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Rajputana Rifles

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This article is about the oldest rifles regiment of the Indian Army. For the similarly named infantry regiment, see Rajput Regiment.

Rajputana Rifles
Regimental Insignia of the Rajputana Rifles
Active10 January 1775 – present
Country India
Branch Indian Army
TypeLine Infantry
RoleInfantry
Size25 battalions
Garrison/HQDelhi Cantonment
Nickname(s)RajRif
Motto(s)Veer Bhogya Vasundhara (वीर भोग्य वसुंधरा )(Sanskrit)
"The Brave Shall Inherit the Earth"
War CryRaja Ramchandra Ki Jai [1]
(Hail Lord Raja Rama)
Engagements
Battle honoursPoonch, Hajipir, Charwa, Basantar and Myanamati, Tololing
Commanders
Colonel of the regimentLt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla

The Rajputana Rifles is the oldest rifle regiment of the Indian Army. It was originally a part of the British Indian Army, when six previously existing regiments were amalgamated to form six battalions of the 6th Rajputana Rifles. In 1945, the numeral designation was dropped from the title and in 1947 the regiment was transferred to the newly independent Indian Army. Since independence, the regiment has been involved in a number of conflicts against Pakistan, as well as contributing to the Custodian Force (India) in Korea under the aegis of the United Nations in 1953–54 and to the UN Mission to the Congo in 1962. As a rifle regiment, it uses a bugle horn as its insignia, the same as the British Light Division, but unlike its British counterparts, the Rajputana Rifles march at the same march pace used in the Indian Army as a whole.

Etymology

[edit]

The name Rajputana Rifles is derived from northwest, and the word Rajputana, a historic region in northwest India that is roughly coextensive with the modern Indian state of Rajasthan, as well as small sections of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It is based on the word Rajaputra, meaning "son of a king, which came in 6th century. The name Rajputana means "land of the Kings". The Aravalli Range crosses the southern part of the region from northeast to southwest. The northwestern part is largely the Thar desert, but to the southeast, the land is extremely fertile. Rajput power rose here between the 6th and 13th centuries, and the princes resisted the early Muslim incursions, which began in the 11th century. Rajput power reached its peak in the early 15th century, but the area fell to the Mughals when Akbar captured the Chittor Fort in 1568. The Marathas held feudatories in the region from c. 1750 to 1818, when it passed to Great Britain. When Britishers came Rajputs did treaty. The Rajput princely states came under British protection by treaties in the early 19th century; most of the area was formed into Rajasthan state in 1948. Under the British, Rajputana included more than 20 princely states, notably Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Ajmer. The internal autonomy of many of the states was guaranteed.

Recruitment

[edit]

The Rajputana Rifles is a fixed class regiment with equal proportions of Rajputs and Jats. [2][3]

Lineage

[edit]

The regiment's origins lie in the 18th century when the East India Company (HEIC) recruited Rajputs to protect its operations. The impressive performance of French local units which were composed of local recruits mixed with French officers, helped the HEIC to decide that it needed to do something similar. In January 1775, it raised its first local infantry units which included the 5th Battalion, Bombay Sepoys, which is considered to be the oldest rifle regiment of the Indian Army.[4] The 5th Battalion was successively redesignated as 9th Battalion Bombay Sepoys in 1778; 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1796; 4th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1824, and then 4th Regiment Native Infantry (Rifle Corps) in 1881.[5] It thus became the first rifle regiment of the British Indian Army.[4] In 1899 the battalion was once more renamed as 4th Regiment (1st Battalion Rifle Corps) Bombay Infantry and again in 1901 as 4th Bombay Rifles.[5]

In Kitchener's 1903 reorganisation of the Indian Army, 4th Bombay Rifles became 104th Wellesley's Rifles, to commemorate the fact that the regiment had been commanded in 1800 by Arthur Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington).[6] In the further re-organisation in 1921, the following six regiments were brought together to form the six battalions of the 6th Rajputana Rifles Regiment:[7]

A painting depicting members of the Rajputanta Rifles, of all ranks and uniforms. c. 1911

In 1945, the regiments of the British Indian Army dropped the numeral in their titles and so the Rajputana Rifles assumed its current name. In 1947, after the partition of India, the regiment was allocated to the newly formed Indian Army. In 1949, the 1st battalion was transferred to the newly raised Brigade of the Guards, becoming the 3rd battalion, Brigade of the Guards.

