Author Topic: Kumaun Regiment & Garhwal Rifle - कुमाऊँ रेजिमेंट एवं गढ़वाल राइफल (Read 101152 times)

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720 · « **on:** November 06, 2007, 11:18:15 AM »

Dosto,

There is no denying the fact that Kumoan Regiment and Garwal Rifle has been great source of employment for Uttarakhandi pepole since long. Imagin, had these two Regiment two regiments not been opened, the un-employment condition of the state would be much more worse.

Let us get some more informaiton about these two Regiments of Defence services of Govt of India.

M S Mehta

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 06, 2007, 01:28:37 PM »

Kumaon Regiment

The Kumaon Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its orgins with the British Indian Army and has fought in various campaigns including the two world wars. After independence, the regiment has fought in all major conflicts involving India.

History

The Kumaonis had been in British military service since the early 19th Century. As part of the North Indian class, who had joined the military of the East India Company's forces, the Kumaonis had moved to other states in search of military service. Thus they formed part of the Hyderabad Contingent, which was raised, trained and led by British officers under Henry Russel, but paid by the Nizam of Hyderabad. In 1857, in keeping with the class based composition of the infantry, the Regiment comprised Rajputs, Jats and Muslims. After the Great War, some Kumaoni battalions were raised separately, but the Hyderabadis continued and fought with distinction in the World War. In 1945, the Hyderabadis became the Kumaon Regiment. When the Naga Regiment and the Kumaon Scouts were raised, they came under the aegis of the Kumaon Regiment. It has the unique distinction of producing three Army Chiefs (General S M Srinagesh (4th Kumaon), General K S Thimayya (4th Kumaon) and General T N Raina (14th Kumaon)).

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 06, 2007, 01:30:05 PM »

Battle of Rezang La

Main Article: Sino-Indian War

The regiment has many heroic exploits to its credit. One of these, the last stand of Company C, 13 Kumaon Regiment at Rezang La has been placed in the ten most heroic stands in history along with the Defence of Saragarhi and Battle of Alamo. Of the 118 men at Rezang La, 109 men laid down their lives, 5 men were captured and only 4 men returned back alive.

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 06, 2007, 01:33:09 PM »

Active 1788 - Present (1945-Present with the name "The Kumaon regiment")

Country India

Branch Army
Type Infantry
Size 21 Battalions including 1 battalion of the Kumaon Scouts and 2 battalions of the Naga Regiment
Regimental Centre Ranikhet, Uttarakhand
Motto Parakramo Vijayate (Valour Triumphs)
War Cry Kalika Mata Ki Jai (Victory to the Great Goddess Kali)
Bajrang Bali Ki Jai (Victory to Bajrang Bali)
Dada Kishan Ki Jai (Victory to Dada Kishan) Jai Durge Naga

Decorations 2 Param Vir Chakras, 3 Ashoka Chakras, 10 Maha Vir Chakras, 6 Kirti Chakras, 2 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 78 Vir Chakras, 1 Vir Chakra & Bar, 23 Shaurya Chakras, 1 Yudh Seva Medal, 127 Sena Medals, 2 Sena Medals and Bar, 8 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 24 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 1 PV, 2 PB, 1 PS, 1 AW and 36 Vishisht Seva Medals.
Battle honours Post Independence
Srinagar (Badgam), Rezangla, Gadra City, Bhaduria, Daudkandi, Sanjoi Mirpur and Shamsher Nagar

Commanders
Notable
commanders General S M Srinagesh, General K S Thimayya and General T N Raina
Insignia
Regimental Insignia A demi-rampant lion holding a cross. The demi-rampant lion is part of the arms of the Russel family, whose ancestor had started the body of troops now formed into the Kumaon Regiment.

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 06, 2007, 01:36:02 PM »

BATTALION OF KUMOAN & NAGA REGIMENT

2nd Battalion (SECOND KUMAON)
3rd Battalion (THIRD KUMAON)
4th Battalion (FOUR KUMAON)
5th Battalion (FIVE KUMAON)
6th Battalion (SIX KUMAON)
7th Battalion (SEVEN KUMAON)
8th Battalion
9th Battalion
11th Battalion
12th Battalion
13th Battalion
15th Battalion
16th Battalion
17th Battalion (ex-31st Battalion)
18th Battalion
19th Battalion
20th Battalion
21st Battalion
Kumaon Scouts
1 Naga
2 Naga
The regiment has grown manifolds, it has in its fold Naga and Rashtriya Rifles battalions, Kumaon Scouts, Territorial Army units, a Parachute and Mechanised Infantry unit each, a Naval ship and a tank Regiment.[/b]

