Danger Pandit Ankit at 01:43, 5 November 2025

2025-11-05T01:43:06Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian military unit}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=1 Field Regiment
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1935 – present
|country={{flag icon|India}} [[India]]
|allegiance={{flag|British India}}<br />{{flag|India}}
|branch= {{army|British India|23px}}<br />[[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|23px]] [[Indian Army]]
|type= [[File:Artillery_Insignia.gif|20px]] [[Artillery]]
|role=
|size= Regiment
|command_structure=
|equipment=

|Past Commanders=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol=1 Fd Regt
|identification_symbol_label=Abbreviation

|nickname=
|patron=
|motto= ''Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal'' (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)<br/>''Sarvada Pratham Hamara Dharam''
|colors= "Red & Navy Blue"
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=15 January (Raising Day)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://imrmedia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMR-Dec-2022-Final.pdf|title= Battle Honours and Raising Day Anniversaries|date=2022-12-13|access-date=2023-06-27}}</ref><br>28 February (Meiktila Day)<ref>{{cite book|last=Sharma|first=Gautam|title= Indian Army, a Reference Manual|page=62|publisher= Reliance Publishing House|year=2000|isbn= 978-8175101142}}</ref>
|decorations=
|battle_honours=[[Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay|Meiktila]]
}}

'''1 Field Regiment (Meiktila)''' is part of the [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|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.<ref>{{cite book|last=|first=|title=India - A Spy Guide, Volume 1, Strategic Information, Intelligence, National Security|page=162|year=2019|publisher=IBP, USA|isbn=978-1433022746}}</ref> A year prior to the raising of the unit, volunteers from other arms were attached to 14th Field Brigade [[Royal Artillery|RA]] for training, to form the nucleus of warrant officers and other non-commissioned officers for the new Indian Brigade.<ref>{{cite book|title=India in 1933-34|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.15127/page/72/mode/2up?q=%22A+Field+Brigade%22&view=theater|publisher=Manager of Publications, Delhi|year=1935|pages=72–73}}</ref> 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 {{small|[[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]], [[Military Cross|MC]]}} (later Colonel / honorary Major General<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35836/supplement/5625|title= The London Gazette, Supplement:35836, Page:5625|date=1942-12-25|access-date=2023-06-22}}</ref>).<ref name="GJ">{{cite web|url= http://gunsinstamps.blogspot.com/2015/02/1st-field-regiment-sp-golden-jubilee.html|title= 1st Field Regiment (SP) - Golden Jubilee 1995|date=1995-02-17|access-date=2023-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spslandforces.com/story/?id=461&h=Guns-and-Glory---A-Saga-of-Dedication-and-Valour|title=SP's Land Forces : Guns and Glory - A Saga of Dedication and Valour|date=|access-date=2023-06-23}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|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''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gulati|first=YB|title=History of the Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army|publisher=Leo Cooper Ltd|year=1973|page=290|isbn=978-0850521184}}</ref> The newly raised unit took the place of 14 Field Brigade RA, which proceeded to the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name="John">{{cite book|last=Gaylor|first=John|title=Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991.|year=1992 |publisher=Stroud: Spellmount Publishers Ltd.|isbn=978-0-946771-98-1|page=108}}</ref> At the time of raising, the unit had three [[King's Commissioned Indian Officer]]s - Lieutenant Prem Singh Gyani, Lieutenant [[Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam]] and Lieutenant Anup Singh Kalha. Subadar-Major and Honorary Captain Muhammad Buksh, ''Sardar Bahadur'' {{small|I.O.M.}} was the [[Viceroy's commissioned officer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2009/09/27/indianarmys-artillery-regiment-celebrates-182nd-gunnersda.html?story=1|title=Indian Army's Artillery regiment celebrates 182nd Gunners Day on Monday|date=2009-09-27|access-date=2023-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=India in 1934-35|url=https://archive.org/details/India1934/page/n103/mode/2up?q=%22A+Field+Brigade%22&view=theatre|publisher=Manager of Publications, Delhi|year=1937|page=91}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Indian Army List, July 1936|publisher=Defence Department, Government of India|year=1936|url= https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.284998/mode/2up?q=%22A+Field+Brigade%22&view=theater|page=278}}</ref> Muhammad Buksh was subsequently awarded the Additional Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34396/supplement/3087/data.pdf|title=Supplement to the London Gazette, page 3087|date=1937-05-11|access-date=2023-06-23}}</ref>

