Brigade of the Guards

2021-06-25T06:47:09Z

2409:4053:2298:E90:171:8D86:199E:54B8: /* Gallantry awards */

{{for|the British Army unit|Brigade of Guards}}
{{Infobox Military Unit
| unit_name = Brigade of The Guards
| image = Brigade of the Guards Insignia.gif
| caption = Regimental Insignia of the Brigade of The Guards
| dates = 1949 - Present
| country = {{flag icon|India}} [[India]]
| allegiance = [[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Indian Army]]
| branch = Army
| type = Foot Guards
| role = [[Mechanized Infantry]]
| size = 23
Battalions
| command_structure =
| garrison = [[Kamptee]], [[Maharashtra]].
| garrison_label = Regimental Centre
| equipment = [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1947|Jammu & Kashmir - 1947-48]], [[1965 war|Rajasthan - 1965]], [[1965 war|Punjab - 1965]], [[Bangladesh liberation war|East Pakistan - 1971]] and [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|Jammu & Kashmir - 1971]]
| equipment_label = Theatre Honours
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto = ''Pahla Hamesha Pahla (First Always First)''
| colors = ''Garud Ka Hun Bol Pyare (I am the son of Garuda, Say O my friend)''
| colors_label = War Cry
| march =
| mascot =
| battles =
| anniversaries =
| decorations = 2 [[Param Vir Chakra]]s, 2 [[Ashoka Chakra]]s, 1 [[Padma Bhushan]], 8 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 6 [[Maha Vir Chakra]]s, 4 [[Kirti Chakra]]s, 46 [[Vir Chakra]]s, 18 [[Shaurya Chakra]]s, 77 [[Sena Medal]]s, 10 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 3 Yudh Seva Medals, 16 Vishisht Seva Medals, 45 Mention-in-Despatches, 151 COAS's Commendation Cards and 79 GOC-in-C's Commendation Cards
| battle_honours = Akhaura, Burki, Gadra Road, Hilli, Naushera, Gurais, Shingo River Valley, Sylhet and Ganga Sagar
| identification_symbol = [[Garuda]] - A mythological eagle king.
| identification_symbol_label = Regimental Insignia
| identification_symbol_2 = Red over Yellow
| identification_symbol_2_label = Hackle
}}
The '''Brigade of The Guards''' (Hindi:ब्रिगेड ऑफ़ द गार्ड्स/गार्ड ब्रिगेड) is a [[mechanised infantry]] regiment of the [[Indian Army]]. It was raised as the first "all India", "all class" infantry regiment of the Army where troops from all parts of India serve together, as opposed to other regiments that recruit from specific regions, ethnic groups or religions.

The Brigade of The Guards distinguished itself by being awarded the most battle honours after Indian independence. The regiment was the brain-child of Field Marshal [[K. M. Cariappa]], who was the first Indian commander-in-chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army. He raised the Brigade of the Guards and coined the phrase; "The Guards, The Elite".

The [[President of India]] is the Honorary Colonel-in-Chief and the [[Chief of Army Staff (India)|Chief of Army Staff]] is the Colonel-in-Chief of The Guards. The Guards Regimental Centre is at [[Kamptee]] in [[Maharashtra]]. The Brigade of The Guards was the senior most [[line infantry]] regiment of the Indian Army before its selection and conversion to the mechanised infantry role. It now holds the title of the senior most infantry regiment in an honorary/ceremonial capacity. Together with the [[Mechanised Infantry Regiment]], they form part of the 'Mechanised Infantry' arm, part of the Mechanised Forces (along with the [[Indian Army Armoured Corps|Armoured Corps]]).

==History and raising==
[[File:Guards marching contingent jointly won award for the best marching contingent among the two services in Republic Day Parade-2015.jpg|thumb|305x305px| The Guards marching contingent passes through the Rajpath during the 66th Republic Day Parade, 2015|alt=|right]]
The Brigade of Guards was raised in 1949 on the lines of the elite [[Foot guards|Guards]] units of the world, particularly, the [[Coldstream Guards]] of the [[British Army]]'s [[Guards Division]]. The regiment was raised to implement the government's policy of encouraging Army recruitment from classes and regions which had been under-represented in the forces. Raised as The Guards Brigade, the old system of class composition was replaced with recruitment open to all regions, castes, creeds, and sections of society.