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 06, 2007, 01:36:58 PM »

Galantry Awards

Major Somnath Sharma, 4th Kumaon, was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous), for the Regiment in October 1947. He was also the first individual, from the three Services, to receive the Param Vir Chakra - India's highest award for gallantry. Major Shaitan Singh, 13th Kumaon, was the second recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous), in November 1962. The regiment has won 2 Param Vir Chakras, 3 Ashoka Chakras, 10 Maha Vir Chakras, 6 Kirti Chakras, 2 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 78 Vir Chakras, 1 Vir Chakra & Bar, 23 Shaurya Chakras, 1 Yudh Seva Medal, 127 Sena Medals, 2 Sena Medals and Bar, 8 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 24 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 1 PV, 2 PB, 1 PS, 1 AW and 36 Vishisht Seva Medals.

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 06, 2007, 01:38:10 PM »

Som Nath Sharma

Major Som Nath Sharma (1923–1947) was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, the highest Indian gallantry award. He was awarded the medal posthumously for his bravery in the Kashmir operations in November 1947. He died while evicting Pakistani infiltrators and raiders from Srinagar Airport during the Indo-Pak war of 1947-48 in Kashmir. He belonged to the 4th Kumaon Regiment.

Major Som Nath Sharma was born on 31 January 1923 in Dadh, Kangara District of Himachal Pradesh. He came from a well-known military family, his father, Major-General Amar Nath Sharma, was also a military officer as were his brothers Lt. General Surindar Nath Sharma (retired as the Engineer-in-chief) and General Vishwa Nath Sharma (retired as Chief of Army Staff, 1988-1990), and his sister Major Kamla Tewari (Medical Doctor).He did his schooling in Sherwood College, Nainital. He was commissioned into the 4th Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army (then British-Indian Army) on 22 February 1942. He also saw combat during the second World War in the Arakan Operations.

His company was airlifted to Srinagar on 31 October 1947. His right hand was in a plaster cast as a result of injuries sustained in the hockey field previously but he insisted on being with his company in combat and was given permission to go. On 3 November 1947, Major Somnath Sharma's company (D Company of 4 Kumaon) was ordered on a fighting patrol to Badgam Village in the Kashmir Valley. He was soon surrounded by the enemy from three sides and his company sustained heavy casualties from the ensuing artillery bombardment. He realized the importance of holding onto his position as both the city of Srinagar and the airport would be vulnerable if it were lost. Under heavy fire and outnumbered seven to one, he urged his company to fight bravely, often exposing himself to danger as he ran from post to post.

When heavy casualties adversely affected the firing power of his company, Major Sharma, with his right hand in plaster, took upon himself the task of filling the magazines and issuing them to men, operating light machine guns. While he was busy fighting the enemy, a mortar shell exploded on the ammunition near him. His last message to Brigade HQ received a few moments before he was killed was: "The enemy are only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to our last man and our last round."

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 06, 2007, 01:41:30 PM »

HEROS OF KUMOAN REGIMENTS.

Shaitan Singh

Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was born on December 1, 1924 at Jodhpur in Rajasthan. He was the son of Lieutenant Colonel Hem Singhji Bhati, and was commissioned in the Kumaon Regiment on 01 August 1949. Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry medal, posthumously, for his leadership and courage during the 1962 Indo-China War.

Background
The Indo-China conflict in 1962 was triggered by a dispute over Aksai Chin. Chusul sector, only 15 miles from the border as the crow flies and with an all weather landing strip was critical to the defence of Ladakh. Chushul is at 14,230 feet and is a small village in a narrow sandy valley about 25 miles long and 4 miles wide, flanked by mountains that rise to over 19,000 feet. Chushul was the solitary Indian position east of the Ladakh range. The importance of this sector was not lost on Major Shaitan Singh.

Rezang La is a pass and is on the south-eastern approach to Chushul Valley. The feature was 3000 yards long and 2000 yards wide at an average height of 16,000 feet.

During the 1962 Indo-China conflict, 13 Kumaon was deployed in Chushul sector. Major Shaitan Singh, who was a Rajput from Jodhpur commanded 'C' Company of 13 Kumaon. 'C' Company's three platoons were numbered 7, 8 and 9 and had .303 rifles with about 600 rounds per head, and between them six LMGs, and 1,000 grenades and mortar bombs.

