NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, OCT 26
A solemn and befitting War Memorial Service marked the 75th Infantry Day on Tuesday at the Wellington Military Station (WMS) in Nilgiris District in Tamil Nadu.
The service was held at the Madras Regiment War Memorial, the monolith structure built in 1950 to honour the supreme sacrifices of the Thambis of the regiment in in fighting the Pakistani raiders in Jammu & Kashmir in 1947, an official release said.
Lieutenant General MJS Kahlon, Aide-De-Camp, Commandant Defence Service Staff College, Wellington along with Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu (Retired), the senior most veteran in the military station laid the wreath at Madras Regimental War Memorial at Wellington in remembrance and gratitude towards all members of the Infantry fraternity who made the supreme sacrifice for the honour and safety of our Nation.
October 27 is celebrated as Infantry Day by the Indian Army as it was on this day that an Infantry Company of the First Battalion of the SIKH Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Kashmir from the invading tribes who were supported by Pakistan Army. This action was ordered after Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, acceding Jammu & Kashmir to India.
In his message Lieutenant General MJS Kahlon complemented the infantrymen for their devotion towards duty and indomitable spirit while working in a trying and uncongenial environment. He also acknowledged the tremendous contribution of the Infantry in maintaining the sanctity of the nation’s borders. Infantry, also popularly known as the “Queen of Battle” is the backbone of the Indian Army. Operations in 1947 bear a testament to the perseverance of Infantrymen as it was entirely an infantry centric operation.
