The Maratha Light Infantry is a

light infantry Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

of the

Indian Army The Indian Army (IA) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Land warfare, land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head ...

. It traces its lineage to the Bombay Sepoys, raised in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment in the Indian Army.

Recruitment

The class composition of the regiment was and is primarily formed by

Maratha The Marathi people (; Marathi: , ''Marāṭhī lōk'') or Marathis (Marathi: मराठी, ''Marāṭhī'') are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who are native to Maharashtra in western India. They natively speak Marathi, an Indo-A ...

recruits from the former

Maratha Empire The Maratha Empire, also referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, was an early modern India, early modern polity in the Indian subcontinent. It comprised the realms of the Peshwa and four major independent List of Maratha dynasties and states, Ma ...

. The men were mostly drawn from all over the state of

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

, with some percentage from Marathi-speaking areas of

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

including Coorg. As of 2000, the recruitment pattern is as follows– * Marathas – 86% * Mysurians – 4.16% * Muslims of

South India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...

– 4.16% * All classes from

, Goa,

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...

Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (; ; ) is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and the largest city is Indore, Indore. Other major cities includes Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sagar. Madhya Pradesh is the List of states and union te ...

, without any fixed percentage – 5.55%. Tradesmen (clerk, sweeper, barber etc.) are recruited from all Indian classes.

History

Pre-independence

The

Maratha Confederacy The Maratha Empire, also referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, was an early modern polity in the Indian subcontinent. It comprised the realms of the Peshwa and four major independent Maratha states under the nominal leadership of the former. ...

was a potent force in India from the 17th to 19th centuries. Their military qualities were brilliantly optimised in their historical campaigns against the

Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire was an Early modern period, early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to ...

under the leadership of the Chhatrapati Shivaji and succeeding Maratha rulers. Maratha armies, comprising both infantry and light cavalry, and the Maratha Navy had dominated the military scene in India for three centuries. The 1st battalion of the regiment, known as ''Jangi Paltan'' ("the fighting unit"), was raised in August 1768 as the 2nd Battalion, Bombay Sepoys, to protect the

British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...

's possessions on the islands of

Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...

. The second battalion known as '' Kali Panchwin'' followed the next year as the 3rd Battalion, Bombay Sepoys. These two battalions were at the forefront of virtually every major engagement fought on the west coast from

Surat Surat (Gujarati Language, Gujarati: ) is a city in the western Indian States and territories of India, state of Gujarat. The word Surat directly translates to ''face'' in Urdu, Gujarati language, Gujarati and Hindi. Located on the banks of t ...

to Cannanore during the last quarter of the 18th century. Prominent amongst these were the historic battles of Seedaseer and Seringapatam, where in the words of Richard Wellesley their ''conduct and success were seldom equalled and never surpassed''. The turn of the 19th century was witness to the expansion of the regimental group with the raising of the 3rd battalion as the 2nd battalion, 5th (

Travancore The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...

) Regiment of the Bombay Native Infantry in 1797. The Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre was raised in March 1800 as the 2nd battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry; the 4th battalion in April 1800 as the 2nd battalion, 8th Regiment Bombay Infantry and the 5th battalion from the Bombay Fencibles as the 1st battalion, 9th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in December 1800. In the second half of the 19th century, the battalions fought in various campaigns from the Middle East to China. In recognition of the gallant conduct of its detachments at the siege of Kahun and the defence of Dadar, in Baluch territory during the First Anglo-Afghan War in 1841, the ''Kali Panchwin'' was created Light Infantry. Later, this honour was also bestowed on the 3rd and 10th Regiments of the Bombay Infantry (present 1st battalion, Maratha Light Infantry and 2nd battalion, Parachute Regiment respectively) for their gallantry in Sir Robert Napier's Abyssinian Campaign of 1867–1868. The regiment assumed the title 5th Mahratta Light Infantry 1922. Three Maratha battalions distinguished themselves during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

(1914–1918) in the long drawn-out Mesopotamia campaign. The 117th Mahrattas (present 5th battalion, Maratha Light Infantry) was made into a Royal battalion for its conspicuously distinctive service during its campaign in

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is a historical region of West Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia is known as present-day Iraq and forms the eastern geographic boundary of ...

