rifles patrol which was ambushed in the area.
On 14 November 1962, 6 Kumaon attacked and captured Chinese defenses in the Walong sector, Arunachal Pradesh, without any artillery or aerial support.[citation needed] This was the only battle of the war in which an Indian unit attacked the Chinese, rather than defending. The attack continued until 15 November but the captured positions could not be sustained because of a lack of ammunition, heavy casualties and large enemy buildup.[16]
The main Battle of Walong[17] was on 16 November, when a large number of soldiers of the PLA 130 division launched an offensive on approx. 100 soldiers of Delta Company of 6 Kumaon which was holding defense of West Ridge. Lt. Bikram was tasked to hold this defense at all costs till 1100 hours[18] and he promised Brigadier N.C. Rawley that he would never withdraw & hold on till his end. Waves of Chinese attacks came on his post one after the other. However, Kumaonis fought gallantly and repulsed the attack. Then the Chinese fanned out and the next attack came with an overwhelming superiority of numbers from three sides (the fourth side was a steep cliff) and was supported by machine gun fire & artillery bombardment. The tenacity of the troops still prevented the Chinese to capture West Ridge, however at a heavy price of precious & brave lives. By now, Lt Bikram Singh had held on to the post well beyond the assigned time of 1100 hrs. He was now left with a handful of troops, all their ammunition was exhausted and had no logistical support. They then engaged in hand-to-hand combat and fought to the last man and bullet. In the words of Brig. N. C. Rawlley, MC,
"He (Lt. Bikram Singh) held on as long as humanly possible. Very few men from his Company managed to escape. The bulk of them being killed and wounded on the hill. Under his courageous and gallant leadership the men fought until all their ammunition was exhausted and they were completely overrun. Bikram's message to me over the wireless was that he would hold on and not withdraw. He has fulfilled these words to the limit."[18]
It is said that five times as many Chinese soldiers died in this battle of 16 November on West Ridge.[19] Only 17 Indian soldiers of Delta Company returned from this battle.[20][21][22]
In March 1963, a cremation party of 6 Kumaon, led by Maj Prem Nath Bhatia reached Walong to cremate Lt. Bikram Singh and soldiers of Delta Company on West Ridge, however, due to heavy snow, the operation could not be completed.[23] Subsequently, this assignment could not be completed because of the untimely death of Maj. Bhatia in 1965, in a road accident. In 1986 (almost 24 years after the Battle of Walong) a patrol party of the 6th Battalion of The Assam Regiment climbed up to West Ridge and discovered the skeletal remains of the soldiers of Delta Company of 6 Kumaon who died fighting on 16 November 1962. A lot of war relics such as helmets, LMG magazines, water bottles and used/burnt ammunition and a pair of binoculars (possibly of the company commander, Lt. Bikram Singh) were also found on the site.[24] The Patrol party of 6th Assam Regiment cremated the bodies of at least 37 soldiers of Delta Company and kept their ashes in a make shift memorial on the West Ridge. 6th Assam Regiment also constructed a memorial of "Unknown Soldiers" displaying the helmets and battle relics. This memorial is also known as Helmet Top Post and is a short drive from Walong town. Based on this development, the records of the Kumaon Regiment have been updated with the following citation "remarks Killed/missing mentioned on the authorization of ....... Records of the Kumaon Regiment. Letter no A4/380/6/Stats dt/ 15/04/88 (Ref File No. 260/on Page 97)".
Five Vir Chakras were awarded to 6 Kumaon for their actions in the battle. They were awarded to (1) Maj. Prem Nath Bhatia (2) Capt Ravi Kumar Mathur (3) Capt. B.C. Chopra, AMC (4) Nk. Bahadur Singh (5) Lt. A.S. Khatri. The battalion celebrates 14 November as Walong Day.
The area assigned to C Company was defended by three platoon positions, but the surrounding terrain isolated 13 Kumaon from the rest of the regiment. The Indian artillery was located behind a hill feature blocking the line of fire so the infantry had to fight the battle without artillery support. The Chinese suffered no such disadvantage and brought heavy artillery fire upon C Company.
