CHRONICLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN MILITARY IN

Although M ilitary Engineering was well known in ancient, medieval and pre-British India, as evidenced by the innumerable constructions such as forts and moats all over the country, the chronology of these developments has not been established.

The developments during the B ritish period are given below

BRITISH PERIOD

1 671 The first M ilitary Engineer in India was appointed by

the East India , in Bombay, He was

Herman Bake, and was designated "Engineer and Su.y^e.yar'

General” of the Island of Bombay.

1672 The first uniform appeared in Bombay,

1726 Surveyor of Works (possibly the first) appointed in

B o m b a y ,

1750 Appointment of “Engineer ” was created,

1755 Though M ilitary Engineers had taken part in several

campaigns earlier, it was only this year that they were

officially recognised as Combat O fficers, in addition

to being Technical Experts, « ~

1777 Company of Laskers was raised in Bombay,

18 Field Company traces its origin to it and is

possibly the oldest Company of the Corps of Engineers,

1780 Madras Sapers formed at Madras,

1799 "Engineer ” employed at Seringapatam,

1803 The pontoon made its first appearance, inspired by

local boats used by the Mahratta armies,

1818 formed at ,

1820 Bombay Sappers formed,

1831 The term “Corps of Sappers & Miners” first used,

1847 Thomason College of Civil Engineering was established

with a Bengal as its first principal.

1870 First telegraph section was raised by Bengal Sappers,

1885 Battalion Organisation of ”Sa|>pers & Miners” was

abolished. Independent Companies came into being.

Depot Companies in Centres started,

1895 Present seniorities of the Groups decided.

1907 Torpedo designed,

1909 The term "Field Company” came into vogue. Throughout

th e 19th Century, M ilitary Engineers constructed canals,

railw ays, roads, buildings, dams, reservoirs, water

supply schemes, hydro-electric schemes, marine works,

and lighthouses. They surveyed the whole of India, leading to the discovery of Mo\jnt Everest, pioneered

in the field of civil and m ilitary telegraphy and gave

assistance in Archaeology,

1914 Sappers took part in the War in France (Neuve Chapelle t o I 9I 8 Ypres, Loos), Iraq (Kut-al-amara, Ctesiphon, )

Iran, Egypt, Palestine, East Africa and Aden,

1922 Burma Sappers were evolved from Madras Sappers,

1923 The post of Engineer-in-Chief created. The term

"M ilitary Engineering Services" came to be used.

1931 Mechanisation introduced into the Corps of Engineers,

1932 The Corps of Indian Engineers was formed. Training

Battalions were created. Pioneers were disbanded and

absorbed in the Corps,

2/Lieut R,E, Aserappa joined the Corps.

1935 Earthmoving Plant used extensively for the first time

at the Quetta earthquake disaster,

1940 Store Section first formed in E-in-C's Branch,

1941 Mines used by the Corps in Egypt,

1943 First Bailey Assault Bridge constructed by the Corps at

Cassino, , made its first appearance

in Indian Theatre, SDLES prepared,

1939 From one ESD at Lahore, the Corps progressed to ESDs t o 1945 at Calcutta, Bombay (Kurla and Kandivlee), Karachi,

Kankinara, Dehu Road, Avadi, Raipur and W altair, These were territorially divided during partition.

Sappers fought in N. A frica, Sudan, Malaya, Italy,

Burma, Iraq, S 5rria, Persia, and took part

in post-war operations in Malaya, Singapore,

Thailand, French Indo-, Borneo, Celebes, Hong

Kong and Japan, In 19^1, 2/Lieut P.S. Bhagat of

211 Field Company was awarded the first VC, in

connection with the battle of Keren.

I n 1943, Sub Subramaniyam of 11 Field Park Company

won the George Cross.

19^6 Inspectorate of Engineering Stores amalgamated with

Technical Development Establishment (Vehicles) at

Chaklala (now in ),

The chronological record from 19^7 to present day has been arranged under several headings:-

ARMY WORKS

19^-9 Several works in the National Defence Academy were

undertaken.

