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View Full Version : 1ST ROYAL JAT BN RE-UNION AT RURKEE THIS MONTH



ranjitjat
November 10th, 2003, 08:47 PM
DEAR FRIENDS
MAJOR JACK OF BRITISH -JATREGIMENT OFFICER ASSOCIATION IN LONDON UK.
Told me this good news last week.
The 1ST ROYAL JAT IS CELEBRATING 200 years RE_UNION FROM 14-to 16 of NOV at
RURKEE.
Any body going or have more information please contact me soon.

Cheers
Dharmpal

ranjitjat
November 11th, 2003, 03:34 AM
Royal Jats celebrate bicentenary from November 14
Col. Pritam Bhullar (retd)

THE 2 Mechanised Infantry 1 Jat (LI) was raised by Capt Samuel Wood on November 9, 1803 at Fatehgarh in Uttar Pradesh as 1st Battalion, 22 Bengal Native Infantry. The first Commandant of 22 Bengal Native Infantry was Lt-Col Kyan.

The battalion is celebrating its bicentenary from November 14 to 16 somewhere in the Central sector. November 16, is an important day in the history of the unit becausse it earned the battle honour of “Festubert” on this day in France in the First World War.

2 Mechanised Infantry is the only battalion in the Indian Army which has two rare titles i.e. “Light Infantry” and “Royal Jats”. After the First Afghan War, the battalion returned to India in 1842. For having marched 1,100 miles in 33 days and for its distinguished service during the Afghan War, the title of Light Infantry was conferred on it on October 4, 1842. On February 10, 1921, His Majesty, the King, conferred the title of Royal on the unit for its commendable role in the First World War and more so for its heroic exploit in the battle of Festubert.

Since its raising, the battalion has been re-designed 11 times and has earned 14 battle honours and nine theatre honours. It got its present designation — 2 Mechanised Infantry 1 Jat (LI) — in 1981.

In its 200 years of distinguished history, the battalion has excelled in valour, sacrifice and excellence in all wars that it has fought.

In the First Afghan War from 1838 to 1842, the battalion stormed Gazni Fort and retrieved the sandalwood gates from the tomb of Sultan Mahmud Gazni which he had looted from the temple of Somnath in 1024 A.D. These gates are now lying at Afra Fort. In 1843, the unit achieved a remarkable success in the Gwalior campaign. In 1846, Royal Jats took part in the First Sikh War and earned the battle honour of “Sabraon”.

In the Second Afghan War, 1 Jat (LI) captured the fort of Ali Masjid on November 22, 1878. Then it went to Landi Kotal and Khyber Pass before coming back to Ali Masjid in 1879. Royal Jats were permitted to bear the words “Ali Masjid” and “Afghanistan 1878-79” on its Colours. To suppress the Boxer uprising in China, the unit went to Hong Kong on September 1, 1900 and after completing its task, it returned to India in July, 1901.

In 1903, Royal Jats were entrusted with the task of organising “Delhi Durbar” at which Lord Curzon proclaimed the accession of India to the Crown.

During the First World War, the battalion went to Europe as part of the 19 (Dehra Dun) Brigade of the Indian Expeditionary Force. It sailed on HMS Arankola and reached Marseilles on October 12, 1914. It also fought battles in Mesopotamia, Egypt and Iraq. In the Second World War, the battalion reached Rangoon in November, 1941 and was deployed at Mandlay Fort. In May 1944, it became part of the Lushai Brigade (V Force) and operated independently behind the enemy lines in the Arakans. It was actively involved in operations in Malaya (now Malaysia) and Burma (now Myanmar) during the war.

In 1948, 1 Jat (LI) went to Delhi to provide ceremonial guard duties at Rashtrapati Bhavan and Red Fort. Thereafter, it took part in the Chinese conflict in 1962 in the northern sector of Chusul.

In the 1965 war, 1 Jat (LI) had advanced to the Ichhogil canal, repulsed two Pakistani counter-attacks and destroyed seven Sherman tanks.

When the militancy was at its peak in Mizo Hills (now Mizoram), 1 Jat (LI) was moved there from the Bomdilla sector (in NEFA) in October 1967. It was the first regular battalion to be inducted South of Lungle in the most inhospitable terrain. It achieved a remarkable success in the Mizo Hills by capturing and killing many militants. In one of the daring actions, Naib Subedar Man Singh was awarded the Shaurya Chakra.

In 1971, while the unit was at Jhansi, it was one of the first six infantry battalions in the Indian Army to be converted into mechanised infantry. In the 1971 war, the battalion as part of 1 Armoured Division, remained deployed in the Muktsar area in Punjab. Two companies of the battalion took part in counter insurgency operations in South Kashmir and killed many militants. In operation Parakram, the performance of the unit was highly appreciated. The unit can boast of a large array of pre and post Independence gallantry awards.

In sports, Royal Jats have brought credit to the Army and the country. To name only a few, Capt (now Brigadier retired) Labh Singh Sitara represented India in Olympics in triple jump in 1964, 1966 and 1970. Sube-Maj & Hony Capt Padam Singh represented the country in 20 km walk in the Asian Games in 1970. Subedar Attar Singh and Havildar Herender Singh have participated in the National Games in high jump and wrestling, respectively. Many sportsmen of the unit have won in the Services.

New Colours were presented to the battalion at Jat Regimental Centre, Bareilly on November 23, 1967, by the then Pesident, Dr Zakir Hussain. Yet again, the battalion was presented with the Colours as 2 Mechanised Infantry 1 Jat (LI) by the then President Mr R. Venkataraman, at Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre, Ahmednagar, on February 24, 1988.

A large number of retired officers, JCOs and other ranks of the unit are likely to attend the bicentenary celebrations of Royal Jats. The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen N.C. Vij, and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, will also attend.

Only five of the 13 living British officers are likely to attend the bicentenary celebrations. The rest have regretted their inability to attend due to old age and ill health.