:: THE BENGAL SAPPERS ::

UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENTS

Life Time Achievement Award

Maj General KN Singh, a noteworthy Bengal Sapper, was the Chief Construction Executive of many defence related works, and was responsible for a number of prestigious projects. For his unparalleled service to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), he was decorated with a unique award, a Life Time Achievement Award, from the President of India.

First Engineer Group to Receive President’s Colours

The Bengal Sappers were the first among the three Groups to receive the President’s Colours. In recognition of its rich history and two centuries of gallant service to the Nation, Honorable Shri R Venkataraman, President of India, presented the Regimental Colours to the Bengal Engineer Group at Roorkee on 12 January 1989.

First Officer to be Awarded Padma Bhushan

Lt Gen Joginder Singh Dhillon, commissioned into Bengal Engineer Group in 1936, was the first Army Officer to be awarded ‘Padma Bhushan’ on 24 November 1965. Gen Dhillon, was the General Officer Commanding a forward Corps. The task allotted to his Corps was to advance to a position of tactical advantage and then to contain and wear out the superior enemy forces in this sensitive area. The Corps carried out its initial concentration at short notice and moved to counter the enemys plans. The task of blunting the enemy’s offensive potential and destroying a large part of its armoured strength was carried out with conspicuous success.

To quote the citation, “In this Sector, the enemy launched repeated counter-attacks and the conduct of day to day operations called for great tenacity, strong determination and robust mind. Lieutenant General Dhillon displayed all these qualities in abundance and the success achieved by his Corps was to a great extent due to the personality of the General officer”.

Command of First Republic Day Parade

Having taken the salute from Col Joginder Singh Dhillon, Commandant, Bengal Engineer Group and Centre on 25 November 1949 at the Centre Parade Ground, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru specifically asked for him to command the First Republic Day Parade to be held in Delhi.

The Parade was held on 26 January 1950 at the Irwin Stadium, Delhi, and was duly commanded by then Brig Dhillon. The Parade comprised of contingents from Army, Navy, Air Force and the Police and it was one of the finest spectacles of the Independent India staged in Delhi during that period. Brig Dhillon later rose to the rank of Lt Gen and was the first post independence Sapper Army Commander (Central Army).

Award of Victoria Cross Twice on A Single Day, on Two Occasions

Bengal Sappers were the first to have won two Victoria Cross on a single day, on two separate occasions. Firstly, Capt WS Trevor and Lt J Dundas won Victoria Cross for their daring action during the assault at Diwangiri (Bhutan) in 1865. The second time Lt J M C Colvin and Lt TC Watson repeated this rare feat in 1897 during the ‘Bilot War’, in North West Frontier Province.

Seniority Among Non-Mounted Arms

During the Bhutan Expedition in 1864, 6th and 7th Companies of the Bengal Sappers and Miners displayed such stamina in marching and audacity in the recapture of Dewangiri, that the honour of falling-in, to the Right of all foot columns of Arms and Services was awarded to the Sappers.

First Recipient of Indian Order of Merit

In 1837, the award of `Order of Merit’ was instituted to be the highest gallantry award for all ranks, for acts of extreme valour and bravery in the face of enemy. It was divided into first, second and third class. Subedar Devi Singh and 12 other ranks of Bengal Sappers and Miners-namely, Bishram Singh, Kalu Beg, Sheikh Rajab, Gurdial, Qadir Baksh and Dayal Singh of No 2 Company and Bhikha, Baldav, Ganesh I and Ganesh II, Sheo Rattan and Shiv Sabai of No 3 Company-earned the Order of Merit Class III for their gallant action of laying charges and blowing up the gate of Ghuznee Fort against observed enemy fire. In 1903, the word `Indian’ was added and the award was called as the `Indian Order of Merit (IOM) Class III’. These Bengal Sappers were the first Indian recipients of any gallantry award instituted by the then Government of India.

Broadfoot’s Sappers, who were later absorbed into the Group were also awarded twenty ‘Order of Merit’ Class III during the following years.

Highest Numbers of Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross was instituted in 1856 to be the highest gallantry award in the British Empire. Bengal Sappers were the first among the three Sappers to boast a tally of as many as 11 Victoria Cross.

Two ‘Battle Honours’ Awarded on a Single Day

The Bengal Sappers have the unique distinction of being the only Indian Regiment to be awarded two Battle Honours on a single day on 23 December 1843. On that day, Battle Honours ‘MAHARAJPOOR – 1843’ was awarded to the Bengal Sappers and Miners. On the same day another group of Bengal Sappers and Miners won the Battle Honour ‘PUNNIAR – 1843’.

Tally of Battle Honours

Bengal Sappers have been awarded maximum number of Battle Honours among the three Sapper Groups. Their tally of 80 Battle Honours and 11 Theatre Honours remain unmatched among most regiments the world over, barring a few exceptions. This, as against individual acts of gallantry, signified the collective spirit and combat worthiness of the Bengal Sappers.