History

[edit]
Men of the regiment during the Battle of Meiktila, Burma 1945

In 1817, the 4th battalion met the Marathas at the Battle of Khadki. The defence earned the regiment the battle honor of "Khadki". In 1856–57 the 1st, 2nd, and 4th battalions were together in the Persian theatre of operations. In 1856, Captain John Augustus Wood of the 2nd battalion (then the 20th Bombay Native Infantry) was awarded the Victoria Cross for storming Bushire Fort.[9] This was the first Victoria Cross to be won in an Indian unit.[10] Sub. Maj Mohammed Sharief and Sub. Peer Bhatt were recommended for the Victoria Cross for their actions in the same battle, but were turned down as at that time the medal category was not open to Indians.[11][12]

In 1878–1880, during the Second Afghan War, the 1st battalion marched 145 miles in 5 days from Quetta to Kandahar and laid siege to the city. In 1900–1902, the 3rd battalion was part of a force used to contain the Boxer Rebellion in China.

World War I saw the regiment fight in battlefields from France to Palestine. The 5th battalion was in all theatres of the war and participated in General Allenby’s march to recapture Jerusalem.

During World War II, the regiment was expanded to thirteen battalions and served in the Middle East, Burma and Malaya.[13] The 4th battalion had the distinction of earning two Victoria Crosses during this conflict.[14]

Over the course of its existence, members of the regiment have received four Victoria Crosses, 44 Military Crosses, one Param Vir Chakra, three Ashok Chakras, one Padma Bhushan, fourteen Param Vishisht Seva Medals, ten Maha Vir Chakras, eleven Kirti Chakras, 18 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, two Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, 50 Vir Chakras, 28 Shaurya Chakras, 122 Sena Medals (including Bar), 39 Vishisht Seva Medals, three Yudh Seva Medals, 85 Mentions-in-Dispatches and 55 Arjuna Awards.[4]

Units

[edit]
Members of the Rajputana Rifles.
President Ram Nath Kovind with members of the Band of the Rajputana Rifles following the Beating Retreat, Rashtrapati Bhavan, 30 January 2018.
Postage stamp released in 2018 to commemorate the Bicentenary of the Third Battalion of Rajputana Rifles.
Postage stamp released in 2020 to commemorate the Bicentenary of the Fourth Battalion of Rajputana Rifles.
Postage stamp released in 1995 to commemorate 175 years of the Fifth Battalion of Rajputana Rifles.

The Rajputana Rifles consists of nineteen regular battalions, four Rashtriya Rifles battalions and two Territorial Army battalions -

