The Grenadiers is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, formerly part of the Bombay Army and later the pre-independence British Indian Army, when the regiment was known as the 4th Bombay Grenadiers. It has distinguished itself during the two world wars and also since the Independence of India. The regiment has won many battle honours and gallantry awards, and is considered to be one of India's most decorated regiments with three Param Vir Chakra awardees in three different conflicts.

History

Early history

The Grenadiers are one of the oldest grenadier regiments in the Commonwealth of Nations, and have the longest unbroken record of existence in the Indian Army. The history of the Grenadiers dates back to the Bombay Army of the East India Company (EIC). In 1684, the Bombay Army consisted of three companies stationed on the Seven Islands of Bombay, one of which was a grenadier company. The company, which consisted of a mixture of Europeans and native Christians, disappears from subsequent historical records. By 1710, the Bombay Army had expanded to five companies of "Europeans, topasses, and coffrees", one of which was an all-European grenadier company. This company was subsequently merged into the Bombay European Regiment, which was later disbanded. In 1757, Robert Clive raised the 1st Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, which consisted in part of two grenadier companies. However, no grenadier regiments were raised by the Bengal Army until 1779.

In 1759, as a response to the ongoing Seven Years' War, the Bombay Army underwent a major expansion, and the first company of native grenadiers was raised with the best of Bombay sepoys "paying a regard to those having families on the island". It had only native officers and all sepoys wore red coats with blue facings. Later on, an adjutant was appointed to the corps. Later the Bombay Army comprised a number of sepoy battalions, each having one or two grenadier companies. These were clubbed together as a composite battalion comprising the grenadier companies of the Bombay sepoy battalions, and they won the famous battle of Talegaon in 1778. So impressive was the performance of this composite battalion that the Bombay Presidency ordered the permanent raising of a grenadier battalion which duly took place on 12 March 1779, thirty-six years before the first time that a British battalion was given the honour of calling itself "grenadiers". The Governor General of Bombay made an Order dated 12 November 1779, according to which the grenadier companies of the following regiments combined to form the first Grenadier Regiment in the world, namely "The Grenadier Battalion, First Regiment of Infantry":

  • 1st Sepoy Battalion
  • 2nd Sepoy Battalion
  • 3rd Sepoy Battalion
  • 4th Sepoy Battalion
  • 5th Sepoy Battalion
  • 6th Sepoy Battalion
  • Marine Battalion (two companies of grenadiers)

4th Bombay Grenadiers

thumb|upright|1806 illustration of a Bombay Grenadier Battalion non-commissioned officer

The 4th Bombay Grenadiers were an infantry regiment of the pre-independence Indian Army, formed on 1 March 1922 as part of the reforms of the Indian Army that took place after the end of the First World War. Following the Second World War they were one of the regiments allocated to the new Indian Army and renamed The Grenadiers

thumb|200px|right|Bombay Grenadier in British service, 1879.

The regiment consisted of six 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

thumb|right| 2nd Bombay Grenadiers of the Indian Army in Hampton Court Camp on the occasion of the Coronation of King Edward VII, August 1902

Second World War

At the beginning of the Second World War there were only two battalions of the Regiment, the 1st and 2nd. This was soon changed, though, as a number of battalions were raised for wartime service, including: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 14th, 25th, 26th and 27th Battalions.

Regimental battalions

The Grenadiers consists of 23 battalions, four Rashtriya Rifles battalions and two Territorial Army battalions -

{| class="wikitable"

! scope="col" style="width: 120px;"| Battalion

! scope="col" style="width: 50px;"| Raising Date

! scope="col" style="width: 550px;"| Remarks

! scope="col" style="width: 50px;"| References

|-style="background:#EEE8AA"

|1st Battalion §

|1778

|Raised as 8th Regiment of Bombay Sepoys. Underwent many name changes, was designated 101st Grenadiers, prior to present designation. Battle honours - Mangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad, Kandahar 1880, Afghanistan 1878–80, Burma 1885–87, Somaliland 1901–04, East Africa 1914–16, Egypt, Gaza, Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917–18. Post independence – Gurais. Became 2nd Battalion, Brigade of the Guards in 1950.

