Units

The Garhwal Rifles

THE GARHWAL RIFLES

Regimental Uniform of The Brigade of the Guards
  • Regimental Centre: Lansdowne, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Regimental Insignia: The Maltese Cross, with a bugle in the centre.
  • Motto: Yudhaya Krit Nischya.
  • War Cry: Badri Vishal Lal Ki Jai (Victory to the Great Lord Badri Nath).
  • Regimental Battalions: 2nd Battalion
    .................................3rd Battalion (Scout)
    .................................4th Battalion
    .................................5th Battalion
    .................................6th Battalion
    .................................7th Battalion
    .................................8th Battalion
    .................................9th Battalion
    .................................10th Battalion
    .................................11th Battalion
    .................................12th Battalion
    .................................13th Battalion
    .................................14th Battalion
    .................................15th Battalion
    .................................16th Battalion
    .................................17th Battalion
    .................................18th Battalion
    .................................19th Battalion
  • 1st Battalion ------> 6th Mech. Inf.

Post-Independence

  • Theatre Honours: Jammu & Kashmir - 1947-48, Ladakh - 1962, Punjab - 1965, Rajasthan - 1965 and East Pakistan - 1971.
  • Battle Honours: Tithwal, Nuranang, Buttar Dograndi, Gadra Road and Hilli.
  • Honours & Awards: 1 Ashok Chakra, 7 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 4 Maha Vir Chakras, 10 Kirti Chakras, 1 Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, 12 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 43 Vir Chakras, 30 Shaurya Chakras, 7 Yudh Seva Medals, 120 Sena Medals and 2 Bars, 24 Vishisht Seva Medals, 92 Mention-in-Despatches, 1 Jeevan Raksha Padak, 305 COAS' Commendation Cards with 3 Bars and 164 GOC-in-C's Commendation Cards.
  • Comments: The Garhwal Himalayas form a stark and rugged terrain. The people inhabiting the area are equally rugged & frugal and provide fine military and infantry material to the army. Serving in the Army has been a long tradition in the Garhwal hills. Families have sent their sons to the army for generations. In the remote areas of the hills, earnings of the soldiers have sustained the local economy for years. Garhwalis were taken in military service by the British as early as 1815. They had, however, been enlisted in the five regiments of the Gorkhas belonging to the Bengal Infantry and Punjab Frontier Force.

In April 1887, the raising of the 2/3 Gorkha Rifles was ordered with a class composition of six Garhwali and two Gorkha companies. In 1891, the two Gorkha Companies were separated and the remaining six Garhwali companies were re-designated as the 39th Garhwal Regiment of the Bengal Infantry. Another battalion was added to the Regiment and both took part in the Great War. The Garhwalis were the 'find' of the period and proved themselves in Flanders and other battles in Europe, despite the heavy casualties suffered. Later these battalions also served in Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) and Salonika. After Independence, the Regiment gained in strength and proved itself in many campaigns.

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