Lt Gen Sapru pays tributes to martyrs

Chandigarh, Nov 27 (UNI) General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Command Lt Gen TK Sapru today laid wreaths to commemorate the martyrs on the occasion of 150th Anniversary celebrations of First Battalion of the Fourth Gorkha Rifles at the Chandimandir Military Station.

The wreath laying ceremony at the unit Quarter Guard was followed by the Guard of Honour at Raina Stadium which was inspected by Lt Gen Sapru.

Later, General Sapru addressed a special Sainik Sammelan of the battalion at the Manekshaw Auditorium. Addressing the troops, the General Officer appreciated the achievements of the battalion and said that the battalion had distinguished itself in both the World Wars as well as the Indo-Pak wars, winning a number of battle honours and gallantry awards including unit citations.

The Gorkhas, he added, had also proved their mettle by successfully conducting various operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir and North East.

The Sainik Sammelan was also addressed by Brig YP Sethi, senior most Commanding Officer of the unit, Lt Gen Vijay Madan, senior most retired officer and Maj Dicky Day, President of UK Chapter of 4 GR Officers Association, who had flown in especially for the occasion.

On the occasion, a commemorative postage stamp and first day cover to commemorate the 150th Raising Day of the battalion was also released by the Army Commander.

First Battalion of the Fourth Gorkha Rifles was raised on August 6, 1857 by Lt D Macintyre at Pithoragarh. Soon after its raising the battalion participated in 1857 conflagration and distinguished itself on the North West Frontier (Ambeyla Campaign) in 1863-64, Second Afghan War, Second Miranzai Expeditionn (1891-92) and the Waziristan Campaign (1894-95).

The battalion also has the distinction of being the first British Indian Army unit to embark for overseas service during the First World War.

UNI