|

|-

|2nd Battalion

|1796

|Raised in Calicut by Captain David Cameron as 13th Battalion, Bombay Native Infantry. Underwent many name changes, was designated 102nd King Edward's Own Grenadiers, before present designation. Battle honours – Egypt (1801), Kirkee (1817), Koregaon (1817), Persia (1857), Abyssinia (1868), Kut-Al-Amara (1917), Naga Village (1944). Nicknamed Second to None.

|

|-

|3rd Battalion

|1768

|Raised as 1st Battalion, Bombay Sepoys. Underwent many name changes, was designated 108th Infantry, before present designation. Nicknamed Param Vir Chakra Paltan. Battle honours (pre-independence) – Mangalore 1783, Mysore 1793, Hyderabad (Sind) 1843, Afghanistan 1879, Aden 1916, Mesopotamia 1917, Kalewa 1944 and Fort Dufferin, Mandalay 1945; post-independence – theatre honour - Rajasthan (Sadhewala) in 1965 and battle honour – Jarpal in 1971. Major Hoshiar Singh was awarded the PVC.

|

|-

|4th Battalion

|1768

|Raised as 5th Battalion, Bombay Sepoys. Underwent many name changes, was designated 109th Infantry, before present designation. Battle honours : pre-independence – Mysore, Central India, Aden, Punjab, Multan, Burma, Afghanistan, Taungtha, Meiktila, Pwabwe, Sharqat, Pegu; post-independence – Asal Uttar (1965). CQMH Abdul Hamid was awarded the PVC. Nicknamed Param Vir Chakra Paltan and The Fighting Fourth.

|

|-

|5th Battalion

|1796

|Raised as 2nd Battalion, 6th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. Underwent many name changes, was designated 112th Infantry, before present designation. Nicknamed Finest Fifth.

|

|-

|6th Battalion

|1962

|Raised as 6/4 Grenadiers (Motorised) by Lieutenant Colonel D Greigson at Nasirabad in 1942. Disbanded 1943. Re-raised in 1962 by Lieutenant Colonel AB Jhadav at Jaipur. Nicknamed Joshila Sixth.

|

|-style="background:#EEE8AA"

|7th battalion §

|1949

|Raised from Kutch and Saurashtra State Forces in camel mounted role, became regular infantry in 1957. Became 9th Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment in 1979. Battle honour Chhadbet

|

|-

|8th Battalion

|1963

|Raised 1949 in Ahmedabad from state forces of Lunavada, Rajpipla, Baria and Idar, disbanded 1949, re-raised 1963 in Jaipur under Major BS Brah. Battle honour – Chakra (1971). Nicknamed Chakra Battalion and Gallant Eighth.

|

|-

|9th Battalion

|1954

|Mewar, ex-State Forces unit

|

|-

|10th Battalion

|1800

|Raised 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. Underwent many name changes, was designated 113th Infantry, before present designation. Training Battalion.

|

|-

|11th Battalion

|1963

|Raised at Ajmer as a Territorial battalion in 1922 (1st battalion, Ajmer Regiment), disbanded in 1948, re-raised in 1963 in Jaipur by Lieutenant Colonel Racchpal Singh.

|

|-

|12th Battalion

|1964

|Raised at Nasirabad by Major NS Sidhu. Lieutenant Colonel Hari Singh was the first commanding officer. Nicknamed Thundering Twelfths.

|

|-

|13th Battalion

|1889

|Raised as the Ganga Risala by Maharaja Ganga Singh of the Indian state of Bikaner.

|

|-

|14th Battalion

|1965

|From 34th Training Unit (raised 1943), disbanded 1946, re-raised 1965.

|

|-

|15th Battalion

|1966

|Raised in Nasirabad by Lieutenant Colonel PS Mahurkar. Nicknamed The Dare Devils

|

|-

|16th Battalion

|1966

|Raised in Babina under Lieutenant Colonel NB Jayaram .

