The Grenadiers

The Grenadiers known as the “Grinders” have one of the longest unbroken records of existence in the Indian Army. Grenadier companies of Bombay Sepoys won the battle of Talegaon in 1778, and by 1784 the Grenadier companies had been given the title of Bombay Grenadiers. The Grenadiers’ badge bears the White Horse of Hanover.

Grenadier at Regimental centre

The earliest Grenadiers in the late 16th century were infantry soldiers particularly selected and trained to hurl grenades. The grenade of the time was a hollow iron ball, filled with gun powder and sealed with a wooden plug that contained the fuse. To ignite the grenade the grenadier carried a burning piece of cord called a slow match. Exceptional strength and courage were needed for hurling the grenade, and accidents were not uncommon. Grenadiers earned higher pay, received special privileges, and were distinguished by their height, dashing uniform, and tall, miter-shaped headdress (shako). During the 18th century, there was a gradual decline in the use of grenades, but grenadiers were retained as elite troops.

Regimental Centre: Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
Motto: Sarvada Shaktishali (Ever Powerful)
Regimental Insignia: A brass grenade bearing the White Horse of Hanover. The insignia is worn on the uniform with a white hackle.

Regimental Insignia

HISTORY

The oldest grenadier regiment of the armies in the Commonwealth belongs to the Indian Army. The concept of ‘Grenadiers’ evolved from the practice of selecting the bravest and strongest men for the most dangerous tasks in combat. The Grenadiers have the longest unbroken record of existence in the Indian Army.

The history of the Indian Grenadiers is linked to the troops recruited for the army of the Bombay Presidency. The very first mention of a grenadier company hails back to 1684, when a little army of English troops, which had taken possession of the island of Bombay and comprising three companies of Europeans and local Christians, had a grenadier company, but nothing was heard about this unit subsequently. In 1710, the Bombay Army consisted of five companies of “Europeans, to pass Indian Christians, and Kaffirs or African slaves” of which the first company was a European grenadier company. This company was merged into the Bombay European Regiment, which was later disbanded. In 1757, Robert Clive had raised the 1st Regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry of which two companies were grenadier companies, however, no regiments of grenadiers were formed from the Bengal Army until a battalion was formed in 1779.

Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya honored with PVC was from 3 Grenadiers

FACTS ABOUT GRENADIERS

1. The Grenadiers is the most decorated regiment of the Indian Army post-Independence.
2. Formed in 1779, it is also the oldest grenadier regiment in all of the Commonwealth countries.
3. Like some other Indian Army regiments, Grenadiers were raised as part of the Bombay Army of the East India Company.
4. After 1857, they became part of the British Indian Army and remained in service till 1947 when they became part of the Indian Army.
5. The first mention of grenadiers comes from a 1684 record about a small group of European settlers on an island in Bombay.
6. Before 1757, there was at least one company of grenadiers in the Bombay Army.
7. In 1757, Robert Clive raised the first two companies of grenadiers in the 1st Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry.
8. In 1779, grenadier battalions in six different Sepoy battalions along with two in Marines were merged together as the first grenadier regiment.
9. In 1922, when the British conducted the Indian Army reforms, the Grenadiers were renamed 4th Bombay Grenadiers.
10. Even before 1947, the Grenadiers had participated in every major war within the Indian sub-continent and outside fought by the British.
11. In 2015, the Grenadiers participated in the Moscow Victory Day Parade which was held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory in Europe ending World War II.
12. The insignia of the Regiment is a grenade with flames sprouting from it. The White Horse of Hanover, a symbol of British heraldry, is in the middle of the grenade.

Band of the Grenadier Guards 3 July 2013

Decorations
The Grenadiers have the unique and distinct honor of having the most number of Param Vir Chakras. India’s highest medal for gallantry, among all the Indian Army’s Infantry Regiments. Prior to independence, British officers serving with The Grenadiers won four Victoria Crosses. Members of the Regiment have also received a number of other decorations prior to independence, including the Indian Order of Merit.

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