Battalion Raising Date Remarks References
1st Battalion § 1775 Raised as 5th Battalion, Bombay Sepoys. Converted to 3rd Battalion, Brigade of the Guards on 1 September 1949. Pre-independence : 28 battle honours, post-independence : battle honour Gadra Road [15]
2nd Battalion 1817 Raised as the 2nd Battalion, 10th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. Designated 120th Rajputana Infantry in 1903 and 2nd (Prince of Wales's Own), 6th Rajputana Rifles in 1922. Battle honours of Persia, Reshire, Bushire, Koosh-Ab, Mesopotamia, Shaiba, Kut-Al-Amara, and Ctesiphon. Captain John Augustus Wood won the Victoria Cross in 1856 at Bushire, Persia. Post independence battle honours – Poonch, Tololing and Drass; theatre honour – Kargil. [16][17]
3rd Battalion 1818 Raised as 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. Underwent many name changes, was designated 122nd Rajputana Infantry, before present designation. Battle honours –China, Afghanistan, Basra and Shaiba, Kut-Al-Amra, Baghdad, Mesopotamia, Irrawady, Mandalay and Fort Dufferin. Theatre honours – Persia, Mesopotamia, Burma 1932-34, Burma 1944-45, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan. [18]
4th Battalion (Outram’s) 1820 Raised on 26 May 1820 from elements which took part in the Battle of Khadki in November 1817, as the First Battalion of the 12th Regiment of the East India Company Indian Army. In the reorganisation of 1903, it took on the name of Sir James Outram and was designated the 123rd Outram's Rifles. Won two Victoria Crosses (Subedar Richhpal Ram and CHM Chhelu Ram), and 23 Battle/Theatre Honours during the pre-independence period. Post-Independence battle honours – Charwa and Uri, theatre honour Punjab 1965. [19]
5th Battalion (Napier’s) 1820 Raised as 1st Extra Battalion of Bombay Native Infantry, underwent many changes, designated 125th Napier's Rifles in 1903 and present designation in 1945. Won one Victoria Cross in 1858 and 27 battle honours before independence. [20]
6th Battalion 1962 Nicknamed the Param Vir Chakra Paltan and Shooting Sixth, the regiment was raised in 1940 by Lieutenant Colonel NG Gane MC at Faizabad. Theatre honour Burma during World War II. CHM Piru Singh was awarded the PVC during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948. The battalion was awarded the theatre honour Jammu and Kashmir and battle honour Darapari. [21]
7th Battalion 1962 Raised 1941, fought in Malaya, disbanded at the end of war. Re-raised in 1962 at Delhi Cantonment. Battle honour Mynamati and theatre honour East Pakistan, 1971. [22]
8th Battalion 1963 Raised in 1941 and saw action in the Arakan Campaign, battle honour Rathedaung, disbanded 1947. Re-raised by Lieutenant Colonel JJ Lal in Delhi. [23]
9th Battalion 1964 Raised 1941 at Nasirabad, converted to an anti-aircraft regiment, disbanded 1945. Re-raised at Delhi Cantonment by Lieutenant Colonel C Silva. [24]
11th Battalion 1964 Raised by Lieutenant Colonel Risal Singh at Kanchrapara. Havildar Rajesh Kumar was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 2010. [25]
12th Battalion 1968 Raised as 31 Rajputana Rifles on 15 January 1968 and re-designated as 12 Rajputana Rifles on 23 February 1971. Theatre honour : East Pakistan, 1971. [26]
13th Battalion 1966 Raised as the New Delhi by Lieutenant Colonel Jai Singh SM. Nicknamed Thundering Thirteen. [27]
14th Battalion 1966 Raised as 11 Rajputana Rifles (TA), disbanded 1947, re-raised 1966 by Lieutenant Colonel Harbhajan Singh at Golconda. Nicknamed Fighting Fourteen because of the consistent performance of the Batalian in Firing Competitions [28]
15th Battalion 1976
16th Battalion 1979
17th Battalion 1934 Former Imperial Service Troops, raised as Sawai Man Guards of Jaipur State Forces, battle honour Ledi Gali during 1948 operations, absorbed into Indian Army in 1951. [29]
18th Battalion § 1941? Former Saurashtra Rifles, (Nawanagar State Forces); now 11th Mechanised Infantry Regiment. Battle honours Asal Uttar and Basantar.
19th Battalion 1962 Raised at Delhi Cantonment by Lieutenant Colonel SP Kutky. Captain Ummed Singh Mahra was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 1971. Awarded theatre honour East Pakistan, 1971. [30]
20th Battalion 1981 Raised in Delhi Cantonment [31]
21st Battalion 1985
22nd Battalion
23rd Battalion § Converted to 23rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in 2013
9 Rashtriya Rifles 1994
18 Rashtriya Rifles 1994
43 Rashtriya Rifles 2005?
57 Rashtriya Rifles
105 (TA) Battalion 1949 Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi; nicknamed Rajputana Terriers [32]
128 (TA) Battalion 1983 Eco - Jaisalmer, Rajasthan [33]

§ indicates former units.

Alliances

[edit]

Rajputana Rifles Regimental Museum

[edit]

The Rajputana Rifles Regimental Museum in the Rajputana Rifles Centre is located inside the Delhi Cantonment. The museum covers the rich history of the regiment in the most modern fashion. The museum is around 7000 square feet in size and covers the history of the regiment from its inception. The museum exhibits weapons and uniforms and narrates the history through large format images and audiovisual film. The museum was designed and conceived by Holistic Design a Delhi-based design studio headed by Nikhil Bhardwaj who specializes in designing museums and exhibitions. Col. M. S. Niranjan of the 19th battalion was the director of the museum project. It is rated as the finest military museum in India and even compared to the Imperial War Museum in London.