The Chinese attack, which was expected, came through a dry river bed. It was repulsed with heavy machine gun fire by the Indian soldiers. The Chinese regrouped and attacked persistently with more reinforcements. Maj. Shaitan Singh went from post to post raising the morale of his men and continued to fight even after being seriously wounded. Of C Company's 120 troops, 114 men were killed; 5 were severely injured and captured. They are all said to have escaped captivity and returned. The other remaining survivor was sent by Shaitan Singh to inform the headquaraters. The Chinese casualties are not known, but a memorial in Rewari claims that 1,300 Chinese soldiers were killed in the battle.[31]
Maj. Shaitan Singh posthumously won the Param Vir Chakra for his actions, the second for the Kumaon Regiment (the first being won by Maj. Somnath Sharma). Other soldiers defending Rezang La who were awarded Vir Chakras were Nk. Hukum Chand (posthumous), Nk. Gulab Singh Yadav, L/Nk. Ram Singh (posthumous), Sub. Ram Kumar and Sub. Ram Chander.
Two Kumaoni Battalions continued to operate against the guerrillas. One Infantry Brigade was ordered to oust the enemy from the area, own side of a river and destroy the bridges.
The enemy was holding the area with a company of 23 Azad Kashmir and one company of the Pakistani special forces unit – Special Service Group . Lt Col Salick decided to attack the feature with two Companies. It was to be a silent attack, though the battalion had adequate artillery support on call. The leading platoon under Jemadar Ram Singh hit an enemy minefield shortly after midnight on 21 September. Despite being wounded, this brave JCO pressed forward to find a way through the mines.
At 7.45 AM the assaulting companies resumed the advance. Despite the heavy automatic fire that greeted them, the Kumaonis charged. In the initial assault, Capt (later Maj Gen) Surendra Shah, and his signaller were wounded. The fighting thereafter was fierce and continued for two and a half hours. Capt Shah was wounded a second time but he refused to be evacuated till the battle was over.
The Kumaonis tenacity ultimately won the day and the hill was in their hands at 10 AM. For conspicuous gallantry in the action, Capt Surendra Shah received Vir Chakra. Another recipient of this award was Nk Chander Singh. In addition to these awards, one officer and two JCOs were Mentioned in Despatches. To commemorate the Kumaonis victory, the hill was named the KUMAON Hill.
It was a significant achievement as a regular infantry battalion's Kumaoni troops ousted re-enforced enemy positions at significant heights occupied by better equip enemy special forces unit. [32][33]
This however was not the last encounter between the kumaoni troops and Pakistani commandos as they faced off again on the icy heights of siachen in '84.
3rd Kumaon (Rifles)
The Chhamb sector saw heavy fighting between the Indian and Pakistani troops. On moving from Srinagar to Akhnur, 3rd Kumaon was ordered to undertake several operations against the Pakistani forces in this sector. One of these included a raid on Gulaba-Chappar, a strong enemy position, in which 63 casualties were inflicted on the enemy at loss of 5 (4 injured, 1 Killed). Large quantities of arms and ammunitions were captured.
Later, the Battalion was tasked with capturing the Keri-Pail area held by approximately one infantry battalion. At 3:15 AM, the battalion's A Coy, led by Major Dhirendra Nath Singh, charged the enemy post at Keri and captured it after a fierce hand-to-hand fight. Meanwhile, C Coy had made an abortive attack on Pail and was held by the positions Pakistani defenders. Then, a counterattack from the Pakistanis drove C Coy back, who were able to successfully retreat under A Coy's fire.[34]
Battle of Maharajke
Another Kumaon Battalion captured 'Maharajke' in West Pakistan with a fierce attack during the night of 6 and 7 September 1965. On 13 September 1965, the Battalion attacked and captured village Pagowal an enemy stronghold which was 13 miles inside Pakistan . Not content with this, by 23 September 1965 (the day cease fire came into effect) the Battalion had made another deep wedge into Pakistani territory.
Nk Ganesh Dutt was awarded Vir Chakra for his conspicuous bravery. The Battalion was also awarded four Mentioned in Dispatches and four Chief of the Army Staff Commendation Cards during these operations and was bestowed with the Theatre Honour ‘ Punjab ’.[35]
Battle of Chhamb
To preempt Pakistani attacks into India, a Kumaon battalion advanced into the Mandiala Heights in West Pakistan at the end of August 1965. Before they had the chance to set up any defenses, the Pakistan Army began a major offensive in the Chhamb sector during the early hours of 1 September, accompanied by massive artillery shelling targeting the Kumaon battalion's positions. There followed an armoured thrust by two Pakistani armoured divisions. Faced with enemy advancing from 3 sides, the battalion held off for a day and a half. On 2 September, the battalion was ordered to withdraw after they had destroyed four Pakistani tanks. One Vir Chakra was awarded for the action.
