The Grenadiers
| The Grenadiers | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1784 - Present |
| Country | India |
| Allegiance | Indian Army |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Mechanized Infantry |
| Size | 19 Battalions |
| Regimental Centre | Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh |
| Motto(s) | Sarvada Shaktishali (Ever Powerful) |
| War Cry | Sarvada Shaktishali ! |
| March | The Goosestep |
| Mascot(s) | The Lion |
| Engagements | 1965 Indo-Pak War , 1971 Indo-Pak War ; and 1999 Kargil War |
| Decorations | 3 Param Vir Chakras, 2 Ashoka Chakras, 7 Maha Vir Chakras, 4 Kirti Chakras, 2 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 2 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 2 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 33 Vir Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras, 3 Yudh Seva Medals, 71 Sena Medals and 27 Vishisht Seva Medals |
| Battle honours | Post Independence Gurais, Assal Uttar, Jarpal and Chakra |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Major General Zameeruddin Shah |
| Insignia | |
| Regimental Insignia | A brass grenade bearing the White Horse of Hanover. The insignia is worn on the uniform with a white hackle. Also , sometimes the Zulfiqar is used as a symbol. |
The Grenadiers are a regiment of the Indian Army, formerly known as the 4th Bombay Grenadiers when part of the British Indian Army.
History
The oldest Grenadier Regiment of the armies in the Commonwealth belongs to the Indian Army. A composite battalion comprising Grenadier companies of Bombay Sepoys won the famous battle of Talegaon in 1778. By 1784, the group of Grenadier companies had been given the title of Bombay Grenadiers. The concept of 'Grenadiers' evolved from the practice of selecting the bravest and strongest men for the most dangerous tasks in combat. The Grenadiers have one of the longest unbroken record of existence in the Indian Army.
As the 4th Bombay Grenadiers the regiment was formed on 1 March 1922, part of the reforms that took place after the end of the First World War. It consisted of 6 battalions, all former regiments themselves. These were:
- 1st Battalion - Formerly the 101st Grenadiers.
- 2nd Battalion - Formerly the 102nd King Edward's Own Grenadiers
- 3rd Battalion - Formerly the 108th Infantry
- 4th Battalion - Formerly the 109th Infantry
- 5th Battalion - Formerly the 112th Infantry
- 10th (Training) Battalion - Formerly the 113th Infantry
- 17th (Motorised) Battalion - Formerly Camel Mounted
World War II
During World War II the 4th Grenadiers formed the motorised infantry element of the Indian Armoured and Tank brigades:
- 1/4th Battalion, 252nd Indian Armoured Brigade, 31st Indian Armoured Division
- 2/4th Battalion, 50th Indian Tank Brigade
- 3/4th Battalion, 254th Indian Tank Brigade
- 4/4th Battalion, 255th Indian Tank Brigade
Post Independence
This regiment has seen active service in the Indian Army, including the wars against Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. The Grenadiers have the unique and distinct honour of having the most number of Param Vir Chakras, India's highest medal for gallantry, among all the Indian Army's Infantry Regiments. Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid, 4th Grenadiers was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous) for the Regiment in 1965 and the second recipient to get the Param Vir Chakra was Major Hoshiar Singh, 3rd Grenadiers in 1971. Hoshiar Singh retired as a Colonel from the Army and died in 1998. The third recipient of this coveted medal was Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18th Grenadiers in 1999.
They have been deployed to control the 26 November 2008 Mumbai attacks.
