Rajputana Rifles

The name Rajputana Rifles is derived from the word Rajputana, a historic region in northwest India that is roughly coextensive with the modern Indian state of Rajasthan, as well as small sections of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It is based on the Sanskrit word Rajaputra, meaning "son of a king", which finds mention in ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Rigveda, Ramayana, and Mahabharata. The name Rajputana means "land of the Rajputs". ==Recruitment==

The Rajputana Rifles is a fixed class regiment with equal proportions of Rajputs and Jats and now under Agnipath Scheme all groups and caste are recruited. ==Lineage==

The regiment's origins lie in the 18th century when the East India Company (EIC) recruited Rajputs to protect its operations. The impressive performance of French local units which were composed of local recruits mixed with French officers, helped the EIC to decide that it needed to do something similar. In January 1775, it raised its first local infantry units which included the 5th Battalion, Bombay Sepoys, which is considered to be the oldest rifle regiment of the Indian Army. It thus became the first rifle regiment of the British Indian Army. In the further re-organisation in 1921, the following six regiments were brought together to form the six battalions of the 6th Rajputana Rifles Regiment: • 1st Battalion - 104th Wellesley's Rifles • 2nd Battalion - 120th Rajputana Infantry • 3rd Battalion - 122nd Rajputana Infantry • 4th Battalion - 123rd Outram's Rifles • 5th Battalion - 125th Napier's Rifles • 10th (Training) Battalion - 13th Rajputs (The Shekhawati Regiment). • 18th Battalion - (Saurashtra Rifles) In 1945, the regiments of the British Indian Army dropped the numeral in their titles and so the Rajputana Rifles assumed its current name. In 1947, after the partition of India, the regiment was allocated to the newly formed Indian Army. In 1949, the 1st battalion was transferred to the newly raised Brigade of the Guards, becoming the 3rd battalion, Brigade of the Guards. ==History==

In 1817, the 4th battalion met the Marathas at the Battle of Khadki. The defence earned the regiment the battle honor of "Khadki". In 1856–57 the 1st, 2nd, and 4th battalions were together in the Persian theatre of operations. In 1856, Captain John Augustus Wood of the 2nd battalion (then the 20th Bombay Native Infantry) was awarded the Victoria Cross for storming Bushire Fort. This was the first Victoria Cross to be won in an Indian unit. Sub. Maj Mohammed Sharief and Sub. Peer Bhatt were recommended for the Victoria Cross for their actions in the same battle, but were turned down as at that time the medal category was not open to Indians. In 1878–1880, during the Second Afghan War, the 1st battalion marched 145 miles in 5 days from Quetta to Kandahar and laid siege to the city. In 1900–1902, the 3rd battalion was part of a force used to contain the Boxer Rebellion in China. World War I saw the regiment fight in battlefields from France to Palestine. The 5th battalion was in all theatres of the war and participated in General Allenby’s march to recapture Jerusalem., Burma 1945During World War II, the regiment was expanded to thirteen battalions and served in the Middle East, Burma and Malaya. The 4th battalion had the distinction of earning two Victoria Crosses during this conflict. Over the course of its existence, members of the regiment have received four Victoria Crosses, 44 Military Crosses, one Param Vir Chakra, three Ashok Chakras, one Padma Bhushan, fourteen Param Vishisht Seva Medals, ten Maha Vir Chakras, eleven Kirti Chakras, 18 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, two Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, 50 Vir Chakras, 28 Shaurya Chakras, 122 Sena Medals (including Bar), 39 Vishisht Seva Medals, three Yudh Seva Medals, 85 Mentions-in-Dispatches and 55 Arjuna Awards. ==Units==

with members of the Band of the Rajputana Rifles following the Beating Retreat, Rashtrapati Bhavan, 30 January 2018. The Rajputana Rifles consists of twenty regular battalions, four Rashtriya Rifles battalions and two Territorial Army battalions - § indicates former units. ==Alliances==

• - The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment; 5th Battalion ==Rajputana Rifles Regimental Museum==