‘A’ Field Brigade subsequently provided the nucleus for ‘B’ Field Brigade and ‘C’ Field Regiment. These units now exist as [[2 Medium Regiment (India)|2 Medium Regiment (Self Propelled) (Letse & Point 171)]] of the Indian Army and 2 Field Regiment of the [[Pakistan Army Artillery Corps|Pakistan Army]] respectively.<ref name="GJ"/>

==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.<ref name="History">{{cite book|last= Farndale|first=Sir Martin|title=History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Far East Theatre, 1941-46|year=2002|publisher= Brassey's (UK) Ltd|page=350|isbn=978-1857533316}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gulati|first=YB|title=History of the Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army|publisher=Leo Cooper Ltd|year=1973|page=61|isbn=978-0850521184}}</ref>

==Name changes==
The regiment has undergone the following changes in its designation -
*‘A’ Field Brigade, Indian Artillery
*‘A’ Field Regiment, Indian Artillery<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=The Indian Army, 3 September 1939 |url=https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p15040coll6/id/5180/download |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251105014100/https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p15040coll6/id/5180/download |archive-date=2025-11-05 |access-date=2023-06-26}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*1st Indian Field Regiment, Indian Artillery<ref name="John"/>
*1st Indian Field Regiment, [[Royal Indian Artillery|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==
{{Incomplete list|date=June 2023}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! Year !! Batteries !! Equipment
|-
| 1935 || 1 and 2 || [[QF 18-pounder gun|18-pounder]] (horse drawn)
|-
| ||3 and 4 || [[QF 4.5-inch howitzer|4.5-inch howitzer]] (horse drawn)
|-
|1941 || 1 and 2 || [[Ordnance QF 25-pounder|25-pounder]] towed guns
|-
| 1946 || 1, 48 and 50|| [[Sexton (artillery)|Sexton (self-propelled)]]
|-
|1971 || 1, 48 and 50|| [[Abbot (artillery)|Abbott (self-propelled)]]
|-
| || 1, 48 and 50|| [[122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)|122 mm D-30 howitzer]]
|-
| || 1, 48 and 50|| [[Indian Field Gun|105 mm Indian field gun]]
|-
|Present || 1, 48 and 50||?
|}

==Composition==
At formation, the class composition of the four batteries were as follows – the 1st of [[Madrasi]]s, originally formed from the disbanded [[Madras Pioneers]], the 2nd, [[Punjabi Muslims|Punjabi Mussalmans]], the 3rd, Rajputana [[Rajput]]s and the 4th [[Ranghar]]s.<ref name="Jackson">{{cite book|last=Jackson|first=Donovan|title= India's Army|date=1940|publisher= Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd|pages=186–187}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Adams|first=EG Phythian|title=The Madras Soldier 1746-1946|date=1948|publisher=The Superintendent Government Of Madras|page=147}}</ref> The unit was converted into a single class regiment in April 1946 with [[Rajput]] troops, when two batteries with Rajput troops from [[17 (Parachute) Field Regiment (India)|17 Field Regiment]] (which itself was raised as 8th Battalion, the 7th Rajput Regiment) joined the regiment.<ref name="GJ"/>