[edit] Military Action
The 'C' Coy of the battalion, led by Major Shaitan Singh, held this crucial position at Rezang La, at a height of 5000 metres. The company area was defended by three platoon positions and the surrounding terrain isolated it from the rest of the battalion. The expected Chinese attack on Rezang La came on November 18th in the morning. It was the end of a very cold winter night, with light snow falling. The icy winds howling through Rezang La were biting and benumbing. More than the thin air and cold, the location of Rezang La had a more serious drawback. It was crested to Indian artillery because of an intervening feature, which meant that they had to make without the protective comfort of the big guns. In the dim light of the morning, the Chinese were seen advancing through nullahs to attack No.7 and No.8 platoon positions.

The Indian Army troops fell on their prepared positions to face the Chinese offensive. At 0500 hours when the visibility improved, both platoons opened up on the advancing Chinese with rifles, light machine guns, grenades and mortars. Indian artillery could, however, not be used. The nullahs were littered with dead bodies. The survivors took position behind boulders and the dead bodies. The Chinese, though they failed the first frontal attack, were not discouraged. They subjected the Indian positions to intense artillery and mortar fire at about 0540 hours. Soon about 350 Chinese troops commenced advance through the nullahs. This time, No.9 Platoon, which held fire till the enemy was within 90 metres opened up with all weapons in their possession. Within minutes, the nullahs were again full of dead bodies, mainly of the Chinese.

Unsuccessful in frontal attack, the enemy, approximately 400 strong, then attacked from the rear of the company position. They simultaneously opened intense medium machine gun fire on No.8 Platoon. This attack was contained at the barbed wire fencing of the post. The Chinese then resorted to heavy artillery and mortar shelling. An assault group of 120 Chinese also charged No.7 Platoon position from the rear. However, Indian Army 3-inch mortar killed many of them. When 20 survivors charged the post, about a dozen Kumaonis rushed out of their trenches to engage them in a hand-to-hand combat. Meanwhile, the Chinese brought up fresh reinforcements. The encirclement of No.7 Platoon was now complete. The platoon, however, fought valiantly till there was no survivor. No.8 Platoon also fought bravely to the last round.

Major Shaitan Singh, the Company Commander, displayed exemplary leadership and courage in the battle of Rezang La. By all accounts, he led his troops most admirably. Unmindful of his personal safety he moved from one platoon post to another and encouraged his men to fight. While moving among the posts he was seriously wounded, by a sniping Chinese MMG. But he continued to fight along with his men. While he was being evacuated by two of his comrades, the Chinese brought heavy machine gun fire on them. Major Shaitan Singh sensed danger to their lives and ordered them to leave him. They placed him behind a boulder on the slopes of a hill, where he breathed his last.

The Chinese announced a unilateral ceasefire on November 21st 1962.

In this action, 109 Kumaonis out of a total of 123 were killed. Of the 14 survivors, 9 were severely injured. The Chinese suffered many more in killed. Estimates are around 800 Chinese casualties. After the war was over, the body of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was found at the same place, dead from the bullet wound and the freezing cold. It was flown to Jodhpur and cremated with full military honours. Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry medal, posthumously, for his leadership and devotion to duty.

Citation
The citation for the Param Vir Chakra awarded to him reads:

MAJOR SHAITAN SINGH
13 KUMAON (IC 7990)
Major Shaitan Singh was commanding a company of an infantry battalion deployed at Rezang La in the Chysul sector at a height of about 17,000 feet. The locality was isolated from the main defended sector and consisted of five platoon-defended position. On 18 November 1962, the Chinese forces subjected the company position to heavy artillery, mortar and small arms fire and attacked it in overwhelming strength in several successive waves. Against heavy odds, our troops beat back successive waves of enemy attack. During the action, Major Shaitan singh dominated the scene of operations and moved at great personal risk from one platoon post to another sustaining the morale of his hard-pressed platoon posts. While doing so he was seriously wounded but continued to encourage and lead his men, who, following his brave example fought gallantly and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. For every man lost to us, the enemy lost four or five. When major Shaitan Singh fell disabled by wounds in his arms and abdomen, his men tried to evacuate him but they came under heavy machine-gun fire. Major Shaitan Singh then ordered his men to leave him to his fate in order to save their lives.

Major Shaitan Singh’s supreme courage, leadership and exemplary devotion to duty inspired his company to fight almost to the last man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaitan_Singh

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 06, 2007, 01:43:45 PM »

Ashoka Chakra Award to Kumoan Regiment
This article is about Ashoka Chakra, an award. For information about Ashoka Chakra the symbol, see Ashoka Chakra.
The Ashoka Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy. The decoration may be awarded either to military or civilian personnel and may be awarded posthumously.

