NORTHERN SECTOR, Mar 19: The 5 Sikh, an elite battalion of Sikh Regiment, highly decorated with 2 Victoria Cross and other high honours, is celebrating centenary of its raising from March 20 to 22 in forward locations of Northern Sector.

Raised at Sialkot (now in Pakistan) on December 21, 1901 by Lt Col P G Walker alongwith a team of officers drawn from different Infantry Regiments of the Indian Army, it was designated as 47 Sikh, which later became 5 Sikh in 1922.

While narrating the glorious history of 5 Sikh, Col Pardeep Kumar, Commanding Officer said that this battalion has taken part in different campaigns abroad during pre-Independence era, earning a series of the highest awards in operations, including 2 Victoria Cross (now equivalent to Param Vir Chakra), a rare honour for any Infantry unit of the indian Army. he said since its raising it has produced 14 Generals, a number of them will be attending who include Major General P R Davies (Retd), MC, OBE and other officers of the British Army.

The battalion participated in first campaign in North China to quell the Boxer's revolution. It was later inducted in World war I at Neuve Chappel in France, among the first infantry units of the Indian Army to participate in war. The unit's personnel fought fiercely spear-heading the assault on the adversaries. Only 68 brave Sikhs were left and others made supreme sacrifice but vanquished the strongly held feature by the opponents. The first Military Cross World War 1 was conferred on Subedar Thakur Singh, who although severely wounded, continued the assault.

British Parliament specially commended the valour of the unit while paying tributes to martyrs. The Battalion again re-grouped and fought in France, Mesopotamia and Palestine where it earned Battle Honours and a huge number of other awards, as well as, was conferred title of a Royal Colonel-in-Chief (Duke of Connought's Own) in recognition of its fighting spirits, the only unit in the Indian Army to be so recognized.

In 1936, the second phase of Indianization, the first batch of officers was commissioned from from the newly established Indian Military Academy with the first officer 2nd Lt Dewan Ranjit Rai, who later commanded Ist Sikh Battalion which was the first Indian Battalion to be air-lifted for defence of Kashmir. Lt Col D R Rai laid down his life in defence of Kashmir. For his gallantry, he was conferred Maha Vir Chakra, the first of the Indian Army.

Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh, who in 1965 Indo-Pak war was Army Commander Western Command and decimated the famed Pakistan Armoured Division, was awarded Padam Bhushan and Vir Chakra for his services in defence of the Nation.

At the out-break of World war-II, the battalion badly mauled the Afgans in Waziristan operations and later it sailed to Malasia where it acquitted itself creditably in operations earning a huge tally of awards for bravery. First Victoria Cross was earned by Sepoy (later Captain) Ishar Singh in World War-I and second by Naik (Later Honorary Captain) Gian Singh, in World War-II.

At the out-break of 1971 Indo-Pak war, the Battalion was deployed at Jaurian in Jammu sector, where it bore the brunt of Pakistani assault but it bravely stood to its ground The Battalion withstood five full fledged Pakistani attacks over three days. Maj D S Pannu, Capt Kamal Bakshi, one JCO and 38 other ranks made the supreme sacrifice while one officer, two JCOs and 32 other ranks were injured. For their bravery, courage, determination and selfless heroism, Lt Col (Later Maj General) P K Khanna and Major (Later Lt Colonel) Jaivir Singh were awarded Mahavir Chakra, while late Major D S Pannu and Sepoy (later Subedar and Hony Captain) Rachpal Singh were conferred Vir Chakras. Late Capt Kamal Bakshi, Subedar Narain Singh and Havildar Mohinder Singh were Mentioned in Despatches. The Battalion also earned Theatre Honours.

A memorial and granite rocks was constructed by the battalion in Jaurian, in Jammu sector where Major D S Pannu alongwith his men made supreme sacrifice.

The Pakistan Defence Journal, in an article on the Battle of Chhamb states "If the Indian Commander knew full details of what was coming for him on the morning of December 5, 1971, he can rightly congratulate the Commanding Officer of 5 Sikh, who held Mandiala that day with such grit and determination".

The Battalion has meritorious record in sports and adventure events.

Numerous functions have been planned during the three day celebrations where a large number of high dignitaries of the battalion, the Sikh Regiment and ex-service men will participate. Colonel of the Regiment, Maj Gen S S Chhehal will preside over and address the gatherings.