Brigade Of the Guards
So guys as I told you I will going to tell you about each of the infantry in detail, about their past, their war cries, regimental center, and many more.
Regimental Centre: Kamptee, near Nagpur in Maharashtra.
Regimental Insignia: Garuda — A mythological eagle king.
Motto: Pahla Hamesha Pahla (Ahead Always Ahead).
War Cry: Garud Ka Hun Bol Pyare (I am from the Guards, Say O Friend).
Today we will talk about the Brigade of the guards, which is a mechanized 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 number of battle honors after Indian independence. The regiment was the brain-child of Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, who was the first Indian commander-in-chief of the Indian Army. He raised the Brigade of the Guards and coined the phrase; “The Guards, The Elite”.
The Brigade of the Guards adopted GARUDA as their insignia because it is invoked as an impetuous violent force, speed, and martial prowess in the great epic of Mahabharata.
The Brigade of The Guards was the senior-most line infantry regiment of the Indian Army before its selection and conversion to the mechanized 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 Armoured Corps
History: The Brigade of Guards was raised in 1949 on the lines of the elite 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.
Before 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 KM Cariappa OBE. Three of the Army’s oldest and most distinguished battalions were converted as Guards battalions in 1949: 2nd Battalion, Punjab Regiment — 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.
Operations
1962 Indo-China War
1965 Indo-Pakistan War
1971 Liberation War
Operation Blue Star
UN operations and counter-insurgency operations
Regimental Battalions
The regiment currently consists of a total of 21 battalions. 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.
1st Battalion (former 2nd battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment)
2nd Battalion (former 1st battalion, The Grenadiers)
3rd Battalion (former 1st battalion, 1st Rajputana Rifles)
4th Battalion (former 1st battalion, 1st Rajput Regiment)
5th Battalion (Highlanders) (Reconnaissance & Support)
6th Battalion
7th Battalion
8th Battalion
9th Battalion
10th Battalion
11th Battalion
12th Battalion (Reconnaissance & Support)
13th Battalion (Highlanders)
14th Battalion (Irregulars) (Param Vir Chakra Paltan)
15th Battalion (Reconnaissance & Support)
16th Battalion
17th Battalion
18th Battalion
19th Battalion (Reconnaissance & Support)
20th Battalion
22nd Battalion
117th Battalion (Territorial Army), Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu
125th Battalion (Territorial Army), Secunderabad, Telangana
Gallantry Awards
2 Param Vir Chakra, 2 Ashoka Chakras, 1 Padma Bhushan, 8 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 6 Maha Vir Chakras, 4 Kirti Chakras, 46 Vir Chakras, 18 Shaurya Chakras, 77 Sena Medals, 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 Lance NK Albert Ekka 14 Guards PVC
Interesting Facts about the Brigade of the Guards:
The Guards consist of a total of 21 battalions.
The majority of the battalions operate as the Mechanized Infantry, 03 operate in the Reconnaissance and Support Role, 01 operate as an Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) battalion and 03 operate as the Infantry Regiments.
The Guards is one of three regiments in the Indian Army which is made up of the men from the different castes and regions of India.
The Brigade of Guards was raised on the lines of the elite Guards Units of the world.
The Infantry Regiment was raised to implement the government’s policy of encouraging Indian Army recruitment from different classes and regions of India.
The Guards is 50 years old but its constituent battalions go back as far as 225 years share a total 93 battle honors around the globe.