Battle Honours

[edit]

Pre Independence[34][35]

Post Independence[34]

Gallantry awards

[edit]

Pre-independence

[edit]

Pre-1914

Victoria Cross


1914-1921[36]
Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire

  • Captain Edwin James Mollison, 125th Napier's Rifles[37]

Military Cross

  • Captain W. Odell, 123rd Outram's Rifles - attached 125th Napier Rifles[38]
  • Lieutenant C. F. F. Moore, 123rd Outram's Rifles - attached 4th Gurkha Rifles[38]
  • Lieutenant Charles Oliver Robins Mosse, 120th Rajputana Infantry[39]
  • Lieutenant John Bell Nelson, 125th Napier's Rifles[40]
  • Subedar Harnath Singh, 1st Battalion, 123rd Outram’s Rifles (Egypt)

Order of British India

  • Subedar Parbhudhan Singh, 13th Rajputs (The Shekhawatti Regiment), (East Africa)
  • Subedar Major Hassan Muhammad, 104th Wellesley's Rifles (Kut-Al-Amara)
  • Subedar Harchant Jat, 104th Wellesley's Rifles (Kut-Al-Amara)
  • Subedar Major Khitab Gul, 120th Rajputana Infantry (Mesopotamia)
  • Subedar Sri Bahadur Singh, 120th Rajputana Infantry (Mesopotamia)
  • Subedar Indar Singh, 120th Rajputana Infantry (Kut-Al-Amara)
  • Acting Subedar Major Abdul Shakur Khan, 122nd Rajputana Infantry (Mesopotamia)
  • Subedar Major Umar Din, 125th Napier's Rifles (France)
  • Subedar Nizam-ud-din, 125th Napier's Rifles (Egypt)

Indian Order of Merit

  • Subedar Bakhtawar Singh, 13th Rajputs (The Shekhawatti Regiment), (East Africa)
  • Subedar Sabal Singh, Naik Net Singh, Lance Naik Guman Singh, Rifleman Kheta Ram, Rifleman Dhanna Ram, Rifleman Maula Dad, Naik Narsu Singh, Rifleman Manji Singh, Naik Malik Khan, Subedar Mukh Ram, Colour Havildar Ganpat Singh, Havildar Allahditta (Mesopotamia), Subedar Tiku Ram (Kut-Al-Amara); all from 104th Wellesley's Rifles
  • Subedar Dunga Rawat, Sepoy Hukam Singh, Colour Havildar Ganesh Ram, Sepoy Lachhman Singh, Sepoy Kum Singh, Subedar Major Khitab Gul, Havildar Girwar, (Mesopotamia), Havildar Uhet Singh, Jemadar Nara, (Kut-Al-Amara); all from 120th Rajputana Infantry
  • Subedar Harnath Singh, Jemadar Bhim Singh, Subedar Major Bhura Ram, Jemadar Hans Ram, Jemadar Arjun Ram, Jemadar Nanig Ram, Naik Amir Hussain, (Egypt), Jemadar Mubarik Ali, (attached 58th Rifles)[41] all from 123rd Outram’s Rifles
  • Rifleman Bal Singh, Jemadar Munshi Singh, Havildar Sher Khan, Rifleman Goru Ram, Lance Naik Feroz Khan, (Mesopotamia), Subedar Major Jahan Shah, Rifleman Sukh Singh, Colour Havildar Rahim Ali, Subedar Nizam-ud-din, Jemadar Sheobaksh Singh, (Egypt), all from 125th Napier's Rifles

Indian Distinguished Service Medal

  • World War I - 3 medals (13th Rajputs (The Shekhawatti Regiment)), 20 medals (104th Wellesley's Rifles), 21 medals (120th Rajputana Infantry), 2 medals (122nd Rajputana Infantry), 16 medals (123rd Outram’s Rifles), 18 medals (125th Napier's Rifles)

Indian Meritorious Service Medal

  • World War I - 10 medals (13th Rajputs (The Shekhawatti Regiment)), 26 medals (104th Wellesley's Rifles), 6 medals (120th Rajputana Infantry), 5 medals (122nd Rajputana Infantry), 51 medals (123rd Outram’s Rifles), 46 medals (125th Napier's Rifles)

Croix De Guerre (French)

  • Subedar Major Hasan Muhammad, Subedar Mukh Ram (France), 104th Wellesley's Rifles; Subedar Major Khitab Gil (France) 120th Rajputana Infantry

