About Punjab Regiment ! **Photos Thread**

Kunal Biswas

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About Punjab Regiment



The Punjab Regiment owes its origin to the Madras Presidency of the British East India. Its lineage can be summed up in the words of the former President of India, Dr. Zakir Hussain, during the colour presentation of the Regiment at Meerut in March 1969. He went on record to state: - "Your regiment has the single honour of being the oldest infantry regiment of the Indian army, and therefore the history of the Punjab Regiment is the history of the Indian Army."
The initial five battalions were raised between 1761 and 1798. In 1922 they were regrouped to form part of 2nd Punjab Regiment. That year this Regiment was awarded the famous 'Galley' badge alongwith the motto – 'Khushki-wa-Tari', consequent to three of its battalions, particularly the Second battalion, for "readiness always evinced" to proceed for operations overseas in spite of social taboos. The motto, meaning 'By Land and Sea', is still retained, albeit in its Hindi version- 'Sthal wa Jal'. Incidentally, the Punjab Regiment is the only regiment in the world to adorn a naval symbol as a badge.


The Regiment went on to earn many laurels during various battles fought overseas, particularly during the two World Wars. Three years after Independence two of its oldest battalions, ie, 1 and 2 Punjab, were detached to form the nucleus for the newly raised Parachute Regiment and the Brigade of the Guards. They were redesignated as 1 Para (Punjab), (now Special Forces), and 1 Guard (Punjab) respectively. 7 Punjab, which subsequently became mechanized (Mech), also delinked similarly to form part of the Mechanized Infantry Regiment, and was redesignated in 1982 as 8 Mech (Punjab). Earlier, four battalions to the erstwhile PEPSU States came into the fold of Punjab Regiment, i.e. 13 Punjab (Jind), 14 Punjab (Nabha Akal), 15 and 16 Punjab (Patiala) respectively. That apart, 17 to 28 Punjab, two TA (Punjab) battalions and four Rashtriya Rifles (RR) (Punjab) battalions have been added to the regiment since 1962.

The performance of the Regiment during the post independence wars and campaigns has also been of an exceptionally high order. Eleven Battle Honours and an exceptionally large tally of honours and awards substantiate this. During the Kashmir Operations of 1948, 15 Punjab (then known as Ist Patiala) saved the State by halting and later routing the raiders at Chhamb, Jhangar and at the frozen heights of Zojila. The unit established a record by earning eight Maha Vir Chakras and 18 Vir Chakras, apart from a plethora of other awards in this theatre, a record unbroken till date. In the same theatre, 1 Guards (2 Punjab) proved its mettle at Naushera while 1 Para (Punjab) clinched Hajipir. In the 1962 war against China, 9 Punjab acquitted itself in a commendable manner in erstwhile NEFA.

In 1965, the battle for the Ichhogil Canal brought glory to 7 Punjab, 13 Punjab (Jind) and 16 Punjab (Patiala). 19 Punjab earned undying fame at Bedori and Hajipir in the Poonch sector, while 9 Punjab secured a vital highway against determined Pakistani attacks at Kalidhar. In October that year, 3 Punjab did a year's stint overseas in Gaza, where it gave a sterling performance during the conduct of United Nations Peace Keeping Operations (UNEF).

During the 1971 war, 14 Punjab (Nabha Akal) played a key role in the drive to Jessore and Khulna in Bangladesh, where it fought the famous Garibpur battle in which it destroyed 14 Pakistani Chaffee tanks. Likewise, 23 Punjab also fought a legendary battle against a major

Pakistani brigade thrust led by armour at Laungewala, where 37 Pakistani medium tanks were either destroyed or captured intact. 18 Punjab, in freezing weather, captured the high altitude Brachil Pass in the Kargil sector of Jammu & Kashmir, while Nangi Tekri, in the Poonch sector of the same state, was captured heroically by 21 Punjab. The Regiment has also excelled in combating terrorism in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and in the north-eastern states, while many battalions have also participated in 'Op Pawan' in Sri Lanka. Of late, 14 Punjab (Nabha Akal) and 15 Punjab (Patiala) earned accolades during UN Peacekeeping operations in at Angola and Lebanon respectively, while 13 Punjab (Jind), as the first Punjabi unit to have operated in the Siachin Glacier, earned renewed fame.

In the field of sports and adventure activities, too, the Punjabis have established new records, be it in hockey, athletics, tug of war, wrestling, shooting, mountaineering or, more recently, white water rafting. The pennants of the 'Galley' continue to flutter proudly, thus ensuring to take this legendary Regiment to even greater heights in the years to come.

A glimpse of its rich history can be accessed from a recent and striking illustrated book on the Regiment titled 'Galley's Historic Voyage- A History of the Punjab Regiment - India's Oldest -1761-2008'.


Limited copies are available. For those desirous of procuring copy / copies, please contact the author Colonel Anil Shorey at [email protected].