, particularly in the events leading to enemy capitulation after the bitter 146-day siege at Kut-el-Amara. The battalion was mostly composed of Marathas from the Khandesh region and Nashik district. For some unclear reasons even after winning, the regiment did not return to India. The 114th Mahrattas (present Regimental Centre) was awarded 28 gallantry awards for their performance in the battle of Sharquat, the highest earned by any unit in a single action. The other Maratha battalions, namely the 105th Mahratta Light Infantry, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry and 116th Mahrattas also acquitted themselves in Palestine and Mesopotamia. The 105th lost its commanding officer in action (Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Richard Inglis Chitty at the battle of Jebel Hamrin, 1917). The Second World War saw the Marathas at the forefront in almost every theatre of operations from the jungles of Southeast Asia to the deserts of

North Africa North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...

, and the mountains and rivers of Italy. The war also saw the expansion of the regiment when thirteen new war service battalions were raised. Most of these were later demobilised after the war, whilst two were converted into artillery regiments. During the war Naik Yeshwant Ghadge and Sepoy Namdeo Jadhav were decorated with the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

in the Italian campaign, while 130 other decorations were awarded to the regiment. The following battalions saw action during the war – * East Africa – 2/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry * Italy – 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 5/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, * Iraq and Persia – 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 5/5th Mahratta Light Infantry * North Africa – 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry * Burma – 4/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 6/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 17/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, * Java – 4/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 6/5th Mahratta Light Infantry,

Post-independence

Indian independence saw the regiment reverted to the original five battalions, with the 3rd Maratha Light Infantry converting to the airborne role and becoming the 2nd battalion, Parachute Regiment in April 1952. With the integration of the erstwhile princely states, the 19th, 20th, 22nd battalions were amalgamated, from the state forces of Satara,

Kolhapur Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Kolhapur is one of the most significant cities in South Maharashtra and has been a hub of historical, religious, and cultural a ...

, Baroda, and

Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...

, with the regiment. The expansion of the Indian Army to meet the omnipresent threat to its borders has seen the regiment grow to its present strength of 18 regular battalions and two Territorial Army battalions whilst the period also saw the conversion of the 21st battalion into the 21st battalion, Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and the 115 Infantry Battalion (TA) being transferred to the Mahar Regiment. Since independence, battalions of the Maratha Light Infantry have taken part in every Indian armed conflict — the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, the Annexation of Junagadh, the Annexation of Hyderabad, the

Annexation of Goa The Annexation of Goa was the process in which the India, Republic of India annexed the Portuguese State of India, the then Portuguese Indian territories of Goa, Daman and Diu, starting with the armed action carried out by the Indian Armed ...

, the Sino-Indian War, the Indo-Pakistani wars of

1965 Events January–February * January 14 – The First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lynd ...

and

1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses (Solar eclipse of February 25, 1971, February 25, Solar eclipse of July 22, 1971, July 22 and Solar eclipse of August 20, 1971, August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 1971 lunar eclip ...

, against the Chinese on the

Sikkim Sikkim ( ; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Koshi Province of Nepal in the west, and West Bengal in the ...

watershed in 1956, Operation Pawan, the ongoing operations on the

Siachen Glacier The Siachen Glacier is a glacier located in the eastern Karakoram range of the Himalayas, just northeast of the point NJ9842 where the Line of Control between India and Pakistan ends in northeastern Kashmir. At long, it is the longest glaci ...

and in numerous counter insurgency operations.

Units

The Maratha Light Infantry consists of the following battalions -

Affiliated units

The following units are affiliated to the regiment – * 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) * 21st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) * 10th Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment * 34 Field Regiment, Regiment of Artillery * 36 Medium Regiment (Self Propelled), Regiment of Artillery * INS Mumbai, Indian Navy * No. 20 Squadron, Indian Air Force * Indian Coast Guard Air Station, Daman and Diu

Regimental Centre

The regimental centre has been in

Belgaum Belgaum (Kannada ISO 15919, ISO: ''Bēḷagāma'', ), officially known as Belagavi (also Belgaon), is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka located near its northern western border in the Western Ghats. It is the administrative headquarters ...

, Karnataka, since 1922, which was part of the Bombay Presidency at that time. The centre's history comes from the conversion of the 114th Mahrattas to the 10th (Training) Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry. This unit itself traces its origins to 1800 when it was raised as the 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry.