Leim Alilimdetaire (French)

  • Naik Jema Baksh (Egypt) 120th Rajputana Infantry; Colour Havildar Allahbad Khan (Mesopotamia), 125th Napier's Rifles

Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives en Bronze (French)

  • Subedar Major Bhura Ram, 123rd Outram’s Rifles; CQMH Madat Khan, 125th Napier's Rifles


1921-1939
Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

  • Captain John Allan Ferguson, 13th Rajputs[42]
  • Major Robert Denis Ambrose, 1st Battalion (Wellesley's), 6th Rajputana Rifles[43]

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

  • Major Harold James Huxford, 5th Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles (Napiers)[44]

Distinguished Service Order

  • Lieutenant Colonel John Duncan Grant, 13th Rajputs[45]

Military Cross

  • Lieutenant Geoffrey Herbert Bruno Beyts, 3rd Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles[46]
  • Lieutenant Roy Edward Percy Wyndham, 3rd Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles[47]
  • Lieutenant Richard Harold Robert Alderman, 4th Battalion (Outram's), 6th Rajputana Rifles[48]


1939-1947[49][50][51][52][53]
Victoria Cross

Distinguished Service Order

  • Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Herbert Bruno Beyts, Lieutenant Colonel PRH Skrine, Lieutenant Colonel WAL James, Lieutenant Colonel R Lawrenson, Lieutenant Colonel RB Scott, Lieutenant Colonel L Jones, Lieutenant J. McHadden, Major (temporary) John Lewis Haycroft Davis, Lieutenant-Colonel (acting) George Edgar Parker.[56][57]

Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

  • Brigadier (acting) Victor George Joseph Barton,[58] Lieutenant-Colonel (Temporary Brigadier) Franz Reginald Lindsay Goadb,[59] Major Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert James Sheppard,[60] Colonel (temporary) Bertram Bayliss,[61] Lieutenant-Colonel (local) George Roy Stevens,[62] Major RB Broadbent

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

  • Lieutenant Colonel (temporary) Denis Gill Ryan,[63] Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Claude Morgan Hutchings,[64] Major (temporary) Alan Philip Young, Major (temporary) David Ralph Morgan,[65] Captain Alan Stuart Roger,[66] Captain DL Powell Jones, Captain (temporary) John Lewis Warren,[67] Captain (Temporary) Liaqat Saeed Khan Lodi,[68] Captain (temporary Major) George Edgar Parker,[69] Captain (temporary) Harold Anthony Burke,[70] Captain Stanley Broadbent, Major (temporary) Abdul Rashid Choudhri,[71] Captain (temporary) Ghulam Nabi[72] Jemadar Farman Ali.

Military Cross

  • Major (temporary) Leslie Louis Fleming, Major (temporary) Geoffrey Arthur Hasler, Major (temporary) George Edgar Parker, Major (temporary) John Keith Parry, Major (acting) John Campbell Anderson, Major (temporary) Hubert Michael Close, Captain GE Charter, Captain Mian Khan, Captain CE Cayley, Captain GR Riddick, Captain KR Gentles, Captain Ivan Bernard St. Regis Surita, Captain JRM French, Captain EW Dixon, Captain AT Murray, Captain Dinesh Chandra Misra, Captain (temporary) John Michael Beamish, Lieutenant Geoffrey Earle Dubois, Lieutenant Daljit Singh Randhawa, Captain (temporary) Ivon Charles Jameson, Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Edward Wilberforce Dixon, 2nd Lieutenant NL Kapur, 2nd Lieutenant Bashir Ahmed, Captain Alexander Hendrick Roosmale Cocq, Lieutenant Gilbert Llewellyn Young-Western, Lieutenant Denis Oswald O'Leary, 2nd Lieutenant JM Ashworth, 2nd Lieutenant PK Horwood, Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Sworup Singh Kalaan, Subedar Tota Ram, Subedar Kesari Singh, Jemadar Sanwal Ram, Jemadar Kalu Ram, Subedar Kalyan Singh, Jemadar (acting Subedar) Usman Ghani, Jemadar Anwar Beg.[73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85]

