The Garhwal Rifles is one of the most decorated infantry regiments of the Indian Army. It was originally raised in 1887 as the 39th (Garhwal) Regiment of the Bengal Army. It then became part of the British Indian Army, and after the Independence of India, it was incorporated into the Indian Army.
It served during the Frontier campaigns of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, as well in both the World Wars and the wars fought after Independence. Mainly made up of Garhwali soldiers, this regiment has a distinguished record and a unique identity. Today it is made up of more than 25,000 soldiers, organised into nineteen regular battalions (i.e. 2nd to 19th), the Garhwal Scouts who are stationed permanently at Joshimath and two battalions of the Territorial Army including 121 Inf Bn TA and 127 Inf Bn TA (Eco). The 1st Battalion has since been converted to mechanised infantry and forms part of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment as its 6th battalion
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The regimental insignia incorporates a Maltese Cross and is based on the defunct Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) as they are a designated rifle regiment. Unlike regular rifle regiments, they are one of 10 such units marching in the regular paces used in Indian Army's ceremonies.
Early History
"The men would be an excellent fighting class. The present 5th Gurkhas had many Garhwális in its fighting ranks who repeatedly proved themselves brave and faithful soldiers and are considered by the officers of that corps as equal to the pure Gurkha in physique and pluck. The other Gurkha Regiments count their Garhwális as amongst their best soldiers, and all the officers who know this class best speak in the highest terms of their military qualifications."
Extract of his recommendations - January 1886
Up to 1887, Garhwális had been enlisted in the five regiments of Gurkhas belonging to the Bengal Infantry and the Punjab Frontier Force. The Sirmoor Battalion (later the 2nd Gurkhas), which won fame in the siege of Delhi in 1857, had 33% Garhwális on their rolls at that time.
The first proposal to raise a separate Regiment of the Garhwális was initiated by His Excellency Lieutenant General, (Later Field Marshal) Sir F. S. Roberts, VC, then Commander-in-Chief, India, in January 1886. Accordingly, in April 1887, the raising of the Second Battalion of the Third (The Kumaon) Gurkha Regiment was ordered, with its class composition as six companies of Garhwális and two of Gurkhas. Based on this decision, recruiting commenced in the area of upper Garhwál and Tehri state by Major L Campbell and Captain Browne. The battalion was raised by Lieutenant Colonel E P Mainwaring of the 4th Gurkhas. Major LRD Campbell was the second in Command and Lieutenant J T Evatt, the Adjutant, both from the Punjab Frontier Force. Mainwaring raised the First Battalion at Almora on 5 May 1887 and moved it to Kaludanda, which was later renamed as Lansdowne after the then Viceroy of India, on 4 November 1887.
In 1891, the two Gurkha companies moved away to form the nucleus of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Gurkha Rifles and the remaining Battalion was re-designated as 39th (Garhwáli) Regiment of the Bengal Infantry. The ‘Crossed Khukris’ of the Gurkhas were replaced by the ‘Phoenix’, the mythical bird which rises out of its own ashes, in the crest, marking the formal beginnings of the Garhwális as a distinct class Regiment. The official title of ‘Rifles’ was received in 1892. The ‘Phoenix’ was later dropped, and the Maltese Cross which was in use by the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) was adopted.
The Regimental Centre was established at Lansdowne on 1 October 1921.
The Regimental Centre – Lansdowne
Lansdowne, at a height of 5,800 ft (1,800 m) above sea level, is the recruitment centre of the Garhwal Rifles. On 1 October 1921 the regimental centre celebrated its first founder's day. Now 1 October is celebrated as the raising day of the battalion. After Independence, the name of the centre was changed to Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre. The rigorous drills during the training helps to infuse a sense of discipline in every recruit. Special emphasis is laid on physical fitness, mental toughness and weapon handling. After successful completion of the 34-week training course, a Garhwali youth is turned into a soldier. The soldier is then trained for two more weeks in counter-insurgency operations. Controversy stares at army officers mess in Uttarakhand: An Army officers' mess in Uttarakhand could find itself in a row over possession of trophies of wild animals allegedly without permission from concerned authorities. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, a statutory body constituted by the central government to protect the wildlife, has asked Uttarakhand government to take action against Garhwali Officers' Mess of Garhwal Rifles Regiment Centre in Landsdowne for possessing trophies of various wild animals. S B Negi, Additional Director, WCCB, gave the instruction to the Uttarakhand Chief Wildlife Warden, acting on a complaint lodged by an animal rights activist Naresh Kadyan. In his complaint, Kadyan alleged the Garhwali Officers' Mess of Garhwal Rifles Regiment Centre, Landsdowne, is in possession of trophies belonging to various wildlife species listed under the Schedule of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, without the permission of the competent authority. "On the subject cited above, it is requested that the action taken in this regard may be intimated to this office, please," says a communication sent today by WCCB to Uttarakhand wildlife officials. According to Kadyan, who represents an organisation called International Organisation for Animal Protection, no other mess in the Indian Army is so rich in hunting games trophies as is the Garhwal Officers' Mess, Lansdowne. A note circulated to the media says that in 1947 its collection of hunting games trophies was next only to the array of such trophies of the Maharajah of Mysore. The vintage games trophies in the mess include tiger, leopard, lion, bear, musk deer, gurar, markhor, bison, thar and ibex heads, it says. All these were shot between 1901 and 1938 and they were shot in countries including Italy, Iran, Afghanistan and Nepal, it adds.
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