Rajput Regiment: Difference between revisions

=== World War I ===

nearly annihilated. The 3rd battalion fought the Battles of [[Battle of Qurna|Qurna]] and [[Kut al Amara 1915|Kut-al-Amara]] against the Turks. In one of the battles, the Turks had invaded both the flanks of the 3rd Rajput, during which Jemadar Sital Baksh was severely wounded. Sepoy Jhandu Singh rushed to his rescue and was awarded a posthumous [[Indian Order of Merit]] and [[Médaille militaire]].<ref>Rawlinson, H.G, The History of the 3rd Battalion 7th Rajput Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own), Oxford University Press, London, 1941, pp152-173</ref>

*10th (Training) battalion: from the [[16th Rajputs (The Lucknow Regiment)|16th Rajput Infantry (The Lucknow Regiment)]] (1901–1922){{Efn|Formerly known as Regiment of Lucknow , 16th Bengal Native Infantry (1861–1864), 16th (The Lucknow) Bengal Native Infantry (1864–1885), 16th (The Lucknow) Bengal Infantry (1885–1897), 16th (The Lucknow) Rajput Bengal Infantry (1897–1901)}}

In late 1936 and 1937, the 3rd battalion ( 3/7 Rajput), was posted to [[Waziristan]] in what is now the tribal areas of [[Pakistan]].  During that time, they were employed against [[Afghans|Afghan]] insurgents and criminal gangs raiding across the border.<ref>Rawlinson, H G, The History of the 3rd Battalion 7th Rajput Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own), Oxford University Press, London, 1941, pp190-198</ref>

{{main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1947}}

Four Rajput battalions (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th) participated in the 1947–48 operations in Jammu & Kashmir. 3 Rajput was the first to be inducted. Its original task was to protect [[Ramban district|Ramban]] and [[Jammu]], but it quickly came under the [[50th Parachute Brigade (India)|50th Parachute Brigade]] for its relief of [[Jhangar]] and [[Kotli]]. The advance from Jhangar to Kotli took five days, as the column had to clear 47 road blocks. After the relief of Kotli the column returned to Naushera. 1 Rajput was inducted next and it also formed a part of the 50th Parachute Brigade at Naushera. It had its share of fighting in clearing the raiders from some hill features around Naushera. The raiders meanwhile kept heavy pressure on the Naushera-Jhangar road and both 1 and 3 Rajput fought a number of engagements to keep the road open. In December 1947, 4 Rajput swere inducted and deployed in the Chammb-Akhnoor area. 2 Rajput came in next and were employed for lines of communication duties around Jammu.

After the fall of Jhangar, Naushera became the enemy's next objective. Brig. [[Mohammad Usman]], the 50th Parachute Brigade commander, closely watched the situation and drew up defensive plans in which the Rajputs were holding tactical ground around Naushera. C Company, 1 Rajput was holding the Taindhar position, which was vital for the defence of Naushera. Brig. Usman had directed C Coy to hold this position at any cost in case of an attack. In the early morning hours of February 6, 1948, the enemy attacked the Taindhar position. The enemy was about 1500 strong and consisted mostly of [[Pathans]] with some Pakistani servicemen. The enemy attacked in waves of lines of 200–300 men. Six such attacks were launched and there was heavy hand-to-hand fighting in some posts. Hav. Daya Ram who was then manning the 3-inch mortar detachment realised that the enemy had gotten very close to the defensive positions. He took the secondary charge out of the mortar bombs, elevated the mortars to their maximum limit and fired the bombs. These bombs landed within 30–50 yards of the Rajput defensive positions and caused havoc among the enemy. Some of the enemies switched and attacked Daya Ram's section, but the position held. Daya Ram was wounded and his Bren gunner was killed. He then picked up the Bren gun and started firing at the enemy. For his courageous actions, Daya Ram was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]].