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Oldest regiment to celebrate first re-union of millennium
Ranikhet, Oct 14: The Kumaon Regiment, one of the oldest, largest and the most decorated regiment of the Indian Army with its origin dating back to 1788, will celebrate the first reunion of the millenium at Ranikhet, also one of the oldest cantonments of the country, from today.
Ranikhet, Oct 14: The Kumaon Regiment, one of the oldest, largest and the most decorated regiment of the Indian Army with its origin dating back to 1788, will celebrate the first reunion of the millenium at Ranikhet, also one of the oldest cantonments of the country, from today.
Sir Henry Russel, Nawab Salabat Khan, and Maharaja Scindia had made significant contributions to the origin of this regiment.
The regiment has an illustrious service record in both the pre and post independence eras. India's first Param Vir Chakra (PVC), the highest gallantry award was given to Major Som Nath Sharma of 4 Kumaon posthumously for saving the Budgam airfield in Srinagar from Pakistani raiders in 1947.
Major Shaitan Singh was the second soldier from the Army, as also from this regiment to receive the PVC posthumously in the 1962 Chinese aggression at Rezangla where 108 brave Kumaonis out of a company of 116, died fighting in the trenches--a legendary feat of courage recognised the world over. Besides the two PVC's, the regiment has to its credit four Ashok Chakras, two Padma Shri, eight Kirti Chakras, two Uttam Yudh Sewa Medal (UYSM), 208 Sena medals, 45 Vishisht Sewa medals, six Jeewan Raksha Padak and one Arjuna Award among the endless list.
The Kumaon Regiment has several firsts to its credit. It is the only regiment, which has produced three Army chiefs--General S M Sri Nagesh, General K S Thimayya and General T N Raina.
The Kumaon Regiment produced another infantry regiment-the indomitable 'Nagas'. The latter was the first regiment to receive the President's Colours in 1961.
The regiment exemplifies unity in diversity and has Kumaonis, Garhwalis, Ahirs, Rajputs, Nagas and other hill tribes amongst its ranks. Two battalions, the 13th and 15th Kumaon have been honoured by being designated the 'bravest of the brave' in the Indian Army and 09 unit citations have been bagged by battalions of the regimental family including by '2 Naga' twice. The regiment is celebrating its reunion from October 14 to 17 in the picturesque hills of the Kumaon region in Uttaranchal state. Its first reunion was celebrated way back in 1949.
The major events planned for the reunion are a battalion commander's conference, the release of a 'first day' cover, motor cycle and band displays, hot air ballooning, micro-light aircraft flights, sky diving and taekwondo displays.
The reunion would give an opportunity for the youngsters and the greenhorns of the regiment to mingle with veterans, some of whom are arriving from abroad, a press release here said. Bureau Report
The regiment has an illustrious service record in both the pre and post independence eras. India's first Param Vir Chakra (PVC), the highest gallantry award was given to Major Som Nath Sharma of 4 Kumaon posthumously for saving the Budgam airfield in Srinagar from Pakistani raiders in 1947.
Major Shaitan Singh was the second soldier from the Army, as also from this regiment to receive the PVC posthumously in the 1962 Chinese aggression at Rezangla where 108 brave Kumaonis out of a company of 116, died fighting in the trenches--a legendary feat of courage recognised the world over. Besides the two PVC's, the regiment has to its credit four Ashok Chakras, two Padma Shri, eight Kirti Chakras, two Uttam Yudh Sewa Medal (UYSM), 208 Sena medals, 45 Vishisht Sewa medals, six Jeewan Raksha Padak and one Arjuna Award among the endless list.
The Kumaon Regiment has several firsts to its credit. It is the only regiment, which has produced three Army chiefs--General S M Sri Nagesh, General K S Thimayya and General T N Raina.
The Kumaon Regiment produced another infantry regiment-the indomitable 'Nagas'. The latter was the first regiment to receive the President's Colours in 1961.
The regiment exemplifies unity in diversity and has Kumaonis, Garhwalis, Ahirs, Rajputs, Nagas and other hill tribes amongst its ranks. Two battalions, the 13th and 15th Kumaon have been honoured by being designated the 'bravest of the brave' in the Indian Army and 09 unit citations have been bagged by battalions of the regimental family including by '2 Naga' twice. The regiment is celebrating its reunion from October 14 to 17 in the picturesque hills of the Kumaon region in Uttaranchal state. Its first reunion was celebrated way back in 1949.
The major events planned for the reunion are a battalion commander's conference, the release of a 'first day' cover, motor cycle and band displays, hot air ballooning, micro-light aircraft flights, sky diving and taekwondo displays.
The reunion would give an opportunity for the youngsters and the greenhorns of the regiment to mingle with veterans, some of whom are arriving from abroad, a press release here said. Bureau Report