19^9 Numerous works at the A rtillery Centre, Deolali, to completed, 1960

1951 The College ofMilitary Engineering wasconstructed.

1951 Works at the Armed Forces Medical College, Poona, to completed. 1 9 6 3 1952 Olympic Size swimming pool constructed at the Madras

Engineer Group & Centre.

1952 Married accommodation and library constructed at the t o 1972 Defence Services Staff College.

1956 New Gymnasium constructed at the Army School of

Physical Training,

1956 Several works undertaken at the EME Centre t o 1972 Secunderabad.

1966 Works carried out at the ME School, Baroda t o 1 9 6 9

1971 Several works executed at the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, t o 1973

In addition various works were completed in allthe

stations of all the Commands.

NAVAL WORKS

With the rapid growth of the Navy since independence,

base facilities were concurrently augmented and new bases

established. For this purpose, the Engineers played a vital

role in the expansion of Naval Dock-yards, construction of major

marine works and large scale construction of technical and livin g accommodation, mainly in Jamnagar, Bombay, Goa, Cochin,

Visakhapatnam and Port Blair, These were either directly

executed by the Corps of Engineers or in certain cases through the D irectors General, Naval Dockyard Expansion Schemes,

Bombay and Naval Project, Visakhapatnam to whom engineering personnel and support were provided by the Corps of Engineers.

The total investment in new projects during the last 25 years has been about Rs,120 crores. Living accommodation projects have been carried out at various Naval stations, involving pile fotindations and m ultistoreyed buildings, i I 95O-I 97O Naval Training School at Cochin, built,

1952-1963 INS Valsura, the Navy's new electrical school

c o m p l e t e d .

1954 Naval Dockyard Expansion Schemes started and still

in progress,

1955 Naval Armament Depot at Alwaye, built.

1957-1970 Naval Armament Depot at Karanja as well as a break­

water jetty, constructed.

1965 Naval Project at Visakhapatnam started and in progress,

1966 Naval works in Andaman and Nicobar islands commenced

The construction of a wharf, the Dhanikhari Dam and

water supply scheme and residential and office acco­

mmodation b u ilt,

1970 Sailors Training Establishment Project commenced

i n G o a , A IR FORCE

1948-1950 Bases at , Poona and Kalaikimda constructed.

1957 New Parallel runway at Ambala commenced.

1961 New runway at Pathankot commenced.

1962 Srinagar runway extended.

1963 Awantipur runway developed.

Additional airstrip at Leh made.

1964 SAGW complex at Chandigarh started.

1965 Bhuji airfield developed.

1966 Air Force Academy commenced. Barmer and Jaiselmer

airfields developed.

1969 Remote Receiving Station and W ireless Transmitting

Station at Nagpur constructed,

1970 Udhampur airfield developed.

Numerous works have been done at all Air Force Stations, including extension of runways and office and residential accommodation, DEFENCE PRODUCTION

1963 Directorate of Defence Production formed.

1963 Factory works have been undertaken at , o n w a rd s Bhandara, Itarsi, Chanda, Ambamath, Muradnagar,

Kirkee and Aruvangadu.

Research Development Projects have beenundertaken at

Visakhapatnam, Bangalore, Ahmednagar and Hyderabad,

DGI works have beenvindertaken at Itarsi and Bombay. 35 £ ^^0

ENGINEER PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

1959 liidigenously manufactured compressors introduced

into the Corps,

''960 Indigenously assembled Plant introduced into the

C o r p s .