==Operations (pre independence)==
;[[World War II]]
The regiment was sent to Burma in February 1942 from [[Kolkata|Calcutta]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Warren|first=Alan|title= Burma 1942-The Road from Rangoon to Mandalay |publisher= Bloomsbury Publishing India Private Limited |year=2012|isbn= 978-1441152503|page=146}}</ref> It became part of the [[17th Infantry Division (India)|17 Infantry Division]] during the [[Burma campaign]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/burmaweb/BurmaArmyMarApr42.htm|title= Burma Army - Order of Battle - 19th March 1942|date=|access-date=2023-06-27}}</ref> From February 1942, the two 8 -gun batteries provided commendable artillery support during the withdrawal of the division.<ref>{{cite book|title= Japanese Conquest of Burma 1942: The Advance to the Gates of India|first=Tim|last=Moreman|year=2022|publisher= Osprey Publishing|isbn= 978-1472849731|page=84}}</ref> 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 State|Gwalior]] Scindia forces fought in Burma under the same division.<ref name=" History"/><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/124/2020/07/17-Indian-Division-1944-45.pdf|title=17 Indian Infantry Division (1944-45)|access-date=2023-06-27}}</ref>
[[File:Allied Third Burma Campaign Apri 1-May 1945.jpg|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 [[Japan during World War II|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.<ref>{{cite book|title= Outline History of the Regiment of Artillery|publisher= Artillery Institute Press, Deolali|year=1946|page=45}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kirby|first=Stanley Woodburn|title= The War Against Japan: The reconquest of Burma |url= https://archive.org/details/war-against-japan-vol-4/page/n11/mode/2up?q=%221st+Indian+Field+Regiment%22&view=theater|year=1965|publisher=Her Majesty’s Stationery Office|page=309}}</ref> Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel DWD Nicholl, 1 Indian Field Regiment was placed in direct support of the charging brigade. The [[Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay#Capture of Meiktila|battle]] started on 28 February 1945 and lasted for four days. The fall of Meiktila was a turning point in the battle for Burma.<ref name="GJ"/><ref name="SS">{{cite magazine |title=The Rajput Gunners Celebrate Meiktila Day |magazine=Sainik Samachar |volume= 17 |date=1970-04-05 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DdohlIUDakUC&dq=meiktila+regiment&pg=RA13-PA6|publisher=Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title= Official History of the Indian Armed Forces in the Second World War, 1939-45|url= https://archive.org/details/aclcpl0000052a351/mode/2up?q=%221st+Indian+Field+Regiment%22|last=Prasad|first=Bisheshwar|publisher=Combined Inter-Services Historical Section (India and Pakistan)|year=1959|pages=249–327}}</ref>

In the advance to [[Yangon|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.<ref name="Mukherjee">{{cite web |url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/203255/5/chapter%203.pdf|title=Anjan Mukherjee in Evolution of Indian Artillery and its Impact on India's Comprehensive Military Power, chapter II|access-date=2023-06-27}}</ref> Following the war, the regiment returned to India and was converted into a self-propelled unit.<ref name=" History"/>

The regiment was awarded the following honours and gallantry awards-<ref name="GJ"/><ref name="SS"/><ref>{{cite book|last=|first=|title=The Tiger Kills|date=1944|publisher=Director of Public Relations, India Command, Government of India|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.527937|pages=316–7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=|first=|title=The Tiger Strikes|date=1942|publisher=Director of Public Relations, India Command, Government of India|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.523873|page=150}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35763/supplement/4688|title=The London Gazette, Supplement:35763, Page:4688|date=1942-10-27|access-date=2023-06-27}}</ref>
*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
*[[Order of the British Empire|Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)]]- 2
*[[Military Medal]]- 3
*Certificate of gallantry- 3