Indian Order of Merit, 1st Class

  • Subedar Niaz Ali Khan

Indian Order of Merit

  • Subedar Jiwan Ram, Subedar Akbar Khan, Subedar Mohammed Yusuf, Jemadar Bohita Ram, Jemadar Bhura Ram, Jemadar Jailal Ram, Havildar Mohammed Akbar, Havildar Hardewa Ram, Havildar Fatteh Khan, Havildar Durjan Singh, Naik Dost Mohammed, Rifleman Dharam Singh Ram, Jemadar Hoshiar Singh, Havildar Bhima Ram, Subedar Bostan Khan, Subedar Amar Singh, Jemadar Jagna Ram, Jemadar Niaz Ali Khan, Havildar Ganpat Ram, Havildar Habib Khan, Havildar Sheodan Singh, Havildar Goru Ram, Havildar Bhagirath Singh, Naik Bhopal Singh, L/Naik Anop Singh, L/Naik Bhaira Ram, L/Naik Mahji Khan, Subedar Barisal Singh, Naik Binja Ram, Subadar-Major Narain Singh.[86][87]

Indian Distinguished Service Medal

  • Subedar Sukh Ram, Subedar Govinda Ram, Jemadar Gopichand Ram, Jemadar Bhagwana Ram, Jemadar Lall Khan, Jemadar Jita Ram, Jemadar Bhopal Singh, Jemadar Gurdial Ram, Havildar Panna Ram, Havildar Mull Singh, Havildar Inayat Khan, Havildar Phula Ram, Havildar Ratti Ram, Havildar Mohammed Niwaz, Havildar Atta Mohammed, Havildar Juglal Ram, Havildar Neki Ram, Naik Bhagwana Ram, Naik Ramnath Ram, Naik Hem Singh, Naik Begraj Ram, Naik Het Ram, Naik Mohammed Inayat Ali, Lance-Naik Jagat Singh, Lance-Naik Chandgi Ram, Lance-Naik Bega Ram, Lance-Naik Kasi Ram, Lance-Naik Khushi Mohammed, Lance-Naik Kalyan Singh, Rifleman Nandkaran Ram, Rifleman Puran Ram, Rifleman Mangal Singh, Rifleman Fidda Huissain, Rifleman Mohammed Yusuf, Rifleman Harsukh Ram, Jemadar Hoshiar Singh, Havildar Bhima Ram, Subedar Peroze Khan, Jemadar Gulab Khan, Jemadar Harnarain Ram, Jemadar Jowahir Singh, Havildar Harnath Singh, Havildar Sardara Ram, Naik Suba Khan, Nail Khema Ram, L/Naik Kara Ram, L/Naik Sagat Singh, Rifleman Dipa Ram, Rifleman Jiwan Singh, Rifleman Mumphal Ram, Rifleman Sobh Singh, Rifleman Amilal Ram, Rifleman Sanwat Singh, Havildar Chatterbui Singh, Havildar Punjraj Singh, Naik Dalpat Singh, Subedar Sardar Khan, Havildar Bhopsingh Ram, Company Havildar-Major (acting) Sheodayal Singh, Sepoy (acting Naik) Hak Ram, Lance-Naik Jugal Singh.[88][89]

Military Medal

  • Naik Mohd Khan, Naik Fasal Hussain, Naik Jhuntha Ram, Lance-Naik Abdul Rehman, Sweeper Wazir, Rifleman Mohd Sharif, Rifleman Parmeshwar Singh, Rifleman Zaman Ali, Naik Kishan Singh, Naik Megh Singh, Naik (Acting) Lal Singh, Lance-Naik Karam Ellahi, Naik Chuni Ram, Company Havildar-Major Jisukh Ram, Havildar Himta Ram, Naik Kana Ram, Lance-Naik Zarif Khan, Company Havildar-Major Naurang Ram, Rifleman Khuda Dad, Rifleman Ramkunwar Singh, Rifleman Sheochand Ram, Naik Qaim Khan.[90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98]

British Empire Medal

  • Lance-Naik Dusera Ram,[99] Havildar-Major Mir Badshah, Rifleman Mehraj Din[100]

Gold Cross of Merit

  • Lieutenant-Colonel Julius Benois Edwardes[101]

Mentioned in dispatches

  • 87 numbers

Post-independence

[edit]