Battle slogan

The

battle cry A battle cry or war cry is a yell or chant taken up in battle, usually by members of the same combatant group. Battle cries are not necessarily articulate (e.g. "Eulaliaaaa!", "Alala"..), although they often aim to invoke patriotic or religio ...

of Maratha Light Infantry is बोला श्री छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज की जय (''"Bola Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai (Say Victory to King Chhatrapati Shivaji)"''). It replaced the battle cry – ''Har Har Mahadev (Victory To Lord Shiva)'' during the Second World War.

Marching style

The soldiers of Maratha Light Infantry have a quick march speed of 140 steps in a minute, while a standard pace for a quick march is 120 beats per minute with a 30-inch step. The regiment has won the best marching contingent twice at the Republic Day parade. On the occasion of the 221st

Bastille The Bastille (, ) was a fortress in Paris, known as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. It was stormed by a ...

day celebrations, a unit from the Maratha Light Infantry led the parade on the Parisian boulevard of Champs-Élysées on 14 July 2009, when the then Indian Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh Manmohan Singh (26 September 1932 – 26 December 2024) was an Indian economist, bureaucrat, academician, and statesman, who served as the prime minister of India from 2004 to 2014. He was the fourth longest-serving prime minister after Jaw ...

was the guest of honour of the ceremony. 14MARATHAJawan

Regimental insignia

The regimental insignia consists of a bugle and cords with a pair of crossed swords and a shield, mounted by the Lion Capital of Ashoka. The bugle represents the light infantry mode of combat by skirmishers, controlled by orders issued on the bugles.

Uniform

The uniform consists of a green beret (common to all infantry units in India), which has the regimental crest and a red and green hackle. The two-coloured hackle has a history. During 1788, the Bombay Army was reorganised into the 1st and 2nd Brigades. Red plumes adorned the headgear of the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Brigade. The Marathas and the 1st Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry fought alongside each other in the Mesopotamia war as part of the same brigade. The British Army Light Infantry regiments wore green hackles during this time. As a symbol of this association, the green portion was added to the red, thus forming the present red and green hackle. The working dress does not have the hackle. The Regiment initially had a unique lanyard around the neck with ends in both front pockets. This was changed to the standard lanyard in 2002. This green lanyard is worn on the left shoulder. The exception is the 5th Battalion of the regiment, which wears a blue lanyard on the right shoulder, as an honour for the title "Royal", for its outstanding operations in Mesopotamia in World War I. The rank epaulettes consist of the words MARATHI LI in capitals. In ceremonial dress, the regimental crest is present in addition to the regimental title.

Regimental colours

Till the First World War, each unit had its own colours. In 1922, with the creation of the Maratha Group, the Red, Black, and Grey colours of the 114 Marathas (which became the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre) were adopted as the regimental colours.

Battle honours

The regiment has 56 battle honours to its credit, 14 predating the World War I and spanning wars in Afghanistan, China, Burma and British East Africa. The list of battle honours is evidence to the long history and valour of the regiment. Some of these honours have been declared repugnant after the independence of the country. Pre-independence *

Mysore Mysore ( ), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Mysore district and Mysore division. As the traditional seat of the Wadiyar dynasty, the city functioned as the capital of the ...

* Seedaseer * Seringapatam * Beni Boo Alli * Kahun * Mooltan * Goojerat * Punjaub *

Central India Central India refers to a geographical region of India that generally includes the states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The Central Zonal Council, established by the Government of India, includes these states as well as Uttar Prades ...

* China 1860–62 * Abyssinia * Afghanistan 1879–80 * Burma 1885–87 * British East Africa 1901 *

Basra Basra () is a port city in Iraq, southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the List of largest cities of Iraq, third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq bor ...

* Shaiba *

Ctesiphon Ctesiphon ( ; , ''Tyspwn'' or ''Tysfwn''; ; , ; Thomas A. Carlson et al., “Ctesiphon — ܩܛܝܣܦܘܢ ” in The Syriac Gazetteer last modified July 28, 2014, http://syriaca.org/place/58.) was an ancient city in modern Iraq, on the eastern ba ...

* Kut al Amara 1915 * N.W. Frontier, India 1914–15 '17 *

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

* Megiddo *

Sharon Sharon ( 'plain'), also spelled Saron, is a given name as well as a Hebrew name. In Anglosphere, English-speaking areas, Sharon is now predominantly a feminine given name, but historically it was also used as a masculine given name. In Israel, ...