Punjab Regiment India | About Punjab Regiment India
 

Tomcat

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Galley as an insignia, anywhere. It was awarded to 69th Punjabis (later 2nd PUNJAB)

Battle honours Pre-Independence Sholinghur, Carnatic, Mysore, Mehidpore, Ava, China, Pegu, Lucknow, Burma, Afghanistan, Laos, Flanders, Hellis, Krithia, Gallipoli, Suez, Egypt, Sharon, Nablus, Palestine, Aden, Kut-al-Amara, Baghdad, Mesopotamia, North Western Frontier, Mersa Metruh, Buthidaung, Ngakyedauk Pass, Imphal, Kangla Tongbi, Tonzang, Kennedy Peak, Meiktila, pyinmana, Malaya, Ipoh, Singapore, Kern and Casa Bettini.

Post-IndependenceZoji La, Ichhogil, Dograi, Barki, Kalidhar, Bedori, Nangi Tekri, Brachil Pass, Laungewala, Garibpur, and Jessore
 

Tomcat

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the ensignia of the 69th Punjab later to be come the 2nd Punjab and later the Punjab regiment (India)



a Jemadar, 1909 in full service uniform



Predecessor Units

10th Battalion Coast Sepoys
(1759 - 1769)
10th Carnatic Battalion
(1769 - 1770)
9th Carnatic Battalion
(1770 - 1784)
9th Madras Battalion
(1784 - 1796)
1st Battalion, 9th Madras Native Infantry
(1796 - 1824)
9th Madras Native Infantry
(1824 - 1885)
9th Madras Infantry
(1885 - 1903)

sources for the Pictures British Empire: Armed Forces: Units: Indian Infantry: 69th Punjabis
 

Param

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About Punjab Regiment



The Punjab Regiment owes its origin to the Madras Presidency of the British East India. Its lineage can be summed up in the words of the former President of India, Dr. Zakir Hussain, during the colour presentation of the Regiment at Meerut in March 1969. He went on record to state: - "Your regiment has the single honour of being the oldest infantry regiment of the Indian army, and therefore the history of the Punjab Regiment is the history of the Indian Army."
The initial five battalions were raised between 1761 and 1798.
In 1922 they were regrouped to form part of 2nd Punjab Regiment. That year this Regiment was awarded the famous 'Galley' badge alongwith the motto – 'Khushki-wa-Tari', consequent to three of its battalions, particularly the Second battalion, for "readiness always evinced" to proceed for operations overseas in spite of social taboos. The motto, meaning 'By Land and Sea', is still retained, albeit in its Hindi version- 'Sthal wa Jal'. Incidentally, the Punjab Regiment is the only regiment in the world to adorn a naval symbol as a badge.


How can it be the oldest Regiment when the British managed to conquer Punjab only in the 1840s? The 4 battalions that were raised between 1761 an 1798 belonged to the Madras Regiment and were raised in Tiruchrappalli (my home town).
Later in the 19th century when the British reduced the strength of the Madras Regiment, these battalions were converted into Punjab regiment for the first time.

The oldest continuous Regiment of India trained in modern warfare by the British is Madras Regiment.
 

Kunal Biswas

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How can it be the oldest Regiment when the British managed to conquer Punjab only in the 1840s? The 4 battalions that were raised between 1761 an 1798 belonged to the Madras Regiment and were raised in Tiruchrappalli (my home town).
Later in the 19th century when the British reduced the strength of the Madras Regiment, these battalions were converted into Punjab regiment for the first time.

The oldest continuous Regiment of India trained in modern warfare by the British is Madras Regiment.
From Wiki:

The first army officially called the "Indian Army" was raised by the government of India in 1895, existing alongside the three long-established presidency armies (the Bengal Army, the Madras Army and the Bombay Army), The first four British-raised battalions of what later became the 2nd Punjab Regiment and finally the Punjab Regiment, were raised during the hostilities in the Carnatic in South India between 1761 and 1776. (Note - The 15 Punjab only became a battalion of the regiment after Independence).After 1857, the British applied the Martial Races theory and north Indian troops replaced the South Indians, the regiment eventually being renamed as The Punjab Regiment.
In 1758 Lawrence raised the Madras Regiment, forming the several Companies of Madras Levies into two battalions. 2 Madras was raised in 1776 as 15 Carnatic Infantry at Thanjavur [and underwent many nomenclature changes thereafter]. The regiment has been through many campaigns with both the British Indian Army and the Indian Army. Many well-known British officers have commanded this regiment, Robert Clive is one among them. This regiment has fought the Carnatic wars, which were fought in South India. The elephant crest symbolizes its gallantry in the Battle of Assaye under Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington.


Its one of the oldest..
 

Param

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From Wiki:







Its one of the oldest..
Punjab Regiment

Punjab Regiment
The Punjab Regiment is one of the oldest in the Indian Army. It traces its origins to 1761 when the first battalion was raised at Trichinopoly. Army men of this regiment had been honoured with one Kirti Chakra, seven Sena Medals, nine commendation certificates of the Chief of the Army Staff, seven commendation certificates of the Western Command, 11 of the Eastern Command and 14 of the Northern Command.
The Madras regiment was not raised for the first time in Trichy, but the battalions that were reconstituted as Punjab regiment were raised at Tiruchirapalli.
 
