4th Bombay Grenadiers
| 4th Bombay Grenadiers | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1922 - 1947 |
| Country | British India |
| Branch | Indian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
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.[1] Following this, the Regiment spent the next fifteen years serving in the British Somaliland protectorate in present-day northwestern Somalia, 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.[1] 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:
- 1st Battalion - Formerly the 101st Grenadiers.
- 2nd Battalion - Formerly the 102nd King Edward's Own Grenadiers
- 3rd Battalion - Formerly the 108th Infantry
- 4th Battalion - Formerly the 109th Infantry
- 5th Battalion - Formerly the 112th Infantry
- 10th (Training) Battalion - Formerly the 113th Infantry
Second World War
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.[2] 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:
- 1/4th Battalion, 252nd Indian Armoured Brigade, 31st Indian Armoured Division
- 2/4th Battalion, 50th Indian Tank Brigade
- 3/4th Battalion, 254th Indian Tank Brigade
- 4/4th Battalion, 255th Indian Tank Brigade