==Operations (post independence)==
;[[Annexation of Hyderabad|Operation Polo]]
The regiment was despatched immediately after [[Indian independence movement|independence]] to the [[Hyderabad State]] for internal security duties and was part of ''Smash Force'' under [[1st Armoured Division (India)|1 Armoured Division]].<ref name="GJ"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/archives/MONITOR/ISSUE2-3/lns.html|title= Operation Polo: The Liberation Of Hyderabad at Bharat Rakshak Volume 2-3, November-December 1999|access-date=2020-09-06}}</ref><ref name="Praval 2009">{{cite book|last=Praval|first=KC|title=Indian Army After Independence|date=2009|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=978-1935501107}}</ref>
;[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
During the war, the regiment equipped with self-propelled Sextons supported 2 (Independent) Armoured Division (the corps reserve of [[XI Corps (India)|11 Corps]]).<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Harbaksh |title=War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965|date=2012|publisher= Lancer Publishers LLC|isbn=978-8170621171|page=}}</ref> From 6 September 1965, the unit was in support of [[4th Infantry Division (India)|4 Mountain Division]] in the [[Battle of Asal Uttar]].<ref name="GJ"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Jogindar|title=Behind the Scene-An Analysis of India's Military Operations, 1947-1971|page=152|year=1993|isbn= 978-1897829202|publisher=Lancer International}}</ref>
The regiment won the following gallantry awards during the war<ref name="GJ"/>-
*[[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.<ref name="GJ"/>
;[[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.<ref name="GJ"/>
;Operation Rakshak II
The regiment was deployed for counter terrorism operation between April and August 1992.<ref name="GJ"/>
;[[Operation Meghdoot]]
1 Medium Regiment was deployed in [[Siachen Glacier]] in 2015. Lance Havildar Ganga Singh was mentioned in despatches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2015/167055.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 50, page 3139|date=2015-12-12|access-date=2023-06-27}}</ref>

==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.<ref name="GJ"/>

==Notable officers==
{{Incomplete list|date=June 2023}}
* General [[Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam]] {{small|DSO, MBE}} – 6th [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]] (COAS) of the [[Indian Army]] from 1967 to 1969.
* Lieutenant General PS Gyani {{small|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 Medium Regiment (India)|2 Indian Field Regiment]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://salute.co.in/2-indian-field-regiment-and-the-battle-of-bir-hachiem-pt-171/ |title= 2 Indian Field Regiment And The Battle Of Bir Hachiem – Pt 171 |date=2019-07-24|access-date=2023-06-28}}</ref>
* Major General Ranbir Bakshi {{small|[[Military Cross|MC]]}} - Commanded the regiment, raised the Artillery Centre at [[Nashik]], commanded School of Artillery (1959-1961) and [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla]] (1964-1966).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.wobs.in/images/publications/oliphant/NO006_WBS_Dec_2006.pdf|title=Obituary|access-date=2023-06-27}}</ref> He was also an outstanding swimmer and represented the country.
* Major General AS Naravane – Colonel Commandant of Artillery.<ref>{{cite book|last=Naravane|first=AS|title= A Soldier's Life in War and Peace|publisher= APH Publishing Corporation|year=2004|isbn= 978-8176484374}}</ref>
* [[J. F. R. Jacob|Lieutenant General Jack Farj Rafael Jacob {{small|PVSM}}]] – Served in the unit and went on to raise [[3 Medium Regiment (India)|3 Field Regiment]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Lt. Gen J.F.R. Jacob|title=An Odyssey in War and Peace|publisher=Roli Books Private Limited|year= 2012|isbn=9788174369338|location=New Delhi|pages=262}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiapicks.com/stamps/Forces/1150_Artillery_Regt.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051211152710/http://indiapicks.com/stamps/Forces/1150_Artillery_Regt.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 11, 2005|title=Regiment Of Artillery|access-date=2023-06-23}}</ref>

==Motto==
The motto of the regiment is ‘सर्वदा प्रथम हमारा धर्म (Sarvada Pratham Hamara Dharam)’, which translates to ‘Being the first is our duty.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.collectorbazar.com/item/india-1-medium-regiment-brochure-army-postal-service-without-stamp-c2234-292713|title= Medium Regiment - Brochure|date=2010-01-15|access-date=2023-06-28}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of regiments of the Indian Army#Artillery|List of artillery regiments of Indian Army]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[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]]

1 Field Regiment India - Revision history

Danger Pandit Ankit at 01:43, 5 November 2025