Prior to the raising of the Guards, Indian Army infantry regiments derived their name and troop composition from region, religion or sub-caste. There was a message with its formation that the country comes before everything else, including religion and caste. The regiment was formed as the first mixed class Indian regiment to be raised after Indian independence by [[Field Marshal]] [[Kodandera Madappa Cariappa|KM Cariappa]] [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]. Three of the Army's oldest and most distinguished battalions were converted as Guards battalions in 1949:
*2nd Battalion, [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]] - 1st Battalion
*1st Battalion, [[The Grenadiers]] - 2nd Battalion
*1st Battalion, [[Rajputana Rifles]] - 3rd Battalion

A year later, they were joined by the 1st Battalion, [[Rajput Regiment]] as the 4th Battalion. It was the only regiment of [[foot guards]] in the Indian Army. Though the Brigade of The Guards is only 70 years old, its constituent battalions go back as far as 225 years and between them share 93 battle honours earned around the globe.<ref name="GlobSecurity">http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/rgt-guards.htm</ref>

From its raising till 1964, the [[Colonel#Colonel_of_the_Regiment|Colonel of the Regiment]] was the serving [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]]. On 1 January 1964, [[Brigadier]] (later [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]]) [[N C Rawlley]] became the first Colonel of the Regiment of the Brigade of the Guards. The Chiefs of the Army Staff continue to be the Honorary Colonels of the Brigade of Guards.<ref>{{cite web |title=h3 |url=http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2010/aug16-10/h3.htm |website=www.sainiksamachar.nic.in}}</ref>

Currently the Brigade of the Guards consists of 19 regular battalions and 2 [[Territorial Army (India)|territorial]] battalions and 1 RR (Rashtriya

Rifles) battalion. In the 1980s, the Indian Army began to increase the number of mechanized infantry battalions on its order of battle. As part of this program, the battalions of the Brigade of Guards were eventually converted to mechanized infantry.

==Operations==
===1962 Indo-China War===
{{main|Sino-Indian War}}

===1965 Indo-Pakistan War===
{{main|Indo-Pakistan War of 1965}}

===1971 Liberation War===
{{main|Indo-Pakistan War of 1971}}
In the 1971 war, the Brigade of the Guards participated in actions on both the Eastern and the Western fronts. The 14th Guards earned their first PVC ( Param Vir Chakra) through L/Nk [[Albert Ekka]] of Bravo Company, for heroism in the Gangasagar theatre: he single-handedly turned the tide against Pakistani defenders firing downrange with LMG's and MMG's from the top of a fortified structure, putting the entire operation in jeopardy.


===Operation Blue Star (1984)===
{{further|Operation Blue Star}}

This was an Indian military action carried out between 1 and 8 June 1984 to capture the extremist Sikh leader [[Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]] and his followers along with demolition of the buildings of the [[Harmandir Sahib]] (Golden Temple) complex in [[Amritsar, Punjab]].

The 10th battalion under Lt. Col. Ishrar Rahim Khan was located in [[Jalandhar]] in 1984 and moved to Amritsar to assist the civil administration. Along with 1 Para, 10 Guards moved in from the north entrance to the temple and, though suffering heavy casualties, achieved their objectives. The unit was awarded one Ashok Chakra (Capt. Jasbir Singh Raina), one Kirti Chakra and three Shaurya Chakras. Total casualties suffered by the unit were 19 killed and 50 wounded.