1962-1965 Explosive methods of mine breaching introduced,

1967 KM Bridge used in the Corps,

1969-71 Lighter, faster-to-make Bridge equipment introduced,

indigenously manufactured,

1971 Mechanical Mine Layer used.

ENGINEER STORES

19^8 Elngineer Sub Park at Pathankot and Engineer Park

at Udhampur established to meet the needs of

Jammu and Kashmir,

1961 Stores support given from Belgaum, to the Goa

operations,

1964 Buffer stock of E and M and water supply items

constituted,

1965 Thousands of tons of Engineer Stores moved to

operational areas from ESDs,

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (ENGINEERS)

1947 Inspectorate disbanded and amalgamated with TDE

(V ehicles), Ahmednagar, with a separate Engineering

W in g. S57

1962 Research and Development Establishment (Engineers),

established in under Lt Col A.C. Aga,

1963 Directorate of Engineering constituted under Brig,

NB Grant, The appointment of -in-Charge

R6

redesignated Director, Later the appointment of

Director v/as upgraded to the rank of , with

the taking over of the establishment by i3rig. M,N.

P a t e l .

1964 Terrain Evaluation Cell formed under Directorate

of Engineering.

1967 Indigenous Production Cell formed under the Directo­

rate of Engineering.

1968 R&D Establishment (Engineers) bifurcated into R&D

(Engineers) and Inspectorate of Engineers. The

Inspectorate of Engineers came under the control

o f D G I.

1969 Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment formed under

the Directorate of Engineering.

1971 Defence Institute of Fire Research placed under the

Administrative Control of the Directorate of

Engine erijng. CANTONMENT PLANNING

To ensure system atic plannljag of new major cantonments and remodelling existing cantonments conforming to modern ideas on town planning, an Army Headquarters planning team was established in June 1964, The team consistgd of a ’Q' and an

'E' component, the former working \mder the QM5,and the latter under the E-in-C. Since 1 April 1959, the establishment of the

Directorate of Cantonment Planning was reduced and included in the overall.1 establishment of the E-in-C s Branch, Brig, Sham- sher Singh was the first head of the planning team.

From 1964 to the present day, the following major cantonments have beenplanned and sanctioned - M issam ari,

Binnaguri, Bengdubi, Chandigarh and Pithoragarh,

In addition, master plans for major cantonments at

Khaprail, Barapani, Alwar, IMA Dehradim, , Gopalpur-on-Sea, and Ranchi have been prepared and partly sanctioned for the first five of them, and work is in progress.

Zonal plans for the following stations have been prepared and finalised : Abhor, Agra, Ambala, Avadi, Babina, Bangalore,

Chilka Lake, Dehu Road, Dinjan, , Gwalior, Gurdaspur,

Jaipur, Jabalpur, Jullundur, Lekhapani, Meerut, Panitola,

Pathankot, Ranchi, and Sevoke Road.

Besides these, 59 zonal plans prepared by Command

Planning teams were scrutinised by the Directorate of Canton­ ment Planning and approved by the QMG. ? . 5 3 BORDER ROADS ORGANISATION % ■i960 Border Roads Organisation constituted with Maj Gen

K.N. Dubey as the DGBR,

The Corps of Engineers, gave vital support to this

new organisation, by giving 16 of its units. Brig.

O.M. Mani, CE Project Tusker (now Vartak) and Brig.

B.P. Wadhera, CE Project Beacon, commenced work in

this organisation. Col K. Ramanathan commenced

work as CE Project Beacon.

1961-1962 Project Dantak and Project Deepak commenced work

with Cols T.V. Jeganathan and S.N. Punj as CEs

Project Sewak was started with Col Naidu as the

CE. Project Chetak started with Lt Col M.Valladeres

as its independent task force ccxnmander.

1962 Srinagar-Leh and Tezpur-Tawong Roads completed.

Border Roads Organisation helped to keep Z ojila Pass

and mountain airfields open and operate ferries,

during the Chinese aggression.

1963 1453 miles of border roads completed.

1964 Help rendered to during an emergency period.

1965 Additional 1900 miles of border roads completed.

Helped the Corps of Engineers in operations against

P a k i s t a n ,

1966 Help rendered in Mizoland during emergency. I; 0. #11

1968 Construction Companies, Road Maintenance Units,

Permanent Works Companies,Formation Cutting Com­

panies and Surfacing Companies constituted.

1970 Border Roads Organisation entered the field of

constructing large scale accommodation. Project

Vivek commenced.

