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The Grenadiers

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This article is about a regiment of the Indian Army. For other uses, see Grenadier (disambiguation).

The Grenadiers is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, formerly part of the Bombay Army and later the pre-independence British Indian Army, when the regiment was known as the 4th Bombay Grenadiers. It has distinguished itself during the two world wars and also since the Independence of India. The regiment has won many battle honours and gallantry awards, and is considered to be one of India's most decorated regiments with three Param Vir Chakra awardees in three different conflicts.[2]

The Grenadiers
Regimental Insignia of The Grenadiers
Active1778–present
Country British India
 India
Branch East India Company
 British Indian Army
Indian Army
TypeInfantry
Size25 battalions
Regimental CentreJabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
Nickname(s)The Grinders
Motto(s)Sarvada Shaktishali (Ever Powerful)[1]
EngagementsSecond Anglo-Afghan War
Third Burmese War
Third Anglo-Afghan War
First World War
Second World War
Sino-Indian War
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Nathu La and Cho La clashes
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Operation Pawan
Kargil War, 1999

Sino-Indian border dispute

Decorations
Battle honoursPost Independence Gurez, Asal Uttar, Jarpal, Chakra, Tololing & Tiger Hill
Commanders
Colonel of
the Regiment		Lt Gen Sanjay Mitra
Insignia
Regimental InsigniaA brass grenade bearing the White Horse of Hanover. The insignia is worn on the uniform with a white hackle.
2nd Bombay Grenadiers of the Indian Army in Hampton Court Camp on the occasion of the Coronation of King Edward VII, August 1902

History

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Early history

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The oldest grenadier regiment of the armies in the Commonwealth belongs to the Indian Army. The concept of 'Grenadiers' evolved from the practice of selecting the bravest and strongest men for the most dangerous tasks in combat. The Grenadiers have the longest unbroken record of existence in the Indian Army.[3]

The history of the Indian Grenadiers is linked to the troops recruited for the army of the Bombay Presidency. The first mention of a grenadier company hails back to 1684, when a little army of English troops, which had taken possession of the island of Bombay and comprising three companies of Europeans and local Christians, had a grenadier company, but nothing was heard about this unit subsequently. In 1710, the Bombay Army consisted of five companies of "Europeans, topasses (Indian Christians), and coffrees (Kaffirs)" of which the first company was a European grenadier company. This company was merged into the Bombay European Regiment, which was later disbanded. In 1757, Robert Clive had raised the 1st Regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry of which two companies were grenadier companies, however, no regiments of grenadiers were formed from the Bengal Army until a battalion was formed in 1779.[4]

In 1759, as a response to French maneuvering in South India, the strength of the Bombay Army was enhanced, and the first company of sepoy grenadiers was raised with the best of Bombay sepoys "paying a regard to those having families on the island". It had only native officers and all sepoys wore red coats faced with blue. Later on, an adjutant was appointed to the corps.

Later the Bombay Army comprised a number of sepoy battalions, each having one or two grenadier companies. These were clubbed together as a composite battalion comprising the grenadier companies of the Bombay sepoy battalions, and they won the famous battle of Talegaon in 1778. So impressive was the performance of this composite battalion that the Bombay Presidency ordered the permanent raising of a grenadier battalion which duly took place on 12 March 1779, thirty-six years before the first time that a British battalion was given the honour of calling itself "grenadiers". The Governor General of Bombay made an Order dated 12 November 1779, according to which the grenadier companies of the following regiments combined to form the first Grenadier Regiment in the world, namely "The Grenadier Battalion, First Regiment of Infantry":

  • 1st Sepoy Battalion
  • 2nd Sepoy Battalion
  • 3rd Sepoy Battalion
  • 4th Sepoy Battalion
  • 5th Sepoy Battalion
  • 6th Sepoy Battalion
  • Marine Battalion (two companies of grenadiers)

4th Bombay Grenadiers

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4th Bombay Grenadiers
Active1922–1947
CountryBritish India
BranchIndian Army
TypeInfantry

The 4th Bombay Grenadiers were an infantry regiment of the pre-independence Indian Army, formed on 1 March 1922 as part of the reforms of the Indian Army that took place after the end of the First World War.[3] Following this, the Regiment spent the next fifteen years serving in the British Somaliland protectorate in present-day Somaliland, as well as in China and on the North-West Frontier. The 3rd, 4th and 5th Battalions were all disbanded and the 10th Battalion amalgamated with the 10th Battalion, Jat Regiment to form a Combined Training Centre at Bareilly.[3] Following the Second World War they were one of the regiments allocated to the new Indian Army and renamed The Grenadiers

The regiment consisted of six battalions, all former regiments themselves. These were:

Second World War

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Grenadiers in a Sherman III tank in the Middle East, March 1944.