Nablus Nablus ( ; , ) is a State of Palestine, Palestinian city in the West Bank, located approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 156,906. Located between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a ...

* Palestine 1918 * Sharqat * Mesopotamia 1914–18 *

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

* Afghanistan 1919 *

Siege of Tobruk The siege of Tobruk () took place between 10 April and 27 November 1941, during the Western Desert campaign (1940–1943) of the World War II, Second World War. An Allies of World War II, Allied force, consisting mostly of the 9th Division ...

* Sangro * Tengnoupal * Shangshak * Gothic Line * Ru-Wya * Senio Post-independence * Naushera (1948) * Jhangar (1948) * Burki (1965) * Hussainiwala (1965) * Jamalpur (1971) * Burj (1971) * Suadih (1971)

Gallantry awards

Pre-independence

;

* Naik Yeshwant Ghadge * Sepoy Namdeo Jadav ; Companion of the Order of the Bath * Lieutenant Colonel Walter Henry Brown ; Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George * Colonel George Stanley Frazer ; Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire * Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Holroyd Bridges, 116th Mahrattas * Major Edward George Hall, 117th Mahrattas ; Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire * Lieutenant Colonel Charles Edmund Hunter Wintle, 114th Mahrattas * Major Wilkinson Dent, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry ;

Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a Military awards and decorations, military award of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, awarded for operational gallantry for highly successful ...

* Lieutenant Colonel Charles Edmund Hunter Wintle, 114th Mahrattas * Captain Arthur Irons Sargon, 114th Mahrattas * Major Roger Cochrane Wilson, 114th Mahrattas * Major James Ainsworth Yates, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry * Captain Wilkinson Dent, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry * Captain Hubert Winthrop Young, 116th Mahrattas * Second Lieutenant Cyril Vincent Heron-Jones, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry ;

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

* Captain William Burgess Benton. 105th Mahratta Light Infantry * Captain Kenneth Edward Cooper, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry * Captain Charles Aubrey Pogson, 117th Mahrattas * Captain Arthur Wilfred White, 117th Mahrattas * Captain Douglas Kerr Joseph Chisholm, 114th, attd. 116th Mahrattas * Second Lieutenant Cyril Vincent Heron-Jones, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry * Jemadar Dattairao Khanvilkar, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry * Subedar Dhanjirao Khanvilkar, 114th Mahrattas * Jemadar Keshao Talekar, 114th Mahrattas * Subedar Sakhram Powar, 114th Mahrattas * Jemadar Sitaram Sellar, 117th Mahrattas ; Order of British India * Subedar Illiasdar Khan, Subedar Eshwant Rao Bhosle, Subedar Shaikh Abdul Kader, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry * Subedar Major Shaikh Yasin, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry * Subedar Major Mahadeorao Khanvilkar, Subedar Shaikh Ahmed, Subedar Vishnu Narvekar, 114th Mahrattas * Subedar Sakharam Rao Jagtap, Subedar Major Balwant Rao Sawant, Subedar Vittal Chande, 117th Mahrattas ; Indian Order of Merit * Subedar Chimaji Garud, Naik Dyanu Bhosle, Private Gopal Rao Mahamunka, 105th Mahratta Light Infantry * Lance Naik Haider Beg, Lance Naik Bhan Savant, Lance Naik Sakaram More, Sepoy Hari Sawant, Sepoy Laxuman Joth, Subedar Ramchandra Hase, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry * Subadar-Major Mahodeorao Khanvilkar, Subedar Ramchandar Bhosle, Company Havildar Major Manbarao Bhosle, Havildar Raghonath More, Havildar Shaijira Sinde, Naik Rahm Khan, 114th Mahrattas * Private Raja Ram Barge, Private Dianu Shinde, Subedar Murari Sinde, Subedar Vishram Rao Chowan, 116th Mahrattas * Havildar Jairam Dalvi, Havildar Vithu Kadam, Subedar-Major Balwant Rao Sawant, Subedar Mahadeorao Nalaode, Jemadar Yenkatrao Kadam, 117th Mahrattas ; Indian Distinguished Service Medal * World War I – 19 medals (103rd Mahratta Light Infantry), 8 medals (105th Mahratta Light Infantry), 9 medals (110th Mahratta Light Infantry), 15 medals (114th Mahrattas), 7 medals (116th Mahrattas), 18 (117th Mahrattas) ; Indian Meritorious Service Medal * World War I – 12 medals (103rd Mahratta Light Infantry), 46 medals (105th Mahratta Light Infantry), 9 medals (110th Mahratta Light Infantry), 5 medals (114th Mahrattas), 4 medals (116th Mahrattas), 7 (117th Mahrattas) ; Croix De Guerre (French) * Subedar and Honorary Lieutenant Bapurao Gaekwad, Subedar-Major Hyasdar Khan, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry * Subedar-Major Balwant Rao Sawant, Subedar-Major Mahadeorao Malande, 117th Mahrattas ; Croix de guerre (Belgium) * Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Holroyd Bridges ; Médaille militaire (French) * Havildar Abajirao Kadam, 117th Mahrattas ;Bronze medal for military valour (Italian) * Sepoy Shaikh Adam, 114th Mahrattas ; Order of Karageorge, 4th Class (with Swords) * Major Percy Macclesfield Heath * Captain Edward George Hall ; Officer of the Order of the Crown of Romania * Captain Richard Outram Chamier, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry ;Order of El Nahda, 3rd Class (