1968 At Tanglanga (17,582 ft), on Leh-Manali Road, the

highest road in the world, built.

1971 Border Roads Organisation helped Ministry of

Rehabilitation. Project Yatrik started in Great

Nicobar Island. Helped the Corps of Engineers in

operations against Pakistan,

ACHIEVEMENTS IN OPERATIONS

1947-1948 Sappers improved Janmu and Srinagar A irfields, Con­

structed bridges on Pathankot-Srinagar, Jammu-Punch

Roads, improved Pathankot-Srinagar, Srinagar-Leh,

Srinagar-U ri, and Jammu-Punch Roads.

Major R.R. Rane won PVC.

1961 OP Vijay - Sappers carried out the construction of

Candiapar Bridge and several other engineering tasks

1965 Sappers and Border Roads Organisation constructed

road to H ajipir Pass, The Uri-Punch road was

reopened after 18 years. 1971 Sappers in the Eastern Theatre of operations, laid

32 Km carpet of 90,000 duckboards. In the Western e theatre, Sappers built bridges on the Ravi, dared

1600 yards of m inefields, laid 60 Km of duckboard

tracks in the Nayachor area, operated railw ays, and

carried out numerous engineering tasks. A 1888 feet

long bridge across Madhumati river was built in

36 h o u r s ,

MILITARY SURVEY

1947 Military Survey Sergice consisted of the following:-

GSGS, AHQ New D elhi, No,3 Field Survey Company,

Dehradun; and Ground Air Survey Liaison Platoon,

P a l am,

19^8 Col R,S, Kalha took over as DD (GSGS), from Col

Ghosmaston, as the first Indian Officer to hold this

appointment. Surveyor General of India to function

as ex-officio Director of M ilitary Survey,

AHQ Siirvey Company raised ,

DD Survey redesignated Dy Dir M ilitary Survey,

1956 Metric System of units applied to M ilitary Survey,

1961 GSGS redesignated Dte of M ilitary Survey and trans­

ferred from GS Branch to E-in-C's Branch,

1962 Five Map Supply depots were raised and attached to

each Corps HQ, Corps Survey Directorate was raised

and placed ih position with IV Corps HQ, 1963 Two Survey Groups were raised, 3 Field Survey Coy

and AHQ Survey Coy were reorganised and enlarged

into No,501 Field Surrey Engineer Group and No,502

Photo Mapping Engineer Group.

Dte of M ilitary Survey transferred back to GS Branch

to function as part of MO D irectorate.

AID TO CIVIL POWER

19^7 Sapper units helped to operate railways for

evacuating refugees, guarded refugee camps and

foot convoys, and helped in the maintenance of

peace at Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Multan,

Dera Ismail Khan and other places in Pakistan.

19^7-1973 Sappers gave aid to civil power during floods,

strikes etc. Engineer troops assisted Ceylon

Government in flood relief in 1958.

Engineers helped in choking the right diversion

of Bhakra Dam, in Oct-Dec 1969.

ORGANISATION & PERSONNELMATTERS

1955t Maj Gen R.E. Aserappa became the first Engineer-in- O ct 15 Chief of the Corps of Engineers, when Maj Gen (Later

Lt Gen) Sir Harold W illiams relihquished office.

1965 Field Units reorganised into . 1968, Mar 1 Office of Engineer-In-Chief upgraded to the rank

of Lt Gen, Lt Gen R.A. Loomba became the first

E-in-C to hold this rank. & CENTRE

INTRODUCTION

The Group had its origin in l7S0when two companies of the Corps of Madras Pioneers were raised at DAWLESHARWAN as part of the , Their main role was seige work, clearance & repair of roads and breaching obstacles. Although in itially this Group was the monopoly of the ’M adrassis*,after

1947, all the states of were represented on a proportionate population basis.

From the two companies raised in 1?80, the Group grew in strength until it stood at about 25000 ih 1971. The details of the growth are given below.