At the beginning of the Second World War there were only two battalions of the Regiment, the 1st and 2nd. This was soon changed, though, as a number of battalions were raised for wartime service, including: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 14th, 25th, 26th and 27th Battalions.[3] The 10th (Training Battalion) was also de-linked from the Jat Regiment. Some of these battalions were to be garrison or rear area troops only, while others went on to serve with distinction in a number of theatres during the war including the Middle East and Burma, notably during the Arakan campaigns and at Kohima.

The 4th Grenadiers formed the motorised infantry element of the Indian Armoured and Tank brigades, distinguishing themselves as 'tank escort' infantry protecting tanks against sniper attack in jungle conditions:

Partition

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In October 1945, the Indian infantry regiments lost their numerical designation and the regiment was re-designated as the Indian Grenadiers, thus severing its last link with the erstwhile Bombay Army (Special Indian Army Order 132/S/45). Following the partition of India, the regiment was allotted to India. The active units at that time were the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 25th. The Muslim troops in the regiment were allotted to Pakistan. Dogras from 5 Baluch joined the 1st battalion, The Frontier Force Rifles to 2nd battalion, and from 1/16 Punjab to the 4th battalion.[5]

Regimental battalions

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Postal stamp - Bicentenary of 2nd Grenadiers, 1996
Attestation Parade at Grenadiers Regimental Centre, Jabalpur, September 2021.
 
 

The Grenadiers consists of 23 battalions, four Rashtriya Rifles battalions and two Territorial Army battalions -