ColonelNarendra Kumar (mountaineer) of the Kumaon Regiment was the first one to undertake reconnaissance missions (in 1977 and 1981) on the Siachen glacier. His efforts were key to the Indian Army's reclamation of the forward posts of the glacier in Operation Meghdoot in 1984.
The Indian Army's initiative to hold the Siachen Glacier consisted of units of the Kumaon Regiment and the Ladakh Scouts. It was led by Maj. R.S. Sandhu, who was awarded the Vir Chakra for his leadership. Capt. Sanjay Kulkarni's unit was the first to land on Bilafond La and hoist the Indian tricolour. Kumaon units were instrumental in Indian success in capturing the glacier and repelling Pakistani attempts to retake it.[37]
Anticipating a Pakistani attack on the glacier at the start of the spring thaw in 1984, a full Kumaon battalion led by Lt. Col. (later Brigadier) D.K. Khanna, marched on foot with full packs and equipment for weeks in the dead of the winter across Zoji La, through the world's toughest terrain, highest altitudes and most forbidding climate. To their credit they achieved this without suffering a serious casualty or a single fallout en route. They also became the first battalion to operate as a unit in the Nubra Valley and on the Siachen Glacier.
19 Kumaon was the first battalion to hoist the Indian flag on the Saltoro Ridgeline (at Point 5705, an altitude of 18,717 feet) in the face of enemy fire, thus dominating Gyongla (18,655 feet) which was under enemy occupation. On 29 May 1984, 19 Kumaon lost 19 of its best soldiers, including one officer (2Lt. P.S. Poondir), who had volunteered to obey orders which they fully knew could take them to their certain death. During April and May 1984, 19 Kumaon was spread all through the area of Siachen with Capt. Roshan Lal Yadav at the Indira Col, Maj. Shashi Kant Mahajan and Maj. Darshan Lal Julka on the Central Glaciers (Gyongla, Zingrulma Lagongma, and Layogma Glaciers) and Maj. Rajender Singh Hooda in the Urdelop Glacier. 19 Kumaon was thus the first battalion ever to be spread out so much on the glacier (about 100km), which, perhaps, no other battalion has been subjected to ever since.[38]
Nk. (later Subedar/Honorary Captain) Ram Mehar Singh was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his gallant role during the move. This turned out to be a vital move that enabled Indian victory in Operation Meghdoot.
Kumaon units were deployed to Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan. A Kumaon battalion was the first Indian Army unit to land in Jaffna at the Palali airfield.[37] It successfully cleared the Kokuvil area, and moving to Mallakam. A number of LTTE militants were killed or captured.
Another battalion was deployed to search and destroy LTTE camps in the Kumurupiddi and Irrakandi areas of the Trincomalee Sector. Among the areas in which Kumaon units were deployed and operated included Kilividdi of Muttur Sector, Sampur, Vellvutturai and Point Pedro.
Kumaon units were deployed during Operation Vijay to oust Pakistan Army regulars who had infiltrated the Kargil sector in Ladakh posing as insurgents. In difficult terrain and hostile weather conditions, they cleared and captured a number of altitude features. The regiment was honored with a number of gallantry awards for the operations.
Units
1988 postal stamp to mark the bicentenary of the 4th BattalionStamp issued in 2017 on the occasion of the Centenary of the 3rd Battalion (Rifles) of the Kumaon Regiment.
Present units
2nd Battalion (Berar Battalion)
3rd Battalion (Battle of Sharon, Kumaon Rifles)
4th Battalion (The Fighting Fourth, First PVC Paltan)
5th Battalion (Fierce Fifth)
6th Battalion (Jangis)
7th Battalion (Satvir Paltan)
8th Battalion (Elite Eight)
9th Battalion (Gallant Ninth)
11th Battalion (Double First)
12th Battalion (Daudkhandis)
13th Battalion (Rezangla Battalion, Second PVC Paltan, Bravest of The Brave)
15th Battalion (former Indore State Infantry, Imperial Service Troops) (Bravest of The Brave)
Affiliations The Kumaon Regiment also has affiliated to it three battalions of the Naga Regiment, a Navy ship and an Air Force Squadron.[40]
Battle honours
As on date the regiment has earned 23 battle honours. Of these, 9 have been awarded in the post-Independence period. The list of battle and theatre honours of the Kumaon Regiment are as follows:[41]
Pre-World War I: [nb 1] Nagpore* – Maheidpoor* – Nowah* – Central India* – Burma 1885–87* – China 1900 – Afghanistan 1919.