The Rajputana Rifles Regimental Museum in the Rajputana Rifles Centre is located inside the Delhi Cantonment. The museum covers the rich history of the regiment in the most modern fashion. The museum is around 7000 square feet in size and covers the history of the regiment from its inception. The museum exhibits weapons and uniforms and narrates the history through large format images and audiovisual film. The museum was designed and conceived by Holistic Design a Delhi-based design studio headed by Nikhil Bhardwaj who specializes in designing museums and exhibitions. Col. M. S. Niranjan of the 19th battalion was the director of the museum project. It is rated as the finest military museum in India and even compared to the Imperial War Museum in London. ==Battle Honours==

Pre Independence • Mysore • Seringapatam • Bourbon • Kirkee 1817 • Beni Boo Alli • Meeanee 1843 • Hyderabad 1843 • Aliwal 1846 • Mooltan • Punjaub • Reshire • Bushire 1856 • Koosh-Ab • Persia • Central India • Abyssinia • Kandahar 1880 • Chitral • Afghanistan 1878–80 • Burma 1885–87 • British East Africa • China 1900 • Afghanistan 1919 • Givenchy 1914 • Neuve Chapelle • Aubers • Festubert 1915 • France and Flanders 1914–15 • Egypt 1915 • Gaza • Nebi Samwil • Jerusalem • Tell 'Asur • Megiddo • Sharon • Palestine 1917–18 • Basra • Shaiba • Kut al Amara 1915 • Ctesiphon • Defence of Kut al Amara • Tigris 1916 • Baghdad • Mesopotamia 1914–18 • Persia 1918 • East Africa 1914 • Abyssinia 1941 • Syria 1941 • North Africa 1940–43 • Italy 1943–45 • Malaya 1941–42 • Burma 1942–1945 Post Independence • Punch • Asal Uttar • Charwa • J&K 1965 • Basantar • Mynamati • Tololing • Drass ==Gallantry awards (Pre-independence)==