Param Vir Chakra

Ashok Chakra

Maha Vir Chakra

  • Major General Swarup Singh Kalaan, MC, Rajputana Rifles[106]
  • Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) Raghubir Singh Rajawat, 18th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[107]
  • Lieutenant Ved Prakash Trehan, 4th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[108]
  • Rifleman Dhonkal Singh, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[109]
  • Naik Sugan Singh, 7th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[110]
  • Major Padmapani Acharya, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[111]
  • Major Vivek Gupta, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[112]
  • Naik Digendra Kumar, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[113]
  • Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[114]

Kirti Chakra

  • Lieutenant Colonel Kamaldeep Singh, 18 RR, Rajputana Rifles[115]
  • Captain (Later Colonel) Karni Singh Rathore, 17th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles (Sawaiman Guards)[116]
  • Captain Ashutosh Kumar, 5th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[117]
  • Havildar Amar Singh, 17th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[118]
  • Naib Subedar Umaid Singh, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[119]
  • Naik Rajinder Singh, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[120]
  • Major Pushpender Singh (on deputation to 28 Assam Rifles)[121]
  • Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles (Sawaiman Guards)[122]

Vir Chakra

  • Lieutanant Colonel Mahabir Singh, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[123]
  • Major Balbir Singh Poonia, 7th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[124]
  • Major Rajender Singh Rajawat, 18th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[125]
  • Major Ram Swarup Sharma, Rajputana Rifles[126]
  • Major (later Brigadier) Jitendra Kumar Tomar, 9th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[127]
  • Captain Vijayant Thapar, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[128]
  • Colonel Magod Basappa Ravindranath, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[129]
  • Major Mohit Saxena, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[130]
  • Captain Mohammed Haneef Uddin, 11th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[131]
  • Subedar Rajab Ali, 8th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[132]
  • Naib Subedar Mangej Singh, 11th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[133]
  • Jemadar Sanwal Ram, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[134]
  • Havildar Hazari Singh, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[135]
  • Naik Sheo Chand Ram, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[136]
  • Lance Naik Prem Singh, 12th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[137]
  • CHM Yashvir Singh, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[138]
  • Havildar Prem Kumar Chauhan, 5th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[139]
  • Rifleman Rewat Singh, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[140]
  • Rifleman Mathan Singh, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[141]
  • Rifleman Mohan Singh, 11th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[142]
  • Rifleman Jai Ram Singh, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[143]
  • Rifleman Mahilal Singh, 4th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[144]
  • Rifleman Chagan Singh, 12th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles[145]

Shaurya Chakra

  • Lance Naik Ayyub Ali, 9 RR, Rajputana Rifles[146]
  • Naib Subedar Lal Singh Khichi, 57 RR, Rajputana Rifles[147]
  • Lance Naik Deshpal Singh, 9 RR, Rajputana Rifles[148]
  • Rifleman Lakshman Singh, 9 RR, Rajputana Rifles[149]
  • Havildar Hanuman Ram Saran, 18 RR, Rajputana Rifles[150]
  • Rifleman Mukesh Kumar, 9 RR, Rajputana Rifles[151]
  • Havildar Bhim Singh, 7RR, Rajputana Rifles[151]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dasgupta, Reshmi R. "Jai Shri Ram: Greeting or War Cry". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  2. ^ Hasnain, Syed Ata (22 April 2019). "Demand for new caste-, faith- or ethnicity-based regiments for Indian Army not in consonance with policy or national interest". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  3. ^ Pandit, Rajat (13 April 2009). "Netas look for brownie points over Army". Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Sharma 1990, p. 97. and "Bharat Rakshak :: Land Forces Site - the Rajputana Rifles". Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  5. ^ a b Britishempire.co.uk - 104th Wellesley's Rifles
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  151. ^ "Rifleman Mukesh Kumar". Retrieved 4 April 2023.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Singh, Colonel Dr Narendar (2019) ''Third Battalion The Rajputana Rifles 'Waffadar Paltan' Volume 1 1818-1920 (New Delhi: Pentagon Press) ISBN 978-93-86618-92-4
  • Singh, Colonel Dr Narendar (2020) ''Third Battalion The Rajputana Rifles 'Gods Own' Volume 2 1921-2018 (New Delhi: Pentagon Press) ISBN 978-81-944659-2-8
  • Brigadier Raghubir Singh Rajawat [1]
[edit]
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