Fifth Battalion of Gorkha Rifles celebrates platinum jubilee

The Fifth Battalion of Gorkha Rifles, which has taken part in the World War II, celebrated its platinum jubilee today with much fanfare at the Jaipur Military Station in presence of Army chief General Dalbir Singh and many serving and veteran officers.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief of the Army Staff, who also belongs to the Gorkha Regiment, said the Battalion is one of the finest infantry units of the Army and that the present generation of officers and jawans should continue to draw inspiration from the glorious past of the Regiment.
He exhorted all ranks to continue to excel and face new challenges in the fast changing security environment with fortitude and in true military traditions.

The Battalion was raised on October 1 1940 as 3/6 Gorkha Rifles and was redesignated as 5/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) on January, 1948. The Battalion has fought in the World War II, and India-Pakistan Wars of 1948, 1965 and 1971.
The unit has the singular honour of being awarded two Victoria Crosses (Pre-Independence, equivalent of Param Vir Chakra) in a single night of operations. They were also awarded the first Ashok Chakra Class-I of India.
With two VCs, one Ashok Chakra, one Kirti Chakra, three Vir Chakras, five Shaurya Chakras and 15 Sena Medals, the Regiment has 213 names of its soldiers etched in golden letters for their supreme sacrifice.

General Singh also visited the headquarters of South Western Command at Jaipur and took stock of operational preparedness and appreciated the measures undertaken by the Command to maintain optimal operational readiness and training of the formations under it.