Battalion Raising Date Remarks References
1st Battalion § 1778 Raised as 8th Regiment of Bombay Sepoys. Underwent many name changes, was designated 101st Grenadiers, prior to present designation. Battle honours - Mangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad, Kandahar 1880, Afghanistan 1878–80, Burma 1885–87, Somaliland 1901–04, East Africa 1914–16, Egypt, Gaza, Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917–18. Post independence – Gurais. Became 2nd Battalion, Brigade of the Guards in 1950. [6][7]
2nd Battalion 1796 Raised in Calicut by Captain David Cameron as 13th Battalion, Bombay Native Infantry. Underwent many name changes, was designated 102nd King Edward's Own Grenadiers, before present designation. Battle honours – Egypt (1801), Kirkee (1817), Koregaon (1817), Persia (1857), Abyssinia (1868), Kut-Al-Amara (1917), Naga Village (1944). Nicknamed Second to None. [8]
3rd Battalion 1768 Raised as 1st Battalion, Bombay Sepoys. Underwent many name changes, was designated 108th Infantry, before present designation. Nicknamed Param Vir Chakra Paltan. Battle honours (pre-independence) – Mangalore 1783, Mysore 1793, Hyderabad (Sind) 1843, Afghanistan 1879, Aden 1916, Mesopotamia 1917, Kalewa 1944 and Fort Dufferin, Mandalay 1945; post-independence – theatre honour - Rajasthan (Sadhewala) in 1965 and battle honour – Jarpal in 1971. Major Hoshiar Singh was awarded the PVC. [9][10]
4th Battalion 1768 Raised as 5th Battalion, Bombay Sepoys. Underwent many name changes, was designated 109th Infantry, before present designation. Battle honours : pre-independence – Mysore, Central India, Aden, Punjab, Multan, Burma, Afghanistan, Taungtha, Meiktila, Pwabwe, Sharqat, Pegu; post-independence – Asal Uttar (1965). CQMH Abdul Hamid was awarded the PVC. Nicknamed Param Vir Chakra Paltan and The Fighting Fourth. [11][12]
5th Battalion 1796 Raised as 2nd Battalion, 6th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. Underwent many name changes, was designated 112th Infantry, before present designation. Nicknamed Finest Fifth.
6th Battalion 1962 Raised as 6/4 Grenadiers (Motorised) by Lieutenant Colonel D Greigson at Nasirabad in 1942. Disbanded 1943. Re-raised in 1962 by Lieutenant Colonel AB Jhadav at Jaipur. Nicknamed Joshila Sixth. [13]
7th battalion § 1949 Raised from Kutch and Saurashtra State Forces in camel mounted role, became regular infantry in 1957. Became 9th Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment in 1979. Battle honour Chhadbet [14][15]
8th Battalion 1963 Raised 1949 in Ahmedabad from state forces of Lunavada, Rajpipla, Baria and Idar, disbanded 1949, re-raised 1963 in Jaipur under Major BS Brah. Battle honour – Chakra (1971). Nicknamed Chakra Battalion and Gallant Eighth. [16]
9th Battalion 1954 Mewar, ex-State Forces unit [17][18]
10th Battalion 1800 Raised 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. Underwent many name changes, was designated 113th Infantry, before present designation. Training Battalion.
11th Battalion 1963 Raised at Ajmer as a Territorial battalion in 1922 (1st battalion, Ajmer Regiment), disbanded in 1948, re-raised in 1963 in Jaipur by Lieutenant Colonel Racchpal Singh. [19]
12th Battalion 1964 Raised at Nasirabad by Major NS Sidhu. Lieutenant Colonel Hari Singh was the first commanding officer. Nicknamed Thundering Twelfths. [20]
13th Battalion 1889 Raised as the Ganga Risala by Maharaja Ganga Singh of the Indian state of Bikaner. [21]
14th Battalion 1965 From 34th Training Unit (raised 1943), disbanded 1946, re-raised 1965. [22]
15th Battalion 1966 Raised in Nasirabad by Lieutenant Colonel PS Mahurkar. Nicknamed The Dare Devils [23]
16th Battalion 1966 Raised in Babina under Lieutenant Colonel NB Jayaram . [24]
17th Battalion § 1966 Raised as a camel battalion in Bikaner under Lieutenant Colonel KS Harihar Singh. Nicknamed The Desert Hawks. Motorized Infantry Regiment. Became 24th Battalion, Brigade of the Guards in 2023. [25]
18th Battalion 1976 Battle honour – Tiger Hill and Tololing. Nicknamed Param Vir Chakra Paltan after the PVC won by Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav. [26][27]
19th Battalion 1979 Nicknamed Utkrisht Unnees.
20th Battalion Nicknamed Double Axe.
21st Battalion 1985 Nicknamed Awwal Ekkis.
22nd Battalion 1988 Raised in Jabalpur. Nicknamed as Bravest of the Brave and Ashok Chakra Paltan – has won two Ashok Chakras. [28]
23rd Battalion
24th Battalion
25th Battalion 2014 Raised under the command of Colonel Vipul Singh Rajput, nicknamed Parakrami Pacchees. [29]
12 Rashtriya Rifles
29 Rashtriya Rifles Nicknamed Cobra Paltan.
39 Rashtriya Rifles
55 Rashtriya Rifles
118 (TA) Battalion 1939 Raised at 7 Central Provincial Urban Infantry Battalion (Indian Territorial Force). Present designation since 1949. Located at Bhusaval, Maharashtra [30][31]
123 (TA) Battalion 1956 Raised by Lieutenant Colonel Zorawar Singh at raised at Senapati House, Jhotwara. Located at Jaipur, Rajasthan. Nicknamed Jaipur Terriers. [32][33]

§ indicates former units.

Affiliations

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The Grenadiers has been affiliated with The Armoured Corps and with the Indian Navy.

Class composition

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  • 1923 - Rajputana Mussalmans, Rajputana Jats, Mahrattas, Mers and Merats
  • 1946 - Jats from the Punjab, United Provinces, Rajputana and Central India states, Hindustani Mussalmans from Ambala Civil Division, Rajputana, United Provinces, Central India states and the Deccan.[34]
  • Present - Rajputs, Ahirs, Kaimkhanis, Hindustani Mussalmans, Dogras, Gujjar, Meena, Gujratis, Jats.[35][36]

Battle honours

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Battle Honours (Pre-Independence)

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Prior to Indian independence, the Regiment had won many battle honours as part of the British Indian Army. These battle honour include:[36]

Pre-World War I

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World War I

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World War II

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Battle Honours (Post-Independence)

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Since 1947, the Regiment has won the following battle honours as part of the Indian Army:

Decorations

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The Grenadiers have the unique and distinct honour of having the most number of Param Vir Chakras, India's highest medal for gallantry, among all the Indian Army's Infantry Regiments.[37] Of note also, is the fact that prior to independence, British officers serving with The Grenadiers won four Victoria Crosses.[38] Members of the Regiment have also received a number of other decorations prior to independence.