During World War II, a number of battle honours were bestowed on units of this Group in recognition of their services.

On dem obilisation, the strength was reduced to about 9300.

The did not affect this Group as much as it did elsewhere, Indianisation of personnel set in rapidly and at the end of 1948, only three British officers were left, and these also had to leave by 1952,

The three war-time battalions were absorbed into one training battalion which moved into the present location,

Meanee lines, Bangalore from Jalah alli, The Depot Wing, after a -.i-

dem obilisation, shrunk into a battalion, under a M ajor's command. The Boys battalion, much reduced in size, moved into Nilsandra lines.

On 16 February 19^8, Col R.K. Kochhar took over from

Col B.E. Whitman as the first Indian Commandant,

On disbandment of a Transportation Training Centre, in 1947, two Railway units and a Railway Workshop Company came under direct control of this Group, . -jwe troops took part in the J&K operations in 1947 and did very well, and had the distinction of making the then highest tank road in the world.

'The units also took active part in the Hyderabad operations,

A Plant Company of this Group, which had earlier completed a part of the Pathankot - Jammu road, took part in December 1948, in the Assam Rail Link Project in Bengal & Assam,

I n 1949, under the guidance of the Commandant Col R,A.

Loomba, training was reorganised, A bridging & watermanship camp at Nanjangud, about 100 miles from Bangalore, on the banks of river Kabini, was established. Training in watermanship was carried out here from 1950, The Engineer equipment and stores that were left behind on disbandment of units, were sorted out.

Aptitude tests for recruits were introduced. New block pro­ grammes for training in Field Engineering were prepared, and given effect to. In 1950, a Unit Repair Organisation was set up for repairs to machinery and equipment, independent of the regular training. Repairs to pontoons & FBE were brought m der this organisation. A modem printing press was installed.

Scales for spares for equipment were evolved and a spares depot In September 1951> Col Shamsher Singh took over as

Commandant, The Regatta on Ulsoor Lake became an annual feature. An Olympic size swimming pool with a pavilion 150 ft long, was started in November 1952, with a filtration plant, and was completed in April 1954, and opened for training.

In 1954, the Training battalion was reorganised on the basis of two companies, and the parade ground was greatly- enlarged, under the guidance of Lt Col John Henchy who left in 1954 jafter the completion of his tenure of office, Maj

D.N, McGrath left the same year. Ties with the old British

Madras Sappers continued through the Madras Sappers O fficers

Association in UK,

Lt Col T.V. Jeganathan took over as the first Indian

Commanding O fficer of the Training Battalion, He started the

Shikar Club at the Group, A tiger skin of a tiger shot by him in the Shimoga forest, stands mounted in the O fficers’ Mess,

The Centre celebrated the 175th anniversary of its founding, in 1955, enacting the proud moments of the past - the battle of Meanee, the attack on Fort Malkand, and the heroism of Sub Subramaniam which brought him the posthumous award of the George Cross, In 1956 projects for the new

Workshop buildings in the Meanee Lines and married accommoda­ tion for over 250 JCOs and OR were initiated. 'Lt Col Venkatadri took over from Lt Col T.V. Jeganathan, The War Memorial Boys

Hostel was shifted from Nilsandra Lines to the Neanee Lines,

Bangalore. . u^its rendered significant aid to civil power during the floods in River Jamuna, The number of recruits at the training centre during

1957, was 1200. The strength of the recruits rose to2200 at one time and an ad hoc new company in the Training battalion was created. The Boys Company maintained their supremacy in boxing by winning the A ll India Services Boxing Championship for the tenth year in succession.