===UN operations and counter-insurgency operations===
One the first deployments overseas, both for this newly formed regiment as well as for the newly independent India, was to Indochina, where the 2nd Bn. was posted, in 1954, to support the [[International Control Commission]]: India was the lead-nation for the project, and from its own history was well-aware of how risky the task of Partition could be. Detachments of the battalion provided both security and an air of authority to the various subordinate headquarters in North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and the all-India regiment exemplified the national commitment to a fraught operation.<ref>https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=DdxDcxj_wn4C&pg=RA1-PT123&lpg=RA1-PT123&dq=Ho+Chi+minh+with+M+J+Desai&source=bl&ots=DZjRKJuSwV&sig=ACfU3U2WRtEdwvWRYROs9bTrZuPqszar8g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiozv6Xy8zpAhXMTMAKHerRBTQQ6AEwD3oECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q=Ho%20Chi%20minh%20with%20M%20J%20Desai&f=false</ref>

The Brigade of the Guards has also taken part in UN peace keeping operations in [[Gaza City|Gaza]] and [[Angola]].

The regiment has also been used in [[counter-insurgency]] operations within [[India]].<ref name="GlobSecurity"/>

==Regimental battalions==
The regiment currently consists of a total of 21 battalions.<ref>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Regiments/Guards.html Brigade of the Guards at Bharat Rakshak] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411222921/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Regiments/Guards.html |date=2009-04-11 }}</ref> The majority of these operate as mechanized infantry, four operate in the reconnaissance and support role (in support of the border force), one is equipped as an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) battalion and three (including two territorial army battalions) remain as infantry. Today, the regiment is one of three in the [[Indian Army]] that is made up of men from the different castes and regions of [[India]].
[[File:Stamp of India - 2003 - Colnect 158344 - 2 Guards 1 Grenadier - 225 Years.jpeg|thumb|right|305x305px|2003 postal stamp to commemorate '225 years of 2nd Battalion of the Guards (1 Grenadiers)'.]]
[[File:Stamp of India - 1998 - Colnect 161877 - Uniforms 1798 - 1998.jpeg|thumb|right|305x305px|1998 postal stamp to mark the bicentenary of 4th Battalion of the Guards (former 1st battalion, 7th Rajput)]]
[[File:Infantry Combat Vehicle passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day Parade 2017, in New Delhi on January 26, 2017.jpg|thumb|305x305px| The contingent of the 10th Battalion, Brigade of the Guards on [[BMP-2]] passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day Parade, 2017|alt=|right]]
The list of battalions is as follows:
*[[67th Punjabis|1st Battalion]] (former 2nd battalion, [[2nd Punjab Regiment]])
* [[102nd Prince of Wales's Own Grenadiers|2nd Battalion]], (former 1st battalion, [[4th Bombay Grenadiers]])
* [[104th Wellesley's Rifles|3rd Battalion]] (former 1st battalion, [[6th Rajputana Rifles]])
* [[2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry|4th Battalion]] (former 1st battalion, [[7th Rajput Regiment]])
* [[5th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|5th Battalion]] (Reconnaissance & Support)
* [[6th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|6th Battalion]]
* [[7th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|7th Battalion]]
* [[8th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|8th Battalion]]
* [[9th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|9th Battalion]]
* [[10th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|10th Battalion]]
* [[11th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|11th Battalion]]
* [[12th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|12th Battalion]] (Reconnaissance & Support)
* [[13th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|13th Battalion]]
* [[14th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|14th Battalion]] (Param Vir Chakra)
* [[15th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|15th Battalion]] (Reconnaissance & Support)
* [[16th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|16th Battalion]]
* [[17th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|17th Battalion]]
* [[18th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|18th Battalion]]
* [[19th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|19th Battalion]] (Reconnaissance & Support)
* [[20th Battalion, Brigade of Guards|20th Battalion]]
* [[22nd Battalion, Brigade of Guards|22nd Battalion]]<ref>https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/bhusawal-gets-new-batallion-of-army-s-brigade-of-the-guards-115070101327_1.html</ref>

The Brigade of Guards has the following affiliations:

* 21st Battalion, [[Rashtriya Rifles]]
*117th Battalion ([[Territorial Army (India)|Territorial Army]]) at [[Tiruchirapalli]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
*125th Battalion (Territorial Army) at [[Secunderabad]], [[Telangana]]

