1 Field Regiment (India)

Indian military unit 1 Field Regiment 1935 – present India India British IndiaIndia British India 23px23px Indian Army 20px Artillery Regiment 1 Fd Regt Abbreviation Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)Sarvada Pratham Hamara Dharam "Red & Navy Blue" 15 January (Raising Day) https://imrmedia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMR-Dec-2022-Final.pdf Battle Honours and Raising Day Anniversaries 2022-12-13 2023-06-2728 February (Meiktila Day)Sharma Gautam Indian Army, a Reference Manual 62 Reliance Publishing House 2000 978-8175101142 Meiktila 1 Field Regiment (Meiktila) is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army. It is the first field artillery unit with Indian officers. Formation Following, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, all Indian artillery units were disbanded and replaced by British units, except for a few mountain batteries. This total ban on Indian artillery units existed till the British Government relented on this order, allowing the first Indian Artillery unit to be formed in 1935.India - A Spy Guide, Volume 1, Strategic Information, Intelligence, National Security 162 2019 IBP, USA 978-1433022746 A year prior to the raising of the unit, volunteers from other arms were attached to 14th Field Brigade RA for training, to form the nucleus of warrant officers and other non-commissioned officers for the new Indian Brigade.India in 1933-34 https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.15127/page/72/mode/2up?q=%22A+Field+Brigade%22&view=theater Manager of Publications, Delhi 1935 72–73 The regiment was raised with four horse drawn batteries on 15 January 1935 as ‘A’ Field Brigade, Indian Artillery at Bangalore. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel GA Rickards DSO, MC (later Colonel / honorary Major General https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35836/supplement/5625 The London Gazette, Supplement:35836, Page:5625 1942-12-25 2023-06-22). http://gunsinstamps.blogspot.com/2015/02/1st-field-regiment-sp-golden-jubilee.html 1st Field Regiment (SP) - Golden Jubilee 1995 1995-02-17 2023-06-23http://www.spslandforces.com/story/?id=461&h=Guns-and-Glory---A-Saga-of-Dedication-and-Valour SP's Land Forces : Guns and Glory - A Saga of Dedication and Valour 2023-06-23nb The designation of ‘field brigade’ of the time is the same as the ‘regiment’ of today. The use of the letter ‘A’ distinguished it from Royal Artillery field brigades, which used numbers instead of letters.Gulati YB History of the Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army Leo Cooper Ltd 1973 290 978-0850521184 The newly raised unit took the place of 14 Field Brigade RA, which proceeded to the United Kingdom.Gaylor John Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991. 1992 Stroud: Spellmount Publishers Ltd. 978-0-946771-98-1 108 At the time of raising, the unit had three King's Commissioned Indian Officers - Lieutenant Prem Singh Gyani, Lieutenant Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam and Lieutenant Anup Singh Kalha. Subadar-Major and Honorary Captain Muhammad Buksh, Sardar Bahadur I.O.M. was the Viceroy's commissioned officer.https://www.oneindia.com/2009/09/27/indianarmys-artillery-regiment-celebrates-182nd-gunnersda.html?story=1 Indian Army's Artillery regiment celebrates 182nd Gunners Day on Monday 2009-09-27 2023-06-23India in 1934-35 https://archive.org/details/India1934/page/n103/mode/2up?q=%22A+Field+Brigade%22&view=theatre Manager of Publications, Delhi 1937 91The Indian Army List, July 1936 Defence Department, Government of India 1936 https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.284998/mode/2up?q=%22A+Field+Brigade%22&view=theater 278 Muhammad Buksh was subsequently awarded the Additional Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34396/supplement/3087/data.pdf Supplement to the London Gazette, page 3087 1937-05-11 2023-06-23 ‘A’ Field Brigade subsequently provided the nucleus for ‘B’ Field Brigade and ‘C’ Field Regiment. These units now exist as 2 Medium Regiment (Self Propelled) (Letse & Point 171) of the Indian Army and 2 Field Regiment of the Pakistan Army respectively. Reorganisation By Indian Army Order 204 of 1938, the nomenclature ‘Brigade’ was replaced by ‘Regiment’ and thus the title of the unit became ‘A’ Field Regiment. The unit moved to School of Artillery, Deolali in 1941. On 15 May 1941, the regiment was reorganised. The horses were exchanged for mechanised transport and the unit organised into two 8-gun batteries - 1st and 2nd Batteries forming a new 1st Field Battery and 3rd and 4th Batteries forming a new 2nd Field Battery. The unit was re-designated as 1 Indian Field Regiment in August 1941. Farndale Sir Martin History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Far East Theatre, 1941-46 2002 Brassey's (UK) Ltd 350 978-1857533316Gulati YB History of the Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army Leo Cooper Ltd 1973 61 978-0850521184 Name changes The regiment has undergone the following changes in its designation - ‘A’ Field Brigade, Indian Artillery ‘A’ Field Regiment, Indian Artillery The Indian Army, 3 September 1939 https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p15040coll6/id/5180/download live https://web.archive.org/web/20251105014100/https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p15040coll6/id/5180/download 2025-11-05 2023-06-26medic 1st Indian Field Regiment, Indian Artillery 1st Indian Field Regiment, RIA 1st Indian Field Regiment (Self Propelled), RIA 1 Field Regiment (Self Propelled) 1 Medium Regiment (Self Propelled) 1 Medium Regiment 1 Field Regiment Equipment and batteries June 2023 + Year Batteries Equipment 1935 1 and 2 18-pounder (horse drawn) 3 and 4 4.5-inch howitzer (horse drawn)1941 1 and 2 25-pounder towed guns 1946 1, 48 and 50 Sexton (self-propelled)1971 1, 48 and 50 Abbott (self-propelled) 1, 48 and 50 122 mm D-30 howitzer 1, 48 and 50 105 mm Indian field gunPresent 1, 48 and 50? Composition At formation, the class composition of the four batteries were as follows – the 1st of Madrasis, originally formed from the disbanded Madras Pioneers, the 2nd, Punjabi Mussalmans, the 3rd, Rajputana Rajputs and the 4th Ranghars.Jackson Donovan India's Army 1940 Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd 186–187Adams EG Phythian The Madras Soldier 1746-1946 1948 The Superintendent Government Of Madras 147 The unit was converted into a single class regiment in April 1946 with Rajput troops, when two batteries with Rajput troops from 17 Field Regiment (which itself was raised as 8th Battalion, the 7th Rajput Regiment) joined the regiment. Operations (pre independence) World War II The regiment was sent to Burma in February 1942 from Calcutta.Warren Alan Burma 1942-The Road from Rangoon to Mandalay Bloomsbury Publishing India Private Limited 2012 978-1441152503 146 It became part of the 17 Infantry Division during the Burma campaign. http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/burmaweb/BurmaArmyMarApr42.htm Burma Army - Order of Battle - 19th March 1942 2023-06-27 From February 1942, the two 8 -gun batteries provided commendable artillery support during the withdrawal of the division. Japanese Conquest of Burma 1942: The Advance to the Gates of India Tim Moreman 2022 Osprey Publishing 978-1472849731 84 The unit returned to India in May 1942 with four guns saved. This was followed by two years of intensive training, following which the regiment and one attached battery of Gwalior Scindia forces fought in Burma under the same division. https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/124/2020/07/17-Indian-Division-1944-45.pdf 17 Indian Infantry Division (1944-45) 2023-06-27 thumb|Allied Third Burma Campaign, April- May 1945 Meiktila is a city in central Burma and was advanced supply base and principal air-field for the Japanese forces in Burma. The defences to this city were prepared for a long period and was held in strength by the Japanese. 17 Infantry Division was assigned the task of capturing Meiktila in February 1945. The main attack was to be by the 48th Indian Infantry Brigade, which had to attack the city from the north, towards south. Outline History of the Regiment of Artillery Artillery Institute Press, Deolali 1946 45Kirby Stanley Woodburn The War Against Japan: The reconquest of Burma https://archive.org/details/war-against-japan-vol-4/page/n11/mode/2up?q=%221st+Indian+Field+Regiment%22&view=theater 1965 Her Majesty’s Stationery Office 309 Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel DWD Nicholl, 1 Indian Field Regiment was placed in direct support of the charging brigade. The battle started on 28 February 1945 and lasted for four days. The fall of Meiktila was a turning point in the battle for Burma.The Rajput Gunners Celebrate Meiktila Day Sainik Samachar 17 1970-04-05 https://books.google.com/books?id=DdohlIUDakUC&dq=meiktila+regiment&pg=RA13-PA6 Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence Official History of the Indian Armed Forces in the Second World War, 1939-45 https://archive.org/details/aclcpl0000052a351/mode/2up?q=%221st+Indian+Field+Regiment%22 Prasad Bisheshwar Combined Inter-Services Historical Section (India and Pakistan) 1959 249–327 In the advance to Rangoon, 1 Indian Field Regiment had the occasion to mount the 25-pounder guns on open railway wagons, patrolling along the railway tracks. These guns so mounted enabled artillery support to be given to the stretched-out infantry dispositions.https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/203255/5/chapter%203.pdf Anjan Mukherjee in Evolution of Indian Artillery and its Impact on India's Comprehensive Military Power, chapter II 2023-06-27 Following the war, the regiment returned to India and was converted into a self-propelled unit. The regiment was awarded the following honours and gallantry awards-The Tiger Kills 1944 Director of Public Relations, India Command, Government of India https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.527937 316–7The Tiger Strikes 1942 Director of Public Relations, India Command, Government of India https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.523873 