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Param

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33rd Punjabi Regiment

The Regiment shown in this picture is not part of the Indian army now. These are paintings of the Muslim soldiers of the Punjab regiment that was later turned into 1st Punjab after Partition.
This Regiment is now part of the Pakistan army.
 

Tomcat

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Battalions of the 2nd Punjab Regiment

1st Battalion, 67th Punjabis

The 67th Punjabis were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1759, when they were raised as the 8th Battalion Coast Sepoys.

The regiments first action was during the Carnatic Wars followed by the Third Anglo-Mysore War.

In 1914, during World War I the regiment was at first in the 4th (Quetta) Division which remained in India, on internal security and as a training unit. A second battalion was formed and both were posted overseas and served in the 12th Indian Division which fought in the Battle of Shaiba, the Battle of Khafajiya and the Battle of Nasiriya in the Mesopotamia Campaign.[1] The second battalion was also involved in the Mesopotamia campaign with the 14th Indian Division and fought in the Second Battle of Kut and the Fall of Baghdad (1917). Both battalions then served in the Third Afghan War.


2nd Battalion, 69th Punjabis


The 69th Punjabis were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1759, when they were raised as the 10th Battalion Coast Sepoys.

The regiments first was during the Carnatic Wars, this was followed by service during the Battle of Sholinghur in the Second Anglo-Mysore War and the Third Anglo-Mysore War. They also took part in the annexation of Pegu during the Second Anglo-Burmese War.

The Battalion was awarded the Galley Badge in 1839 for 'readiness always envinced' for proceeding on foreign service which was then considered a taboo in India. The Galley is now the crest of the Indian Punjab Regiment. The Battalion was also given the Battle Cry - Khushki Wuh Tarri which is Persian for 'By Land and Sea'. The Indianised version of this motto 'Sthal Wuh Jal' is now the Battle Cry of the Indian Punjab Regiment.

During World War I they served in the Middle East on the Suez Canal the in the Gallipoli Campaign after which they were sent to the Western Front in 1915

3rd Battalion 72nd Punjabis

The 72nd Punjabis were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1759, when they were raised as the 16th Battalion Coast Sepoys.

The regiments first battle was the Battle of Sholinghur in 1781, during the Second Anglo-Mysore War. They were next involved in the Battle of Ava during the First Burmese War. During the Indian Mutiny of 1857 they were stationed in Hong Kong and Singapore. There next action was during the Third Burmese War. With the defeat of King Thibaw Min the regiment remained in Burma, being renamed the 2nd Burma Battalion in 1891.[1]

During World War I they were deployed along the North West Frontier with the 1st (Peshawar) Division to prevent incursions by the Afghan tribes, but they were later sent to Egypt and Palestine and took part in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign attached to the 75th Division


4th Battalion, from the 74th Punjabis

The 74th Punjabis were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1776, when they were raised as the 14th Carnatic Battalion.

The regiment first saw action during the Carnatic Wars. This was followed by the Battle of Sholinghur in the Second Anglo-Mysore War and the Battle of Mahidpur in the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Their next destination was China for the Opium Wars and in 1885 the took part in the Third Burmese War.

During World War I they were part of the 8th Lucknow Division which remained in India on internal security and training duties they were then posted to the 10th (Irish) Division in 1918, and took part in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.


5th Battalion, 87th Punjabis

The 87th Punjabis were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1798, when they were raised as the 1st Battalion, 14th Madras Native Infantry.

The regiments first action was in the Battle of Mahidpur during the Third Anglo-Maratha War. Their next battle were in the Siege of Lucknow and the Capture of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. They were next sent into Burma to take part in the Second Burmese War in 1885. During World War I they spent much of the time guarding the North West Frontier against incursions by Afghan tribesmen. They did send 1,400 men as reinforcements to other regiments and in 1917, were sent to take part in the Mesopotamia Campaign
 
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Kunal Biswas

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These Guys belong to Sikh regiment not Punjab..
 

Tomcat

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Su thats the Sikh light Infantry (Fomer 23rd Sikh Pioneers )
 

Kunal Biswas

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Punjab war booty-Dograi-1965




troops near Jessore-1971




23 Punjab's Laungewala victory Dance atop a Pak tank-1971




Arms and equipment captured by 14 Punjab at Jessore-1971



Captors of Haji Pir Pass wit Maj RS Dayal, MVC-1965



Captured Pakistani troops with 13 Punjab, Dograi-1965:rofl:



Galley Machine Gunners-1948



Gen Niazi being escorted by Punjabi officers JMS Hatter and Raghubir Singh



Pak Casualties in Dograi due to 13 Punjab action



during assault



Rare picture of 1962 showing CO of 14 Punjab,Col IK Shorey,(left most) with young officers ( later Lt Gens) GS Brar & VR Raghavan amongst other



Troops of 14 Punjab with CO Col RK Singh, MVC, atop captured Pakistani tank at Garibpur, East Pakistan
 

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