==Traditions==
===Regimental tune===
The four senior battalions and the Guards Training Centre each have their own march past for the Pipes and Drums. The 1 GUARDS plays ''Nachtlager En Grenada'', 2 GUARDS plays ''Back O’Benachie'', 3 GUARDS plays ''With Wellesley’s Rifles at Keren'', 4 GUARDS plays ''The Colk O’ the North'', and the Guards Training Centre plays ''Hundred Pipers''. In 1966, the Brigade adopted the march past of the 2nd Guards ''Back O’ Benachie'' for the Pipes and Drums. The ''Cariappa March'' was approved for the Brass Band of the 3rd Battalion and the centre in 1970.<ref>https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=NfhK/2yptneKivyEGs1deg==&ParentID=t2VlARi2C7yBSJqx98xtcg==</ref>

===Colours===

1 GUARDS was the first and as 2020, is the only battalion to receive Colours from the [[President of India]] in front of the [[Red Fort]] in [[New Delhi]], with the colours being [[Presentation of Colours|presented]] on 20 September 1962. The centre and the 2nd to 14th battalions received colours from President [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]] at [[Kota, Rajasthan|Kota]] on 16 March 1973. Battalions 15 to 19 were presented with colours by [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|COAS]] General [[Gopal Gurunath Bewoor]] at Kamptee.<ref>https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=9rC01f9K3k6zfNiWVbVIrw==&ParentID=3qzOZvRAZ4C0KC5MsB9lOg==&flag=8CKP966uzg96kLov0aWdfQ==</ref>

==Gallantry awards==
1 [[Param Vir Chakra]], 2 [[Ashoka Chakra]]s, 1 [[Padma Bhushan]], 8 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 6 [[Maha Vir Chakra]]s, 4 [[Kirti Chakra]]s, 46 [[Vir Chakra]]s, 18 [[Shaurya Chakra]]s, 77 [[Sena Medal]]s, 10 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 3 Yudh Seva Medals, 16 Vishisht Seva Medals, 45 Mention-in-Despatches, 151 COAS's Commendation Cards and 79 GOC-in-C's Commendation Cards

==Battle honours==
===Pre-independence===
[[Delhi 1803]]; Egypt 1876–1917; British East Africa 1878; [[Afghanistan 1878–80]]; Kandahar 1880; [[Burma 1891]]; [[China 1900]]; East Africa 1914–1916; Mesopotamia 1914–1918, Egypt 1915, [[Gallipoli 1915]], [[France and Flanders 1915]], [[Siege of Kut|Kutal Amarah 1915]]; [[Palestine 1916-1918]]; [[Tigris 1916]]; Macedonia 1918; [[Afghanistan 1919]]; Donbaik 1943; [[Italy 1943–45]]; [[Burma 1945]]; J&.K 1947–1948;
Selinghar; Carnatic; Mysore; Ava; Pegu; [[Suez Canal]]; Nels, Krithia; Laos; [[Aden]]; Point-551; Kanghaw; Naushera; Mangalore; Hyderabad; Gaza; Megiodo; Nablus; Curais; Seringapatnam; Beurabone; Punjab; Mooltan; Persia; Reshire; Khooshab; Central India; Basra; Shaiba; Ctesiphon; [[Defence of Kut-Al-Amara]]; Sidi Barrani; Keren; Cassino; Castele Hill; Leswarree; Deig; Bharatpore; Khelat; Mahrakpore; Chilianwallah; Goojerat and Punjab.<ref name="Indian Army">{{cite web |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/infantry/inf_gds.html |title=Archived Document |access-date=2009-09-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829075729/http://www.indianarmy.nic.in/infantry/inf_gds.html |archive-date=2009-08-29 }}</ref>

===Post-independence===
Akhaura, Burki, Gadra Road, Hilli, Naushera, Gurais, Shingo Rivel Valley, Sylhet and Ganga Sagar.<ref name="Indian Army"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061207205122/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE3-1/jagan.html BR Monitor Issue on the Brigade of the Guards]

{{Indian Army Infantry Regiments}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brigade Of The Guards}}
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1949]]
[[Category:Guards regiments]]
[[Category:Infantry regiments of the Indian Army from 1947]]
[[Category:Regiments of the Indian Army]]

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Brigade of the Guards