World War I: Neuve Chapelle – France and Flanders 1914–15 – Suez Canal – Egypt 19l5–16 – Gaza – Jerusalem – Megiddo – Sharon – Nablus – Palestine 1917–18 – Tigris 1916 – Khan Baghdadi – Mesopotamia 1915–18 – Persia 1915–18 – Suvla – Landing at Suvla – Scimitar Hill – Gallipoli 1915 – Macedonia 1916–18 – East Africa 1914–16 – North-West Frontier India 1914–15, 1916–17.
World War II:[nb 2] North Malaya – Slim River – Malaya 1941–42 – Kangaw – Bishenpur – Burma 1942–45.
Post-Independence:
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–48
Srinagar – Jammu and Kashmir 1947–48
Sino-Indian War
Walong – Battle of Walong, Arunachal Pradesh 1962
Rezang La – Ladakh 1962
Indo-Pakistani Conflict 1965
Sanjoi-Mirpur – Jammu and Kashmir 1965 – Punjab 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Bhaduria – Shamsher Nagar – East Pakistan 1971 – Jammu and Kashmir 1971 – Punjab 1971 – Gadra City – Sindh 1971.
The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. Its origins lay in the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. After the accession of the state to the Indian Union in October 1947, the State Forces came under the command of the Indian Army. They remained in the original form until 1956 when Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly effectively ratified the state's accession to India. Then the State Forces became the Jammu and Kashmir Regiment of the Indian Army. In 1963, the designation was changed to Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. After the conversion, the Ladakh Scouts came under the aegis of the Regiment, where it remained until raised as a separate Regiment in 2002.
The 11th Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army that was re-raised after independence. The regiment consists of primarily the Kirant Tribes Rai, Limbu, Yakkha, Sunuwar of Eastern Nepal, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Dooars of West Bengal, Sikkim and other parts of Northeast India. Though it is considered to be the youngest of the Gorkha regiments its lineage is as long as those of the 7th Gurkha Rifles and 10th Gurkha Rifles.
The Jat Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, of which it is one of the longest-serving and most decorated regiments. The regiment has won 19 Battle Honours between 1839 and 1947, and post-independence it has won Five Battle Honours, including 3 Ashok Chakra, 2 Victoria Cross, 2 George Cross, 13 Kirti Chakra, 8 Mahavir Chakra, 3 Military Medal, 53 Shaurya Chakras, 39 Vir Chakras and 343 Sena Medals. During its 200-year service history, the regiment has participated in various actions and operations in India and abroad, including the First and the Second World Wars. Numerous battalions of the Jat Regiment, including the 14th Murray's Jat Lancers, fought in the First World War.
The Dogra Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its roots directly from the 17th Dogra Regiment of the British Indian Army. When transferred to the Indian Army like its sister regiments, the numeral prefix was removed. Dogra Regiment Units Maximum filled with Rajputs And Sikh. Units of the Dogra Regiment have fought in all conflicts that independent India has been engaged in, making it one of the most prestigious and most decorated regiments of the Indian Army.
The Brigade of The Guards is a mechanised infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised as the first "all India", "all class" infantry unit of the Army where troops from all parts of India serve together, as opposed to other regiments that recruit from specific regions, ethnic groups or religions.
The Parachute Regiment is an airborne and special forces regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised in 1945 as part of the British Indian Army but was disbanded after World War II and was re-raised in 1952 as part of the Indian Army. Currently it consists of fifteen Special Forces, two Territorial Army and one Rashtriya Rifles battalions.
The Mechanised Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, comprising 27 battalions dispersed under various armoured formations throughout India. Together with the 23 battalions of Brigade of the Guards, they form part of the Mechanised Infantry arm, which along with the Armoured Corps form the Mechanised Forces.
The Poona Horse is an armoured regiment in the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army. The regiment, known before independence as The Poona Horse, was raised as a regular cavalry regiment in the Bombay Presidency army of the East India Company. It was formed from the 3rd Regiment of Bombay Light Cavalry, raised in 1820, and the Poona Auxiliary Horse, raised about 1817–18. The latter unit was absorbed into the regular forces about 1860 and the two regiments later became the 33rd Queen Victoria's Own Light Cavalry and the 34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse.
The Garhwal Rifles, are an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was originally raised in 1887 as the 39th (Garhwal) Regiment of the Bengal Army. It then became part of the British Indian Army, and after the Independence of India, it was incorporated into the Indian Army.