|

|-style="background:#EEE8AA"

|17th Battalion §

|1966

|Raised as a camel battalion in Bikaner under Lieutenant Colonel KS Harihar Singh. Nicknamed The Desert Hawks. Motorized Infantry Regiment. Became 24th Battalion, Brigade of the Guards in 2023.

|

|-

|18th Battalion

|1976

|Battle honour – Tiger Hill and Tololing. Nicknamed Param Vir Chakra Paltan after the PVC won by Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav.

|

|-

|19th Battalion

|1979

|Nicknamed Utkrisht Unnees.

|

|-

|20th Battalion

|

|Nicknamed Double Axe.

|

|-

|21st Battalion

|1985

|Nicknamed Awwal Ekkis.

|

|-

|22nd Battalion

|1988

|Raised in Jabalpur. Nicknamed as Bravest of the Brave and Ashok Chakra Paltan – has won two Ashok Chakras.

|

|-

|23rd Battalion

|

|

|

|-

|24th Battalion

|

|

|

|-

|25th Battalion

|1 July 2014

|Raised at the Grenadiers Regimental Centre in Jabalpur, the battalion was established under the command of Colonel Vipul Singh Rajput. Nicknamed Parakrami Pacchees.

|

|-

|- style="background:#D0FFD0"

|12 Rashtriya Rifles

|

|

|

|-style="background:#D0FFD0"

|29 Rashtriya Rifles

|

|Nicknamed Cobra Paltan.

|

|-style="background:#D0FFD0"

|39 Rashtriya Rifles

|

|

|

|-style="background:#D0FFD0"

|55 Rashtriya Rifles

|

|

|

|-style="background:#FFD0D0"

|118 (TA) Battalion

|1939

|Raised at 7 Central Provincial Urban Infantry Battalion (Indian Territorial Force). Present designation since 1949. Located at Bhusaval, Maharashtra

|

|-style="background:#FFD0D0"

|123 (TA) Battalion

|1956

|Raised by Lieutenant Colonel Zorawar Singh at raised at Senapati House, Jhotwara. Located at Jaipur, Rajasthan. Nicknamed Jaipur Terriers.

|

|-

|}

§ indicates former units.

Affiliations

thumb|right|200px|Postal stamp - Bicentenary of 2nd Grenadiers, 1996

The Grenadiers has been affiliated with the following -

  • 51 Armoured Regiment.
  • INS Beas (F37).

Class composition

  • 1923 - Rajputana Mussalmans, Rajputana Jats, Mahrattas, Mers and Merats
  • 1946 - Jats from the Punjab, United Provinces, Rajputana and Central India states, Hindustani Mussalmans from Ambala Civil Division, Rajputana, United Provinces, Central India states and the Deccan.
  • Present - Rajputs, Kaimkhanis, Hindustani Mussalmans, Dogras, Gujjar, Ahir, Mena, Gujratis, Jats.

Battle honours

Battle Honours (Pre-Independence)

Prior to Indian independence, the Regiment had won many battle honours as part of the British Indian Army. These battle honour include: Of note also, is the fact that prior to independence, British officers serving with The Grenadiers won four Victoria Crosses. Members of the Regiment have also received a number of other decorations prior to independence.

thumb|right|200px|An [[Non-commissioned officer|NCO of The Grenadiers, 2017]]

Pre independence

50px Victoria Cross

  • Captain George Murray Rolland, 22 April 1903, Daratoleh, Somaliland

;1914-1921

50px Military Cross

  • Jemadar Pola Khan, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
  • Subedar Jiwan Khan, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt and Aden (twice)
  • Subedar Kasianth Mane, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt

50px Order of British India

  • Subedar Major Martand Rao Mohite, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
  • Subedar Agdi Singh, 102nd Grenadiers, Mesopotamia