Victoria Cross • Captain John Augustus Wood, 20th Bombay Native Infantry • Lieutenant William Francis Frederick Waller, 24th Bombay Native Infantry Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire • Captain Edwin James Mollison, 125th Napier's Rifles Military Cross • Captain W. Odell, 123rd Outram's Rifles - attached 125th Napier Rifles • Lieutenant C. F. F. Moore, 123rd Outram's Rifles - attached 4th Gurkha Rifles • Lieutenant John Bell Nelson, 125th Napier's Rifles • Subedar Harnath Singh, 1st Battalion, 123rd Outram's Rifles (Egypt) Order of British India • Subedar Parbhudhan Singh, 13th Rajputs (The Shekhawatti Regiment), (East Africa) • Subedar Major Hassan Muhammad, 104th Wellesley's Rifles (Kut-Al-Amara) • Subedar Harchant Jat, 104th Wellesley's Rifles (Kut-Al-Amara) • Subedar Major Khitab Gul, 120th Rajputana Infantry (Mesopotamia) • Subedar Sri Bahadur Singh, 120th Rajputana Infantry (Mesopotamia) • Subedar Indar Singh, 120th Rajputana Infantry (Kut-Al-Amara) • Acting Subedar Major Abdul Shakur Khan, 122nd Rajputana Infantry (Mesopotamia) • Subedar Major Umar Din, 125th Napier's Rifles (France) • Subedar Nizam-ud-din, 125th Napier's Rifles (Egypt) Indian Order of Merit • Subedar Bakhtawar Singh, 13th Rajputs (The Shekhawatti Regiment), (East Africa) • Subedar Sabal Singh, Naik Net Singh, Lance Naik Guman Singh, Rifleman Kheta Ram, Rifleman Dhanna Ram, Rifleman Maula Dad, Naik Narsu Singh, Rifleman Manji Singh, Naik Malik Khan, Subedar Mukh Ram, Colour Havildar Ganpat Singh, Havildar Allahditta (Mesopotamia), Subedar Tiku Ram (Kut-Al-Amara); all from 104th Wellesley's Rifles • Subedar Dunga Rawat, Sepoy Hukam Singh, Colour Havildar Ganesh Ram, Sepoy Lachhman Singh, Sepoy Kum Singh, Subedar Major Khitab Gul, Havildar Girwar, (Mesopotamia), Havildar Uhet Singh, Jemadar Nara, (Kut-Al-Amara); all from 120th Rajputana Infantry • Subedar Harnath Singh, Jemadar Bhim Singh, Subedar Major Bhura Ram, Jemadar Hans Ram, Jemadar Arjun Ram, Jemadar Nanig Ram, Naik Amir Hussain, (Egypt), Jemadar Mubarik Ali, (attached 58th Rifles) all from 123rd Outram's Rifles • Rifleman Bal Singh, Jemadar Munshi Singh, Havildar Sher Khan, Rifleman Goru Ram, Lance Naik Feroz Khan, (Mesopotamia), Subedar Major Jahan Shah, Rifleman Sukh Singh, Colour Havildar Rahim Ali, Subedar Nizam-ud-din, Jemadar Sheobaksh Singh, (Egypt), all from 125th Napier's Rifles Indian Distinguished Service Medal • World War I - 3 medals (13th Rajputs (The Shekhawatti Regiment)), 20 medals (104th Wellesley's Rifles), 21 medals (120th Rajputana Infantry), 2 medals (122nd Rajputana Infantry), 16 medals (123rd Outram's Rifles), 18 medals (125th Napier's Rifles) Indian Meritorious Service Medal • World War I - 10 medals (13th Rajputs (The Shekhawatti Regiment)), 26 medals (104th Wellesley's Rifles), 6 medals (120th Rajputana Infantry), 5 medals (122nd Rajputana Infantry), 51 medals (123rd Outram's Rifles), 46 medals (125th Napier's Rifles) Croix De Guerre (French) • Subedar Major Hasan Muhammad, Subedar Mukh Ram (France), 104th Wellesley's Rifles; Subedar Major Khitab Gil (France) 120th Rajputana Infantry Leim Alilimdetaire (French) • Naik Jema Baksh (Egypt) 120th Rajputana Infantry; Colour Havildar Allahbad Khan (Mesopotamia), 125th Napier's Rifles '''Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives en Bronze (French)''' • Subedar Major Bhura Ram, 123rd Outram's Rifles; CQMH Madat Khan, 125th Napier's Rifles Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire • Captain John Allan Ferguson, 13th Rajputs • Major Robert Denis Ambrose, 1st Battalion (Wellesley's), 6th Rajputana Rifles Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire • Major Harold James Huxford, 5th Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles (Napiers) Distinguished Service Order • Lieutenant Colonel John Duncan Grant, 13th Rajputs Military Cross • Lieutenant Geoffrey Herbert Bruno Beyts, 3rd Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles • Lieutenant Roy Edward Percy Wyndham, 3rd Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles • Lieutenant Richard Harold Robert Alderman, 4th Battalion (Outram's), 6th Rajputana Rifles Victoria Cross • Company Havildar-Major Chhelu Ram - Victoria Cross, 4th Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles • Subedar Richhpal Ram, 4th Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles Distinguished Service Order • Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Herbert Bruno Beyts, Lieutenant Colonel PRH Skrine, Lieutenant Colonel WAL James, Lieutenant Colonel R Lawrenson, Lieutenant Colonel RB Scott, Lieutenant Colonel L Jones, Lieutenant J. McHadden, Major (temporary) John Lewis Haycroft Davis, Lieutenant-Colonel (acting) George Edgar Parker. Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire • Brigadier (acting) Victor George Joseph Barton, Lieutenant-Colonel (Temporary Brigadier) Franz Reginald Lindsay Goadb, Major Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert James Sheppard, Colonel (temporary) Bertram Bayliss, Lieutenant-Colonel (local) George Roy Stevens, Major RB Broadbent, *Major Chand Narain Das Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire • Lieutenant Colonel (temporary) Denis Gill Ryan, Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Claude Morgan Hutchings, Major (temporary) Alan Philip Young, Major (temporary) David Ralph Morgan, Captain Alan Stuart Roger, Captain DL Powell Jones, Captain (temporary) John Lewis Warren, Captain (Temporary) Liaqat Saeed Khan Lodi, Captain (temporary Major) George Edgar Parker, Captain (temporary) Harold Anthony Burke, Captain Stanley Broadbent, Major (temporary) Abdul Rashid Choudhri, Captain (temporary) Ghulam Nabi Jemadar Farman Ali. Military Cross • Major (temporary) Leslie Louis Fleming, Major (temporary) Geoffrey Arthur Hasler, Major (temporary) George Edgar Parker, Major (temporary) John Keith Parry, Major (acting) John Campbell Anderson, Major (temporary) Hubert Michael Close, Captain GE Charter, Captain Mian Khan, Captain CE Cayley, Captain GR Riddick, Captain KR Gentles, Captain Ivan Bernard St. Regis Surita, Captain JRM French, Captain EW Dixon, Captain AT Murray, Captain Dinesh Chandra Misra, Captain (temporary) John Michael Beamish, Lieutenant Geoffrey Earle Dubois, Lieutenant Daljit Singh Randhawa, Captain (temporary) Ivon Charles Jameson, Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Edward Wilberforce Dixon, 2nd Lieutenant NL Kapur, 2nd Lieutenant Bashir Ahmed, Captain Alexander Hendrick Roosmale Cocq, Lieutenant Gilbert Llewellyn Young-Western, Lieutenant Denis Oswald O'Leary, 2nd Lieutenant JM Ashworth, 2nd Lieutenant PK Horwood, Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Sworup Singh Kalaan, Subedar Tota Ram, Subedar Kesari Singh, Jemadar Sanwal Ram, Jemadar Kalu Ram, Subedar Kalyan Singh, Jemadar (acting Subedar) Usman Ghani, Jemadar Anwar Beg. Indian Order of Merit, 1st Class • Subedar Niaz Ali Khan Indian Order of Merit • Subedar Jiwan Ram, Subedar Akbar Khan, Subedar Mohammed Yusuf, Jemadar Bohita Ram, Jemadar Bhura Ram, Jemadar Jailal Ram, Havildar Mohammed Akbar, Havildar Hardewa Ram, Havildar Fatteh Khan, Havildar Durjan Singh, Naik Dost Mohammed, Rifleman Dharam Singh Ram, Jemadar Hoshiar Singh, Havildar Bhima Ram, Subedar Bostan Khan, Subedar Amar Singh, Jemadar Jagna Ram, Jemadar Niaz Ali Khan, Havildar Ganpat Ram, Havildar Habib Khan, Havildar Sheodan Singh, Havildar Goru Ram, Havildar Bhagirath Singh, Naik Bhopal Singh, L/Naik Anop Singh, L/Naik Bhaira Ram, L/Naik Mahji Khan, Subedar Barisal Singh, Naik Binja Ram, Subadar-Major Narain Singh. Indian Distinguished Service Medal • Subedar Sukh Ram, Subedar Govinda Ram, Jemadar Gopichand Ram, Jemadar Bhagwana Ram, Jemadar Lall Khan, Jemadar Jita Ram, Jemadar Bhopal Singh, Jemadar Gurdial Ram, Havildar Panna Ram, Havildar Mull Singh, Havildar Inayat Khan, Havildar Phula Ram, Havildar Ratti Ram, Havildar Mohammed Niwaz, Havildar Atta Mohammed, Havildar Juglal Ram, Havildar Neki Ram, Naik Bhagwana Ram, Naik Ramnath Ram, Naik Hem Singh, Naik Begraj Ram, Naik Het Ram, Naik Mohammed Inayat Ali, Lance-Naik Jagat Singh, Lance-Naik Chandgi Ram, Lance-Naik Bega Ram, Lance-Naik Kasi Ram, Lance-Naik Khushi Mohammed, Lance-Naik Kalyan Singh, Rifleman Nandkaran Ram, Rifleman Puran Ram, Rifleman Mangal Singh, Rifleman Fidda Huissain, Rifleman Mohammed Yusuf, Rifleman Harsukh Ram, Jemadar Hoshiar Singh, Havildar Bhima Ram, Subedar Peroze Khan, Jemadar Gulab Khan, Jemadar Harnarain Ram, Jemadar Jowahir Singh, Havildar Harnath Singh, Havildar Sardara Ram, Naik Suba Khan, Nail Khema Ram, L/Naik Kara Ram, L/Naik Sagat Singh, Rifleman Dipa Ram, Rifleman Jiwan Singh, Rifleman Mumphal Ram, Rifleman Sobh Singh, Rifleman Amilal Ram, Rifleman Sanwat Singh, Havildar Chatterbui Singh, Havildar Punjraj Singh, Naik Dalpat Singh, Subedar Sardar Khan, Havildar Bhopsingh Ram, Company Havildar-Major (acting) Sheodayal Singh, Sepoy (acting Naik) Hak Ram, Lance-Naik Jugal Singh. Military Medal • Naik Mohd Khan, Naik Fasal Hussain, Naik Jhuntha Ram, Lance-Naik Abdul Rehman, Sweeper Wazir, Rifleman Mohd Sharif, Rifleman Parmeshwar Singh, Rifleman Zaman Ali, Naik Kishan Singh, Naik Megh Singh, Naik (Acting) Lal Singh, Lance-Naik Karam Ellahi, Naik Chuni Ram, Company Havildar-Major Jisukh Ram, Havildar Himta Ram, Naik Kana Ram, Lance-Naik Zarif Khan, Company Havildar-Major Naurang Ram, Rifleman Khuda Dad, Rifleman Ramkunwar Singh, Rifleman Sheochand Ram, Naik Qaim Khan. British Empire Medal • Lance-Naik Dusera Ram, Havildar-Major Mir Badshah, Rifleman Mehraj Din Gold Cross of Merit • Lieutenant-Colonel Julius Benois Edwardes Mentioned in dispatches • 87 numbers ==Gallantry awards (Post-independence)==