 
A native non-commissioned officer (NCO) of Bombay Grenadier Battalion, 1806

Pre independence

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Victoria Cross

1914-1921[39]

Military Cross

  • Jemadar Pola Khan, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
  • Subedar Jiwan Khan, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt and Aden (twice)
  • Subedar Kasianth Mane, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
 
Bombay Grenadier in British service, 1879.

Order of British India

  • Subedar Major Martand Rao Mohite, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
  • Subedar Agdi Singh, 102nd Grenadiers, Mesopotamia

Indian Order of Merit

  • Sepoy Fazil Khan, 101st Grenadiers, East Africa
  • Sepoy Sowaz Khan, 101st Grenadiers, East Africa
  • Subedar Rahim Khan, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt[40]
  • Subedar Ahmed Din, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
  • Colour Havildar Shah Muhammad, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
  • Subedar Jafar Ali, 102nd Grenadiers, Muscat
  • Sepoy Nand Ram, 102nd Grenadiers, Muscat
  • Subedar Ganga Ram Singh, 102nd Grenadiers, Mesopotamia
  • Subedar Muhammad Ali, 102nd Grenadiers, Mesopotamia
  • Jemadar Ganga Ram, 102nd Grenadiers, Mesopotamia
  • Havildar Jaffar Ali, 102nd Grenadiers, Waziristan
  • Naik Shivlal Dalal (1933)

Indian Distinguished Service Medal

  • Lance Naik Abdul Sattar Khan, Temporary Lance Naik Muhammad Khan, 101st Grenadiers, Egypt
  • Havildar Karan Singh, Havildar Ganga Ram, Private Sultan Ahmad, Havildar Tula Ram, Havildar Tula Ram, Havildar Mansare Ali, Private Sheo Ram, Havildar Sanwal Ram, Private Shedu Ram, Private Sirdara Ram, Private Surja Ram, Jemadar Khan Muhammad, Sepoy Ahmad Khan, Sepoy Girdhari Ram, Sepoy Tulsi Ram, Private Feroz Khan, Havildar Ram Diyal Singh, Naik Niyamat Khan (all in Mesopotamia), Private Karam Dad Khan (Muscat), Lance Naik Hoti Singh (Baluchistan), Subedar Mansar Ali (Pishin Moveable Column) 102nd Grenadiers
 
A NCO of The Grenadiers, 2017

Indian Meritorious Service Medal

  • 84 medals - 101st Grenadiers, Egypt, Aden, Somaliland, India
  • 12 medals - 102nd Grenadiers, Mesopotamia, India, Baluchistan
World War II[41][42]

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)

  • Subedar Major Shamshad Khan, 4th Bombay Grenadiers

Mentioned in dispatches

  • Major T H Waumsley, 4th Bombay Grenadiers
  • Major E R S Dods, 4th Bombay Grenadiers
 
Grenadiers participating in the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade, marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in Europe.

Post independence[36]

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Param Vir Chakra

 
Depiction of a 105 mm Jonga-mounted RCL gun, manned by Abdul Hamid, which destroyed eight tanks during the Battle of Asal Uttar

Ashok Chakra

Maha Vir Chakra

Kirti Chakra

  • Grenadier Daryao Singh, 1948
  • Grenadier Gopal Singh (Posthumous), 1981
  • Grenadier Bajrang Singh (Posthumous), 1981
  • Naik Prakash Chand, 1990
  • Lieutenant Ravinder Chikara (Posthumous), 2001
  • Grenadier Anil Kumar (Posthumous), 2003
  • Colonel Gurbir Singh Sarna (Posthumous), 2006
  • Major Rajinder Kumar Sharma, 2008
  • Grenadier Pawan Kumar (Posthumous), 2024[43]