In 1958, the Training battalion was organised into four companies. In 1959, the Centre HQ was reorganised, with the transfer of some functions from the Group Adjutant to the

Records O fficer, Administrative approval was received for additional accommodation for the Centre, for FE and Workshops,

Stores, Regimental School and quarters for personnel.

a. I n 1960,two HQ Corps ^froops Engineers were raised in

Hebbal at Bangalore, With effect from 15 December I960, the designations of A ssistant Adjutant and A ssistant Commandant were changed into Accounts O fficer and Deputy Commandant, A field Officer was authorised for each of the training companies and also an MT officer for the Centre, Col A.L, Gomes, Col,

O.M, Mani and Col A.L. Kochhar were posted as Commandants % during 1960 in quick succession. The Training battalion included two more companies and also imparted basic training to recruits of the Pioneer Corps, A Field company was sent to

Congo as part of the Indian Brigade Group, UNO forces. Two more field companies were raised at Hebbal, Bangalore.

I n 1962, to cater to increased training commitments, two more Training battalions, II and III were established in Nil- sandra Lines and Baiderhalli Lines, A technical school was I, * k) G) •I U U

Started to improve the standard of selected Sappers for

obtaining certificates in trades, A civilian professor was

appointed to train them for the LME,LCE and LEE examinations of theMadras Government. units in the field earned praise

for their excellent work and many personnel were given awards,

among which may be mentioned the award of Vir Chakra to

L/Nk Raghavan.

I n 1963, the Group strength went up further with the raising of a new Corps Troops Engineers and an Army Troops

Engineer. A ctoema house was built for the Centre. In the

G I F , 152 parties/platoons of a total strength of 8600 persons underwent training, A new scheme for imparting training at various industrial institutes for trades, was put into effect.

In 1964, with the sanction of direct junioi commissions to technically qualified personnel, the Centre filled 50 vacan­

cies and organised courses. The workshop area was extended by

60000 Sq ft and new buildings for the CIW adm inistrative block, shops and class rooms were put up. Six new units were raised. In September 1965, a Railway Engineers (TA) was embodied for service for the entire Group, In I 966, Training battalion II was disbanded, A HQ Bomb Disposal Group was raised.

In 1968, one Engineer which was being raised in Mandalay

Lines, Bangalore, from April I 967 to March 1968, moved away. The

Depot battalion had expanded to about 3000 strong and the appoint­

ment of the OC of the battalion was upgraded to the rankof Lt Col,

It also looked after the welfare activities of the Centre. The

post of OC Record Office was also upgraded to the rank of Lt Col, Regiments and companies of this Group distinguished themselves in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 , and our personnel obtained many awards. Ex-servicemen rallies were conducted during August 1972 and May 1973.

BENGAL ENGINEER':;}ROUP & CENTRE ■ I

With the partition of India in 19^7» many of the field units were lost, especially the No,2 and No,4 Field Companies, who had made their name in the battle of E1-Alamein, There was an acute shortage of officers. At the time of the partition,

Col R.E, Holloway was the Group Commandant, The Royal Pakistan

Engineers were given a major share of the assets from Roorkee,

The Royal Pakistan Engineers were given a major share of the assets from Roorkee. The work of the division of equipment was completed by November 1947. The satellite Engineer Groups raised during the war, at Lahore and at Sfelkot were disbanded and merged with this Group.

An extract from the complimentary letter received from the Commandant Royal Pakistan Engineer Centre, Sialkot, t'o the

Commandant, Royal Engineer Centre Roorkee, is given below

"May I on behalf of all ranks of the R.P.E, v/ho are ex-

Bengal Sappers thank you and all your officers and otherranks for all the help and goodwill we received over the very difficult problem of partition. In particular I would like to thank your Indian O fficers for their loyal cooperation in a task

the burden of which no one knows better than I do, fell most heavily on your Group, n

I feel we may be justly proud that the Corps spirit produced by long association in peace, has enabled this task

to be accomplished without a hitch.

Finally I would like to express officially my gratitude to your two senior JCOs, Sub Maj Chet Narayan Singh and Sub

Maj Kartar Singh, for their never failing support at all tim es.”

The year 19^8 found us all busy in reorganising the Group.

To make up the loss sustained by the O fficers’ Mess, the assets

of the E.O.T.S, Mess, Bangalore were given to this Group, The refugee problem was tackled successfully. Single JCOs quarters were converted into accommodation for refugee fam ilies, A refugee camp was set up in the South Ghazni lin es.

