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2nd Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment / 1 Jat (LI)

The 2nd Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, also known as 1 Jat (LI), was raised by Capt Samuel Wood as 1st Battalion, 22 Bengal Native Infantry, on November 9, 1803 at Fatehgarh. Lt Col Kyan was the first commandant of 22nd Bengal Native Infantry which comprised only two battalions. The 1st Battalion was fondly called Kyane ki dahine paltan. In 1824, the system of double battalion regiments was abolished and, in consequence, the 1st battalion of 22nd Bengal Infantry became the 43rd Bengal Infantry.

The battalion was part of the 2nd Brigade of the Bengal Force during the first Afghan War in 1838. During this war, the battalion retrieved sandalwood gates from the tomb of Sultan Mahmud Ghazni and brought them back to India. Mahmud of Ghazni looted these from the Somnath Temple in 1024 AD. The gates are currently at Agra Fort under the aegis of Archaeological Survey of India. The battalion was crested with the title 'Light Infantry' on October 4, 1842 for having marched 1100 miles in 33 days and for its distinguished service during the Afghan war. On its return, the battalion saw action in Gwalior Campaign.

The battalion again rose to the occasion during the second Afghan War on November 21, 1878. It entered the Khyber Pass to counter Ali Masjid defences. The troops of the battalion achieved victory the very next day.

To suppress the Boxer uprising in China, the 1st Battalion arrived in Hong Kong on September 1, 1900, where it was posted to the 3rd Brigade of the Chinese Expeditionary Force. It was deployed in the province of Shantung. On July 3, 1901, it embarked for India after successfully suppressing the revolt.

In 1903, Lord Curzon invited the King of Great Britain to visit India. However, due to the untimely demise of Queen Victoria on January 23, 1903, Lord Curzon decided to formally proclaim the accession of India himself. The grand coronation durbar called Delhi Durbar was held with great fanfare on the ramparts of the Red Fort. The battalion was entrusted with the task of organising the event and providing guard of honour.

During the first world war, the battalion went to Europe to fight against the Nazis as part of the 19th (DehraDun) Brigade of the Indian Expeditionary Force. It sailed on HMS Arankola and arrived in Marseilles on October 12, 1914. The battalion also saw action in Mesopotamia, Egypt and Iraq during this war.

On November 16, 1914 orders were received to march to Goree in France to join the Bareilly Brigade and thereafter move to Rue De Bethune with a view to attack Festubert. A company of determined Jats, under the resolute leadership of Maj PH Dundas, smashed through the enemy positions at Festubert. It withstood fierce crossfire from the enemy and extreme adverse weather conditions. The Germans were bundled out of their defences. Only a few managed to escape under the cover of darkness. Five decorations were won in this action besides one Mention-in-Despatches. November 16, is thus, celebrated as the battle honour day by the battalion.

On February 10, 1921, the King conferred the title Royal on the battalion for its gallant role in the first world war, particularly for its chivalrous performance at Festubert. The unit came to be known as royal Jats' and, thus, has the unique distinction of being the only battalion in the Indian Army to be bestowed with two titles-"Light Infantry" and "Royal".

During the second world war, the battalion was deployed at Mandalay Fort in Rangoon. As part of 16 Infantry Brigade (17 Infantry Division) it fought the Japanese when their offensive was launched in December 1941. The battalion repulsed and held the Japanese at various positions, from Rangoon upto Imphal. During this war, the battalion was actively involved in operations in Malaya and Burma against the Japanese.

For the third time in the second world war, the battalion embarked from Calcutta and reached Rangoon on July 10, 1945. It joined 114 Independent Infantry Brigade (7 Infantry Division) to operate against the retreating Japanese. The battalion was later employed to guard the Japanese prisoners of war till the surrender of Japan in January 1946.

During the 1962 war, the battalion proved its mettle once again. While fighting against Pakistan in 1965 war, the Royal Jats fought the ensuing battles with great gusto and tremendous perseverance in which they repulsed two Pakistani counter attacks on the Ichhogil Canal and destroyed seven Sherman tanks.

From October 1967 to February 1969, the battalion was deployed in Mizoram Hills to suppress insurgency. It was the first regular battalion to be inducted in south of Lungle and had many encounters with the Mizo rebels. Braving adverse vagaries of terrain and weather, the Jats emerged as victors again and captured and killed a number of hostiles apart from recovering of large number of weapons. Sub Man Singh was awarded Shaurya Chakra for his gallant action during the counter-insurgency operations in the Mizo Hills.

In 1971, during its stay at Jhansi, the unit was converted into a Mechanised Infantry battalion and was fully equipped with Topaz armoured personnel carriers. In October 1971, during Indo-Pak war, the battalion went to Najabat Kokri (in Punjab) where it remained in a defensive position till the end of operations, as part of 1 Armoured Division. From 1972 to 1981, the battalion was garrisoned at Babina from where it moved to Patiala. At Patiala, the battalion was re-designated as 2nd Battalion, the Mechanised Infantry Regiment [1 JAT (LI)]. In 1984, the Jat Regimental Centre built a monument at Fatehgarh to mark the birth of the 1st Royal Battalion.

In 1984, during Operation Blue Star, the battalion was placed under the operational control of 4 Infantry Division. Subsequently, it was grouped with 57 Mechanised Brigade and moved to Hissar in September 1986. It was presented with new colours on February 24, 1988 by the then President Dr R Venkataraman. In 1989, the first lot of BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles were given to the battalion and the battalion commenced its conversion training.

The battalion moved to Babina in September 1990 under 31 Armoured Division and remained there till September 1993. Subsequently, it moved to Lalgarh Jattan under 18 Infantry Division (RAPID). After a three-year long tenure, the battalion moved to Sangrur as part of 1 Armoured Division in October 1996. In 1999, two company columns of the unit were deployed in counter-insurgency operations under HQ 1 Sector, Rashtriya Rifles in South Kashmir. Their performance during operation Rakshak was appreciated by all.

During its two hundred years of service to the nation, the battalion won many theatre honours, battle honours and gallantry awards. After independence it won one Maha Vir Chakra, three Shaurya Chakra, one Sena Medal, nine COAS commendation cards, one Jeevan Raksha Padak and four Army Commander's commendation cards.