21 ‘Powerful’ Facts About The Grenadiers, The Longest Serving Regiment of Indian Army

When France began recruiting Grenadiers sometime in the 17th century, they went for the most powerfully built men capable of hurling grenades to great distances. That feature remained a staple identity of grenadiers all over the world. Grenadiers, whether in India or elsewhere, have the reputation of being fearsome soldiers who are entrusted with destroying enemy fortifications. Though hurling grenades is not a specialty reserved to The Grenadiers anymore, the main task of assault on the enemy remains the core responsibility.

1. The Grenadiers is the most decorated regiment of the Indian Army post-Independence.

They have won three Param Vir Chakras in three different conflicts. They also have over 2 Ashok Chakras, over 50  Shaurya Chakras, and over 70 Sena Medals among other honours such as Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra and Kirti Chakra.

2. Formed in 1779, it is also the oldest grenadier regiment in all of the Commonwealth countries (or the entire British Empire).

This regiment was formed 36 years before the British formally formed their own grenadier regiment known as Grenadier Guards after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

3. The Grenadiers is also the longest continuous serving regiment in any Commonwealth country.

Longest serving means the number of years in service, which is different from oldest regiment. This regiment has the distinguished record of remaining in unbroken service since the time of its formation.

4. Like some other Indian Army regiments, Grenadiers were raised as part of the Bombay Army of the East India Company.

5. After 1857, they became part of the British Indian Army and remained in service till 1947 when they became part of Indian Army.

They were known as 4th Bombay Grenadiers in British Indian Army, in accordance with the numerical reorganisation of the regiments of the time.

6. The first mention of grenadiers comes from a 1684 record about a small group of European settlers on an island in Bombay.

7. Before 1757, there was at least one company of grenadiers in the Bombay Army.

8. In 1757, Robert Clive raised the first two companies of grenadiers in the 1st Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry.

9. In 1779, grenadier battalions in six different Sepoy battalions along with two in Marines were merged together as the first grenadier regiment.

This was called the 8th Regiment of Bombay Sepoys.

10. Between 1779 and 1922, there were six regiments of Grenadiers.

Chief of them were 101st Grenadiers and 102nd Prince of Wales’s Own Grenadiers.

11. In 1922, when the British conducted the Indian Army reforms, the Grenadiers were renamed 4th Bombay Grenadiers.

12. Even before 1947 the Grenadiers had participated in every major war within Indian sub-continent and outside fought by the British.

The foreign wars include Afghan wars, Burmese wars, Yemen war, Palestine campaign, wars in Africa and China.

13. It earned 17 major battle honours before World War I.

Chief of them are Srirangapatnam, Egypt, Beni Boo Alli, Kirkee, Abyssinia, Kandahar, Burma and Somaliland.

14. The regiment won around 22 battle honours in World War I and II.

The main honours include Battle of Sharqat, East Africa campaign, Fort Dufferin in Mandalay, Battle of Meiktila, Kohima and Taungtha in Myanmar.

15. Many of the battalions in the regiment were turned into motorized infantry during the wars.

16. In 2015, the Grenadiers participated in the Moscow Victory Day Parade which was held to commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the victory in Europe ending World War II.

17. The Regiment has participated in every major war fought since 1947.

Among the important battle honours it received are Asal Uttar of 1965, Chakra of 1971 and Tololing & Tiger Hill of 1999.

18. Two soldiers of the regiment during the British rule were honoured with the Indian Order of Merit.

They are Subedar Rahim Khan who was honoured for his bravery in Palestine against the Ottoman army in April 1918 and Naik Shivlal Dalal who was honoured in 1933.

19. There are currently 19 battalions in Indian Army besides 2 Territorial Army battalions and 2 battalions of Rashtriya Rifles.

There are more than 15,000 soldiers in this regiment. The regimental centre is located in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.

20. 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.

The motto of the Regiment is “Sarvada Shaktishali” (Ever Powerful).

21. Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav is the only living PVC awardee from the Regiment and the youngest to have ever been decorated with the honour.

The other two are Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid of 4th Grenadiers who was honoured for his supreme sacrifice in 1965 Indo-Pak War and the other is Major Hoshiar Singh of 3rd Grenadiers who was honoured for his indomitable fighting spirit in 1971 Indo-Pak War. Yadav of 18th Grenadiers was honoured for his exemplary act of gallantry in 1999 Kargil War.

Our salute to the super braves.