The first Indian Commandant, Col J,S, Dhillon took over

in February 1948, A reunion was held in March 19A-8,when about

100 persons from all over the coxjintry attended in their magni­ ficent uniforms, swords and medals. The Group sports were a l s o h e l d .

To meet the acute shortage of officers, 38 JCOs were granted SSRCs. On 15 August 1948, was celebrated the first

anniversary of Independence, The Engineer-in-Chief Maj Gen H,

W illiams, CBE took the salute at a ceremonial parade.

In the Hyderabad police action, a Field Company from this

Group took a leading part.

I n Jam m u & Kashmir in 1948, the first elements of Sappers

flown in were from units of this Group. H / 1

The Survey Centre was amalgamtited in 1950 and the following State Fd Coys integrated as under :

(a) Tehri Garhwal Fd Coy - in 1950 into 84 Fd Coy with 54 Engineer Regiment.

(b) Sirmoor Fd Coy - in 1950 into 100 Fd Coy with 51 Engr Regiment,

(c) Faridkot Fd Coy - in 1951 into 368 Fd Coy with 51 Engr Regiment.

(d) M alerkotla Fd Coy - in 1951 into 369 Fd Coy with 58 Engr Regiment.

(e) Mandi Fd Coy - in 1952 Fd Coy with 54 Engr Regiment.

From 26 January 1950, Republic Day, this Group came to be known as the , Corps of Engineers, and from 25 February 1961, this designation was changed to HQ

Bengal Engineer Group and Centre.

Since then, units of our Group Centre have taken part in tasks of great national importance, a few of which are men­ tioned below :

(a) Nepal - Took part in the construction of national highways which after running on mountainous terrain

for 75 m iles, Join Nepal with India.

(b) NEFA - Actively participated in developing communications.

(c) Nagaland - Opened up the hills of this area by an intensive network of roads.

(d) Project AMAR - Undertook the major construction works of Projects AMAR I and II. (e) Goa - Played an important role in the liberation of Goa in 1961,

(f) China - India conflict - took part in operations in NEFA and against Chinese forces in I 96I, Air fields were constructed to maintain troops in forward areas throughout the year and to fly in reinforcements and stores. These airfields are situated at the highest landing grounds in the world, of over 17,500 ft. Helipads, roads and shelters were built, and other Engineer tasks executed. Sappers fought side by side with other arms, •

(g) Pakistan Operations, 1965 - Took part in this operation in all the sectors,

(h) Pakistan Operations, 1971 -Almost all Engineer Regiments/ Independent Fd Coys including TA units affiliated to this Group and Centre participated in the operations in Bangladesh, western borders of the Punjab, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir,

BOMBAY ENGINEER GROUP AND CENTRE

Since the raising of its first unit in 1777, the Group has had a colourful history. The activities since 1947 are given below:

COMAND AND TITLE

Col A,P, Nanda became the first Indian Commandant on 7th

F e b r u a r y , 1 9 ^ 8 ,

On declaration of Independence in 1947,the title was changed from "Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners Group” to Bombay

Group, Royal Indian Engineers”. In 19^9, the word “Royal” was dropped and the title changed to ’’, Corps of

Engineers,” This was again changed in I 96O to ”Bombay Engineer

Group and Centre,Corps of Engineers”, ORGANISATION

The strength of the Group was about 25,000 at the end

of World War II, Demobilisation and the partition of the

country reduced this to about 5,500 all ranks. ,tv^ “ P i p e s

and Drums'* and a third ofRegimental assets were trans­

ferred to Pakistan.

With the increased requirements of the Army and in the wake of the Chinese aggression, the strength increased to

about 7,000. In 1965, all the Field Companies/Field Park

Companies were reorganised into regiments. The Indo-Pakistan

conflicts further increasedstrength and today the Group

has about 23,600 all ranks.

RANKS

Col P.S. Bhagat, VC, who took over command on 15 Feb'49,

put the training in the Group on a sound footing. The syllabi were revised and a proper training set-up was organised.