Notable General Officers

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References & notes

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  1. ^ "Grenadiers' history is replete with stories of valour". 19 July 1999. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Infantry Regiments: The cutting edge of Soldiering". 24 January 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Sharma, p. 75
  4. ^ "Brief History". Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  5. ^ Gaylor, John. Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991. Stroud: Spellmount Publishers Ltd. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-946771-98-1.
  6. ^ "Indian Army Grenadiers Regiment".
  7. ^ "2 Guards (1 Grenadiers)". Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  8. ^ "2 Grenadiers of India". 7 June 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Third Battalion The Grenadiers". 11 February 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  10. ^ "16 Madras, 3 Grenadiers' braves". 6 June 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Fourth Battalion The Grenadiers". 1 February 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Remembering a hero named Abdul Hamid". 21 July 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Sixth Battalion The Grenadiers". 1 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  14. ^ "The Grenadiers Regiment - Bharat Rakshak - Indian Army & Land Forces".
  15. ^ "Raising Days and Battle Honours : Mech Battalions". Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  16. ^ "8 Grenadiers". 1 January 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Army starts 'Mewar Trail' foot expedition from Udaipur". 8 October 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Princely States' contribution to the Indian Army". 1 October 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  19. ^ "11th Battalion The Grenadiers". 1 October 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  20. ^ "12th Battalion The Grenadiers". 1 April 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Rajputs State forces to modern Indian Army: A milllenium of military service". 1 January 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  22. ^ "14 Grenadiers". 22 January 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  23. ^ "15th Battalion The Grenadiers". 16 January 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Grenadiers Regiment". Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  25. ^ "17th Battalion The Grenadiers (Motorised)". 10 November 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  26. ^ "18 Grenadiers relive Tiger Hill capture". 22 July 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  27. ^ "18 Grenadiers to celebrate Battle Honour Day". The Times of India. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  28. ^ "22nd Battalion The Grenadiers". 1 June 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  29. ^ "Raising of 25th Grenadiers". 19 October 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  30. ^ "118 Inf BN TA Grenadiers Platinum Jubilee". 22 August 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  31. ^ "118 TA Battalion vacates Sitabuldi Fort". 14 November 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  32. ^ "An entire Army unit just pledges their organs". 14 January 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  33. ^ "Jaipur Terrier Pipe Band". Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  34. ^ Gaylor, John. Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991. Stroud: Spellmount Publishers Ltd. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-946771-98-1.
  35. ^ Gautam, PK (2016). Indigenous Historical Knowledge: Kautilya and His Vocabulary, Volume III. IDSA/Pentagon Press. p. 154. ISBN 978-81-8274-909-2.
  36. ^ a b c "The Grenadiers". Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  37. ^ "Know the brave regiments of Indian Army". 23 June 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  38. ^ Sharma, p. 69
  39. ^ India, Adjutant General of (1930). List of Honours Awarded to the Indian Army August 1914 to August 1921. Committee Indian War Memorial Delhi.
  40. ^ Sharma, p. 73
  41. ^ The Tiger Kills. Director of Public Relations, India Command, Government of India. 1944. p. 327.
  42. ^ The Tiger Strikes. Director of Public Relations, India Command, Government of India. 1942. p. 148.
  43. ^ "75th Republic Day: President approves Gallantry awards to 80 Armed Forces personnel, including 12 posthumous". 25 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.

Bibliography

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  • Barthorp, Michael; Burn, Jeffrey (1979). Indian infantry regiments 1860–1914. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 0-85045-307-0.
  • Rinaldi, Richard A (2008). Order of Battle British Army 1914. Ravi Rikhye. ISBN 978-0-9776072-8-0.
  • Sharma, Gautam (1990). Valour and sacrifice: famous regiments of the Indian Army. Allied Publishers. ISBN 81-7023-140-X.
  • Sumner, Ian (2001). The Indian Army 1914–1947. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-196-6.
  • Moberly, F.J. (1923). Official History of the War: Mesopotamia Campaign, Imperial War Museum. ISBN 1-870423-30-5
  • Singh, Rajendra (1969) History of the Grenadiers
  • Singh, Rajendra (1955) Organisation and Administration in the Indian Army
  • Palsokar, R.D. (1980) The Grenadiers, a Tradition of Valour, The Grenadiers Regimental Centre, Jabalpur

See also

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