Army Chief to present Colours to PCTC

Bangalore, Nov 21 (UNI) The Pioneer Corps Training Centre (PCTC) which had rendered yeoman service during the independence struggle besides the two World Wars will receive colours for its contribution from Chief of Army Staff Gen Joginder Jaswant Singh on November 24.

PCTC had carved a niche in the history of Army and had won battle honours of Kandhar, Burma, China, France and Flanders, Tigris, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Meiktila and Sittang and Gallantry Awards and Decorations including Military Cross, Military medal, Kaiser-e-Hind Silver Medal and a host of honours from Britain and the United States.

The Pioneers have lived with frequent raising and disbandment, but their commitment and achievements for the assigned tasks over the years were laudable and unparallel. 6,511 Pioneers have laid down their lives for the nation in pre and post independence during battles and operations and 205 Pioneers have won gallantry and distinguished awards.

The Corps has also performed commendably in the spheres of sports and adventure activities. To mention a few, Sub and Hony Captain Ramachander (Wrestling) had won Seven Gold, One Silver and Two Bronze in Asian National Games and Commonwealth Games. Cyprian Aind (Hockey) represented the country in international matches held at Moscow and is presently Captain of the Army Red Team.

It was the only Corps in the Indian Army that could take legitimate pride in the fact that it had emerged during 1758 in Madras Residency where the first Pioneer Companies were formed. By the time World War I broke out, there were as many as 118 Regiments of 12 Battalions of Pioneers in the Indian Army.

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