The Jat Regiment 

The Jat Regiment is one of the longest serving and most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment has won 19 battle honours between 1839 to 1947 and post independence 5 battle honours, eight Mahavir Chakra, eight Kirti Chakra, 32 Shaurya Chakras, 39 Vir Chakras and 170 Sena medals.

The Regiment claims its origins from the Calcutta Native Militia raised in 1795, which later became an infantry battalion of the Bengal Army. After 1860, there was a substantial increase in the recruitment of Jats in the Indian Army, however the Class Regiment, The Jats, was initially created as infantry units in 1897 from old battalions of the Bengal Army. The first Battalion was raised in 1803 at Fateh-garh as 1/22 Bengal Native Infantry, later redesignated as 1/9 Jat Regiment. The Battalion was bestowed the title "Light Infantry" in recognition of its epic march from Kabul to Kandahar in 1842. In January 1922, at the time of the grouping of the Class Regiments of the Indian Army, the IX Jat Regiment was formed by bringing under a single regiment, four active and one training battalion.

During the First Afghan War, First and Second Battalions performed very meritorious actions for which the Battle Honours "Ghuznee", "Afghanistan", "Kandahar" and "Kabul" were conferred on the Regiment. It was the first Battalion, which brought back the Golden Gates of Somnath Temple from Ghuznee. Between the period 1864 and 1880, the three Battalions of the Regiment fought gallantly in various theatres and earned the battle honours "Afghanistan", "Kandahar", "Burma" and "China.

During the World War 1, the First Battalion served in France, Mesopotamia and North West Frontier. During World War-II it served in Burma and Malaya. The Second was overrun by the Japanese during the fall of Singapore in 1942. It was later reconstituted in 1946. The Third Battalion fought the famous "Battle of Cauldron" against the German Forces under Field Marshal Rommel. It saw action at Imphal in 1943 and Jamadar Abdul Hafiz was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Later it also served in Java where Havildar Abdul Rehman was posthumously awarded the George Cross. The 5th, 6th and the Machinegun Battalions did commendable work during World War II in Burma. L/NK Islamuddin of 6 Jat was awarded the George Cross at Meiktila.

Since Independence the Regiment has been awarded 3 PVSMS, 1 AVSM, 7 MVCS, 4 KCs, 32 Vir Chakras, 9 SCs and 29 Sena Medals besides numerous COAS's Commendation Cards. 

The Twelfth, Fifteenth and Nineteenth Battalions of the Regiment raised on 6 Feb '70, 15 May '76 and 1 Aug '80 respectively have the honour of being presented Colours on 16 Feb '83 at Bareilly by the Chief of the Army Staff, General K V Krishna Rao, PVSM. The battle cry, adopted in 1955 is, "जाट बलवान जय भगवान (Jāt Balwān Jai Bhagwān), meaning the "Jat is Powerful, Victory be to God."

Jemadar Abdul Hafiz, VC (posthumous), 9 Jat

 
A stamp honouring Jat Regt