The Naga Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It is among the youngest regiments of the Indian Army - the first battalion was raised in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand in 1970. The regiment recruits mainly from Nagaland, in northeast India.
The Bihar Regiment is an Indian Army infantry regiment. It traces its origins back to the British Indian Army. The Bihar Regiment was formed in 1941 by regularising the 11th (Territorial) Battalion, the 19th Hyderabad Regiment, and raising new battalions. The Bihar Regimental Centre (BRC) is located at Danapur Cantonment, Patna, the second oldest cantonment of India. INS Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy's largest ship and one of its two aircraft carriers is affiliated to the Bihar Regiment, Indian Army's highly decorated and battle-hardened unit.
The 11th Infantry Division is an infantry division of the Indian Army. It was raised as a part of the Indian Army during World War II. It formed part of Indian III Corps in the Malaya Command during the Battle of Malaya. The division was re-raised on 1 April 1965 and is presently part of the XII Corps of Southern Command. It is presently responsible for safeguarding the borders with Pakistan along Southern Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Lt. Gen. Hanut Singh Rathore, PVSM, MVC was an Indian General Officer. He was a recipient of India's second highest military decoration, the Maha Vir Chakra, for his role in the Battle of Basantar during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
The Officers Training Academy (OTA) is a training establishment of the Indian Army that trains officers for the Short Service Commission (SSC). The 49-week course at the OTA prepares graduates for all branches of the Army, except for the Army Medical Corps. Established in 1963, the first academy is located in Alandur, a southern neighbourhood of Chennai. OTA chennai has an impressive tally of gallantry award including 1 Param Vir Chakra, 8 Ashoka Chakra, 10 Maha Vir Chakra, 22 Kirti Chakra, 63 Vir Chakra, 119 Shaurya Chakra and 587 Sena Medal earned by the officers commissioned from this academy bears testimony to the Valour and dedication displayed by the Alumni. A new academy was set up at Gaya in 2011; but was given the go-ahead in December 2019 to be disbanded.
The Ladakh Scouts is a mountain infantry regiment of the Indian Army, nicknamed as the "Snow Warriors" or "Snow Leopards". The regiment specializes in cold-weather warfare and mountain warfare, long-range penetration, maneuver warfare, raiding with small unit tactics, and reconnaissance in difficult to reach and dangerous terrain. Its primary role is to guard India's borders in the high altitudes of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
20th Lancers is an armoured regiment in the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army. The regiment distinguished itself in operations with its defence of Chhamb in Jammu and Kashmir during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War and won one Maha Vir Chakra. It has provided one Chief of Army Staff and two Army Commanders.
Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VrC, SM, ADC is a retired General Officer of the Indian Army. He was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command, assuming office from Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on 1 February 2020. He last served as the Chief of staff of the Northern Command, assuming the office from Lt Gen SK Sharma. Previously, he was the commander of Leh based Fire & Fury Corps. As Army Commander he is credited with spearheading the Indian response to PLA's attempt to alter the status quo on Line of Actual Control (LAC) by use of force. He is the only war decorated Army Commander who has to his credit successes against both Indian adversaries China and Pakistan.
The 54th Infantry Division is an Infantry division of the Indian Army. The Division was raised as an Infantry Division, but was converted into a Reorganised Amphibious Formation (RAMFOR) in 2011. It is currently the only division of the Indian Army which carries out Amphibious warfare. The division is headquartered at Secunderabad in Telangana and is a part of XXI Corps. The Division is commanded by an Officer of the rank of Major General titled General Officer Commanding (GOC).
26 Air Defence Regiment is an Air Defence regiment of the Indian Army.
101 Field Regiment is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.
↑ Gorichen to Siachen, The Untold Saga of Hoisting the Tricolour on Saltoro By Brig DK Khanna, VSM - ISBN978-93-86367-10-5 Publisher Alpha Editions, Chapter 16, Page 116
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
India 
Indian Army 
Param Vir Chakras 
Ashok Chakras 
Padma Vibhushan 
Padma Bhushans 
Param Vishisht Seva Medals 
Maha Vir Chakras 
Kirti Chakras 
Padma Shri 
Uttam Yudh Seva Medals 
Ati Vishisht Seva Medals 
Vir Chakras (including 1 Bar)
Shaurya Chakras 
Yudh Seva Medal 
Sena Medals (including 2 Bars 
Vishisht Seva Medals 
