7 Mech to observe 111th Raising Day

CHANDIGARH, May 27: One of the Indian Army's oldest infantry battalion, 7 Mechanised Infantry (I Dogra), will be commemorating its 111th Rai...

CHANDIGARH, May 27: One of the Indian Army’s oldest infantry battalion, 7 Mechanised Infantry (I Dogra), will be commemorating its 111th Raising Day on May 30. A reunion of veteran Dogras at Patiala and inauguration of the Battalion war memorial are among other activities planned to mark the Day.

Raised as the 37 Dogra at Sialkot in 1887, the Battalion, within three years of its raising proved its mettle in Afghanistan. The Dogras were the first to enter Baghdad during the First World War, where the Battalion won its most cherished Battle Honour – Dahra Bend. The blood stained Turkish flag captured by the Dogras is still carefully preserved by them.

World War II saw the Dogras in action on Burmese soil. It was this Battalion that was chosen to spearhead the Allied advance from Imphal to Kohima and thereafter into Burma.

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After a distinguished performance in counter insurgency operations in the Naga Hills during the late 50s, the Battalion formed a part of the United Nations peace mission in Congo from 1961 to 1962.

The Battalion distinguished themselves in the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. It bagged the Battle Honour Aassal Uttar during the 1965 Operations at Assal Uttar and then won the Theatre Honour Punjab. Playing a major role in blunting the Pakistani offensive, the Dogras had destroyed 17 Patton tanks besides capturing a large amount of war material.

Presently commanded by Col B.S. Ranawat, the Battalion was later converted into a mechanised infantry unit and rechristened as 7 Mechanised Infantry. With a total of 139 decorations, including a Victoria Cross, to its credit, the Battalion has the distinction of producing nine generals since independence.