50 px Indian Order of Merit

  • Sepoy Fazil Khan, 101st Grenadiers, East Africa
  • Sepoy Sowaz Khan, 101st Grenadiers, East Africa
  • Subedar Rahim Khan, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
  • Subedar Ahmed Din, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
  • Colour Havildar Shah Muhammad, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
  • Subedar Jafar Ali, 102nd Grenadiers, Muscat
  • Sepoy Nand Ram, 102nd Grenadiers, Muscat
  • Subedar Ganga Ram Singh, 102nd Grenadiers, Mesopotamia
  • Subedar Muhammad Ali, 102nd Grenadiers, Mesopotamia
  • Jemadar Ganga Ram, 102nd Grenadiers, Mesopotamia
  • Havildar Jaffar Ali, 102nd Grenadiers, Waziristan
  • Naik Shivlal Dalal (1933)

250px|thumbnail|right|Grenadiers participating in the [[2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade, marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in Europe.]]

50px Indian Distinguished Service Medal

  • Lance Naik Abdul Sattar Khan, Temporary Lance Naik Muhammad Khan, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
  • Havildar Karan Singh, Havildar Ganga Ram, Private Sultan Ahmad, Havildar Tula Ram, Havildar Tula Ram, Havildar Mansare Ali, Private Sheo Ram, Havildar Sanwal Ram, Private Shedu Ram, Private Sirdara Ram, Private Surja Ram, Jemadar Khan Muhammad, Sepoy Ahmad Khan, Sepoy Girdhari Ram, Sepoy Tulsi Ram, Private Feroz Khan, Havildar Ram Diyal Singh, Naik Niyamat Khan (all in Mesopotamia), Private Karam Dad Khan (Muscat), Lance Naik Hoti Singh (Baluchistan), Subedar Mansar Ali (Pishin Moveable Column) 102nd Grenadiers

50px Indian Meritorious Service Medal

  • 84 medals - 101st Grenadiers, Egypt, Aden, Somaliland, India
  • 12 medals - 102nd Grenadiers, Mesopotamia, India, Baluchistan

;World War II

50px Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)

  • Subedar Major Shamshad Khan, 4th Bombay Grenadiers

Mentioned in dispatches

  • Major T H Waumsley, 4th Bombay Grenadiers
  • Major E R S Dods, 4th Bombay Grenadiers

Post independence

Source:

50px Vir Chakra

  • Lieutenant Colonel Ramakrishnan Vishwanathan, (Posthumous), 18th Grenadiers, Kargil War (Operation Vijay) 1999.

Notable General Officers

  • Vice Chief of the Army Staff - Lieutenant General Stanley Leslie Menezes,
  • Army Commanders (GOC-in-C) - Lieutenant General Y. N. Sharma (Central Command)
  • Corps Commanders (GOC) - Lieutenant Generals Y.S. Tomar, Sanjay Mitra (I Corps); Rajeev Sirohi (III Corps); Stanley Leslie Menezes, Shakti Gurung, Gurpal Singh Sangha (all IV Corps); Y.N. Sharma (XII Corps); Sarabjit Singh Dhillon (XV Corps); Lalit Kumar Pandey (XVII Corps).

References & notes

Bibliography

  • Moberly, F.J. (1923). Official History of the War: Mesopotamia Campaign, Imperial War Museum.
  • Singh, Rajendra (1969) History of the Grenadiers
  • Singh, Rajendra (1955) Organisation and Administration in the Indian Army
  • Palsokar, R.D. (1980) The Grenadiers, a Tradition of Valour, The Grenadiers Regimental Centre, Jabalpur

See also

  • List of regiments of the Indian Army
  • British Indian Army
  • Indian Army
  • Official Website of Indian Army
  • bharat-rakshak.com – The Grenadiers
  • Indian Grenadiers Regiment
  • The Bombay Grenadiers
  • 2nd Battalion, 4th Bombay Grenadiers (King Edward's Own), Formerly the 102nd King Edward's Own Grenadiers, Historical Record of the Regiment, 1796-1933