Param Vir Chakra • Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles Ashok Chakra • Havildar Rajesh Kumar, 11th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Captain Ummed Singh Mahra, 19th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh, 13th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles Maha Vir Chakra • Major General Swarup Singh Kalaan, MC, Rajputana Rifles • Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) Raghubir Singh Rajawat, 18th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Lieutenant Ved Prakash Trehan, 4th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Rifleman Dhonkal Singh, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Naik Sugan Singh, 7th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Major Padmapani Acharya, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Major Vivek Gupta, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Naik Digendra Kumar, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles Kirti Chakra • Lieutenant Colonel Kamaldeep Singh, 18 RR, Rajputana Rifles • Captain (Later Colonel) Karni Singh Rathore, 17th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles (Sawaiman Guards) • Captain Ashutosh Kumar, 5th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Havildar Amar Singh, 17th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Naib Subedar Umaid Singh, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Naik Rajinder Singh, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Major Pushpender Singh (on deputation to 28 Assam Rifles) • Lance Naik Hoshiar Singh, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles (Sawaiman Guards) • Major Aditya Pratap Singh (on deputation to Assam Rifles) Vir Chakra • Lieutenant Colonel Mahabir Singh, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Major Balbir Singh Poonia, 7th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Major Rajender Singh Rajawat, 18th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Major Ram Swarup Sharma, Rajputana Rifles • Major (later Brigadier) Jitendra Kumar Tomar, 9th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Captain Vijayant Thapar, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Colonel Magod Basappa Ravindranath, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Major Mohit Saxena, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Captain Mohammed Haneef Uddin, 11th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Subedar Rajab Ali, 8th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Naib Subedar Mangej Singh, 11th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Jemadar Sanwal Ram, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Havildar Hazari Singh, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Naik Sheo Chand Ram, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Lance Naik Prem Singh, 12th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • CHM Yashvir Singh, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Havildar Prem Kumar Chauhan, 5th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Rifleman Rewat Singh, 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Rifleman Mathan Singh, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Rifleman Mohan Singh, 11th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Rifleman Jai Ram Singh, 2nd Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Rifleman Mahilal Singh, 4th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles • Rifleman Chagan Singh, 12th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles Shaurya Chakra • Lance Naik Ayyub Ali, 9 RR, Rajputana Rifles • Naib Subedar Lal Singh Khichi, 57 RR, Rajputana Rifles • Lance Naik Deshpal Singh, 9 RR, Rajputana Rifles • Rifleman Lakshman Singh, 9 RR, Rajputana Rifles • Havildar Hanuman Ram Saran, 18 RR, Rajputana Rifles • Rifleman Mukesh Kumar, 9 RR, Rajputana Rifles • Havildar Bhim Singh, 7RR, Rajputana Rifles[151] ==See also==