Subsequent awards of the Ashoka Chakra are recognized by a bar to the medal ribbon (to date, none have been awarded). It is possible for a recipient to be awarded the Kirti Chakra or Shaurya Chakra in addition for separate acts of gallantry.

The medal was originally established on 4 January 1952 as the "Ashoka Chakra, Class I" as the first step of a three-class sequence of non-combatant bravery decorations. In 1967, these decorations were removed from the "class-based" system and renamed as the Ashoka Charkra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra. This is an important point in understanding the independent Indian view of decorations. It would also lead to changes in the Padma Vibhushan series, the distinguished service medal series, the life saving medal series, and the Defence Security Corps medal series.

From 1 February 1999, the central government instituted a monthly stipend for Ashoka Chakra recipients of Rs. 1400. Jammu and Kashmir awarded a cash award of Rs. 1500 (ca. 1960) for recipients of this award.

Obverse: Circular gold gilt, 1-3/8 inches in diameter. In the center, the chakra (wheel) of Ashoka, surrounded by a lotus wreath and with an ornate edge. Suspended by a straight bar suspender. The medal is named on the edge.

Reverse: Blank in the center, with "Ashoka Chakra" in Hindi along the upper edge on the medal and the same name in English along the lower rim, "ASHOKA CHAKRA". On either side is a lotus design. The center is blank, perhaps with the intent that details of the award be engraved there. There is no indication of the class on the pre-1967 awards, and, in fact, there is no difference between these medals and the post-1967 awards.

Ribbon: 32 mm, dark green with a 2 mm central saffron stripe. Dark green 15 mm, saffron 2 mm, dark green 15 mm.

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 06, 2007, 01:44:55 PM »

Maha Vir Chakra

The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It may be awarded posthumously.

The medal is made of standard silver and is circular in shape. Embossed on the obverse is a five pointed heraldic star with circular center-piece bearing the gilded state emblem of India in the center. The words "Mahavir Chakra" are embossed in Devanagari and English on the reverse with two lotus flowers in the middle. The decoration is worn on the left breast with a half-white and half-orange riband about 3.2 cm in width, the orange being near the left shoulder.

More than 155 acts of bravery and selfless courage have been recognized since the inception of the medal. The most MVCs awarded in a single conflict was in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, when eleven were given to the Indian Air Force.

Provision was made for the award of a bar for a second award of the Maha Vir Chakra, the first two being awarded in 1965. To date, there are six known awards of a first bar: Wing Commander Jag Mohan Nath (1962 and 1 September 1965), Major General Rajindar Singh (19 March 1948 and 6 September 1965), General Arun Shridhar Vaidya (16 September 1965 and 5 December 1971), Wing Commander Padmanabha Gautam (6 September 1965 and 5 December 1971 [posthumous]), Colonel Chewang Rinchen (July 1948 and 8 December 1971), and Brigadier Sant Singh (2 November 1965 and January 1972),. No second bars have been awarded. Award of the decoration carried with it the right to use M.V.C. as a postnominal abbreviation.

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Author Topic: Kumaun Regiment & Garhwal Rifle - कुमाऊँ रेजिमेंट एवं गढ़वाल राइफल (Read 101152 times)

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

Kumaun Regiment & Garhwal Rifle - कुमाऊँ रेजिमेंट एवं गढ़वाल राइफल

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

Re: KUMOAN REGIMENT & GARWAL RIFLE - MAIN EMPLOYMENT SOURCE OF UK ?

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

Re: KUMOAN REGIMENT & GARWAL RIFLE - MAIN EMPLOYMENT SOURCE OF UK ?

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

Re: KUMOAN REGIMENT & GARWAL RIFLE - MAIN EMPLOYMENT SOURCE OF UK ?

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

Re: KUMOAN REGIMENT & GARWAL RIFLE - MAIN EMPLOYMENT SOURCE OF UK ?

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

Re: KUMOAN REGIMENT & GARWAL RIFLE - MAIN EMPLOYMENT SOURCE OF UK ?

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

Re: KUMOAN REGIMENT & GARWAL RIFLE - MAIN EMPLOYMENT SOURCE OF UK ?

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

Re: KUMOAN REGIMENT & GARWAL RIFLE - MAIN EMPLOYMENT SOURCE OF UK ?

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

Re: KUMOAN REGIMENT & GARWAL RIFLE - MAIN EMPLOYMENT SOURCE OF UK ?

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

Re: KUMOAN REGIMENT & GARWAL RIFLE - MAIN EMPLOYMENT SOURCE OF UK ?