Promotion courses were organised.

To meet the expansion after the 1962 Chinese aggression,

two additional training battalions were raised at Dunkirk

Lines and Dighi Camp, An additional Field Works and Workshop

Wing was opened at Dighi.

It was felt that owing to the peculiar layout of the

Centre, separate and identical establishm ents for FE and Work­

shops at two different locations would not be practicable. As •» » %

s u c h , i n 1969, the Centre was reorganised on a functional

basis. The complete GIF was shifted to Dighi and all FE

training is since then, being carried out at Dighi. The TB

at Dighi conducts the combat training for the Centre. The

Workshop training is at Kirkee though some shops of the CIW

still fimction at Dighi to relieve the heavy load in the

Kirkee complex.

OPERATIONS

In 1947-48 the units of this Group were in the forefront

in the J&K operations. It was at this time that 2/Lt R.R.Rane

of this Group won the PVC. The Group also earned its first post-independence when the battle honour Rajauri was awarded to 37 Field Company of this Group,

The personnel of the Group were actively engaged in Nagaland,

taking up the construction of the communication set-up. During

the Goa operations, units of this Group were employed on various

Engineer tasks. They took part in the operations against the

Chinese in 1962 both in NEFA and Ladakh sectors and gave a very good account of themselves.

AID TO CIVIL POWER

This Group has provided aid to Civil Power when called upon to do so. The major tasks \mdertaken were at the Panshet dam when the d a m was breached; at the Bhakra Nangal dam, and at the Koyna earthquake disaster. SPORTS

Soon after taking over cornmand of the Group, Col P.S,

Bhagat, VC evolved proper methods of training/coaching in the field of sports. The sportsmen of the Group made their presence lelt in various sporting events in the country.

t 'gymnasts have the unique honour of winning the

National Gymnastic Championships without a break for many years. The following deserve special mention - Capt Peter

Beck (A thletics); Subedars Kashyaba Dange and Ghodse (Swimming);

V ithal Deshmukh and Bansode (Hockey); Nb Subs Amrithpal

(A thletics); Bhikaji Bhosle (Gymnastics); Havs Shivaji Bhosle

and Namdeo More (Boxing); Piara Singh (A thletics); and Nks

Uttam Patil and Rumel Singh (W restling).

Major S.S, Uberoi represented the country in the Olympic

Sailing event at Kiel and Major S.S. Sandhu distinguished him self in Golf, being the reigning Services Champion. ti I

A Sapper, Major— later PVSM— T. B. Nanda v.ith “ I'our" Prime Ministers in 1952. h e l p i n g t h e a r m y t o m o v e »9 »

HARD PRESSED FOR TIME

IN WD OF CIVIL POWER Photo I. Trophies for the Upper Burma Horse Show, Mandalay, December 1938. Lady Cochrane, wife of HE the Governor of Burma, officiated at the prize giving ceremony. The show comprised twenty-seven events including registered polo ponies, hacks, Officers chargers, breed classes, opon show jumping and handy hunter competitions.

Photo 2. Corps HQ Madras S&M Hockey Team 1939 :*iDi 1

Young Officers carrying a large box girder panel at Chatham in 1935. In the picture are two future Lieutenant Generals: 2'Lieut. R. K. Kochchai, QVO, Madras Sappers and Miiv'rs (fruPi row left! r Li“iit .! H. S. Bowring (secc;nd row. .lah.'.; ...i.:... i-.ii. tut .. \1 II... ir. ’"Vi ' r-^ Si:c> =:< Qi a: CQ % is zS

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Lieut General JS Dhillon Army Commander, : August 1966 to August 1970 Colonel Commandant: January 1967 to November 1976

Lieut General PS Bhagat, PVSM, KC Army Commander, Central and Northern Commands : 1970 to 1974 Colonel Commandant: March 1971 to 1975 0\

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RESTORING COMMUNICATIONS IN BANGLADESH 0^

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