ishwarlamba
January 21st, 2003, 11:38 AM
This was in Tribune of 21 Jan
Royal Jats enter bicentenary year
The 1 Jat (Light Infantry), redesignated 2nd Battalion, The Mechanised Infantry Regiment, 1 Jat (LI), will celebrate its bicentenary in November. The British had bestowed on it the honour of Royal Jats for its splendid record in both World Wars. Besides, the unit was given the distinguished title of the Light Infantry (LI) for carrying out the longest march in history. The unit was in the first batch of six infantry battalions in 1969 that were reformed into mechanised battalions. In the Jat Regiment, the battalion being the oldest, is also called “Dadi Paltan”.
In World War-I, for winning the famous battle of Festubert in France, the battalion was awarded the Battle Honour of Festubert. This day is celebrated by the unit on November 16 every year. There is a Jat Officers Regimental Association in the UK and the retired British Officers of the Jat Regiment have regular get-togethers and celebrate important regimental days, as we do in India. They also publish a Regimental Newsletter in March every year. Some of them who served in Jat 1 (LI) will attend the bicentenary celebrations.
Ms Gwen Martin, wife of the late Col Alan Weston Martin, has expressed the desire to present to the battalion Col Alan’s OBE, regimental sword and medals, which she says that Col Alan would have been very happy to given to the regiment.
Royal Jats enter bicentenary year
The 1 Jat (Light Infantry), redesignated 2nd Battalion, The Mechanised Infantry Regiment, 1 Jat (LI), will celebrate its bicentenary in November. The British had bestowed on it the honour of Royal Jats for its splendid record in both World Wars. Besides, the unit was given the distinguished title of the Light Infantry (LI) for carrying out the longest march in history. The unit was in the first batch of six infantry battalions in 1969 that were reformed into mechanised battalions. In the Jat Regiment, the battalion being the oldest, is also called “Dadi Paltan”.
In World War-I, for winning the famous battle of Festubert in France, the battalion was awarded the Battle Honour of Festubert. This day is celebrated by the unit on November 16 every year. There is a Jat Officers Regimental Association in the UK and the retired British Officers of the Jat Regiment have regular get-togethers and celebrate important regimental days, as we do in India. They also publish a Regimental Newsletter in March every year. Some of them who served in Jat 1 (LI) will attend the bicentenary celebrations.
Ms Gwen Martin, wife of the late Col Alan Weston Martin, has expressed the desire to present to the battalion Col Alan’s OBE, regimental sword and medals, which she says that Col Alan would have been very happy to given to the regiment.