150https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35763/supplement/4688 The London Gazette, Supplement:35763, Page:4688 1942-10-27 2023-06-27 Honour title- Meiktila : For the laudable contribution to the capture of the strategic city of Meiktila. Military Cross - 4 (Major AW Litchfield, Captain Avtar Singh, Subedar Sukh Singh, Captain Ranbir Bakshi) Indian Distinguished Service Medal - 1 Mentioned in Despatches- 21 Force Commander's Certificate- 1 Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)- 2 Military Medal- 3 Certificate of gallantry- 3 Operations (post independence) Operation Polo The regiment was despatched immediately after independence to the Hyderabad State for internal security duties and was part of Smash Force under 1 Armoured Division.http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/archives/MONITOR/ISSUE2-3/lns.html Operation Polo: The Liberation Of Hyderabad at Bharat Rakshak Volume 2-3, November-December 1999 2020-09-06Praval KC Indian Army After Independence 2009 Lancer Publishers 978-1935501107 Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 During the war, the regiment equipped with self-propelled Sextons supported 2 (Independent) Armoured Division (the corps reserve of 11 Corps).Singh Harbaksh War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965 2012 Lancer Publishers LLC 978-8170621171 From 6 September 1965, the unit was in support of 4 Mountain Division in the Battle of Asal Uttar.Singh Jogindar Behind the Scene-An Analysis of India's Military Operations, 1947-1971 152 1993 978-1897829202 Lancer International The regiment won the following gallantry awards during the war- Sena Medal- 1 Mentioned in Despatches- 4 COAS Commendation Card- 2 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 The regiment saw action in the western front. Equipped with the self propelled Abbotts, it was part of Operation Cactus Lily in support of 1 Armoured Division. Operation Blue Star The regiment took part in this operation and captured a large number of terrorists and weapons. Three officers were awarded the COAS Commendation Card during this operation. Operation Rakshak II The regiment was deployed for counter terrorism operation between April and August 1992. Operation Meghdoot 1 Medium Regiment was deployed in Siachen Glacier in 2015. Lance Havildar Ganga Singh was mentioned in despatches.https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2015/167055.pdf Gazette of India, No 50, page 3139 2015-12-12 2023-06-27 Other achievements Major SS Sekhon and Major KS Chauhan proved their mettle in various National and Himalayan car rallies. They were awarded with the Vishisht Seva Medal and COAS Commendation Card. Notable officers June 2023 General Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam DSO, MBE – 6th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army from 1967 to 1969. Lieutenant General PS Gyani OBE, PVSM – First Indian officer to be commissioned out of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, in 1932. He was commissioned into A Field Brigade and later on became the first Indian officer to command an Indian field regiment, the 2 Indian Field Regiment. https://salute.co.in/2-indian-field-regiment-and-the-battle-of-bir-hachiem-pt-171/ 2 Indian Field Regiment And The Battle Of Bir Hachiem – Pt 171 2019-07-24 2023-06-28 Major General Ranbir Bakshi MC - Commanded the regiment, raised the Artillery Centre at Nashik, commanded School of Artillery (1959-1961) and National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (1964-1966). https://www.wobs.in/images/publications/oliphant/NO006_WBS_Dec_2006.pdf Obituary 2023-06-27 He was also an outstanding swimmer and represented the country. Major General AS Naravane – Colonel Commandant of Artillery.Naravane AS A Soldier's Life in War and Peace APH Publishing Corporation 2004 978-8176484374 Lieutenant General Jack Farj Rafael Jacob PVSM – Served in the unit and went on to raise 3 Field Regiment.Lt. Gen J.F.R. Jacob An Odyssey in War and Peace Roli Books Private Limited 2012 9788174369338 New Delhi 262 Legacy The Regiment of Artillery celebrated its Golden Jubilee on 15 January 1980. In spite of its long history, the regiment opted to use 15 January 1935, the raising day of ‘A’ Field Brigade, the first wholly Indian artillery unit as its birthday.https://www.indiapicks.com/stamps/Forces/1150_Artillery_Regt.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20051211152710/http://indiapicks.com/stamps/Forces/1150_Artillery_Regt.htm usurped December 11, 2005 Regiment Of Artillery 2023-06-23 Motto The motto of the regiment is ‘सर्वदा प्रथम हमारा धर्म (Sarvada Pratham Hamara Dharam)’, which translates to ‘Being the first is our duty. https://www.collectorbazar.com/item/india-1-medium-regiment-brochure-army-postal-service-without-stamp-c2234-292713 Medium Regiment - Brochure 2010-01-15 2023-06-28 See also List of artillery regiments of Indian Army Notes nb References Category:Military units and formations established in 1935 Category:Artillery units and formations of British India Category:Artillery regiments of the Indian Army after 1947 Category:Indian World War II regiments