Kingdom of Hejaz The Hashemite Kingdom of Hejaz (, ''Al-Mamlakah al-Ḥijāziyyah Al-Hāshimiyyah'') was a state in the Hejaz region of Western Asia that included the western portion of the Arabian Peninsula that was ruled by the Hashemite dynasty. It was self ...

) * Captain Hubert Winthrop Young, 116th Mahrattas ; Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire * Captain Douglas Stuart, 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry ; Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire * Captain Herbert Hanna, 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry ;

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

* Captain Frank Howard Cotterill, 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry * Jemadar Raghunathrao Kadam, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry ;Distinguished Service Order * Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Noel Ford * Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Ross, 1/103rd Mahratta Light Infantry ;Military Cross * Lieutenant Thomas Robson Waller * Lieutenant Edward Samuel Storey-Cooper, 114th Mahrattas ; Albert Medal * Captain George Hubert Bland, 105th Mahratta Light Infantry ;Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire * Brigadier DW Reid * Brigadier (temporary) John Arthur Mellsop * Brigadier (temporary) Ian Connail Anthos Lauder ;Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire * Colonel TH Boss * Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur John Millard Wilton * Lieutenant-Colonel (temp) Stephen Craine Goulden Bach ;Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire * Major (temp.) Alfred Godfrey Hicks * Captain (temp.) Dudley Owen Scolfield * Captain (temp.) Ronald Ivor Webb ;Distinguished Service Order * Lieutenant Colonel DW Reid * Lieutenant Colonel MP Lancaster * Lieutenant-Colonel (temp.) Ian Connaill Athos Lauder * Major AE Cocksedge * Major (temporary) Paul Garbutt Unfreville Hardy * Captain William Miller Mackay ;Military Cross * Major (temp) Nalinkumar Dhirrajlal Nanavati * Major (temp) Richard Radcliffe * Major (temp.) Paul Henderson Chase * Major (temp.) Noel James Millington Pettengell * Captain (temp. Major) Raymond Denis Teall * Captain (temp. Major) James Robert Charles Lawrence * Captain (temp. Major) Niall Vincent Holland * Captain (temp. Major) William Miller Mackay * Captain PMW Doyle * Captain John Alan d'lssa-Boomgardt * Captain AJ Oldham * Captain Harold Stanley Richmond * Lieutenant Padamsing Thapa * Lieutenant Ashley Fletcher Story Wilson * Lieutenant John Harford Powell * Subedar Nanasahib Surve * Subedar Shrirang Lawand * Subedar Ganpatrao Patil * Subedar Khandu Dalvi * Subedar Ramchander Shinde * Subedar Shripat Vishwasrao * Subedar Mohammad Umar * Subedar Dhakojirao Shinde * Jemadar Laxuman Desai * Jemadar Baburao Khanvilkar * Jemadar Jairam Mahadik * Jemadar Eknath Kaple * Jemadar Sitaram Maske * Jemadar Tukaram Parab ;Indian Order of Merit * Subedar Major Raojirao Shinde, Subedar Vishwamber Ghadge, Jemadar Sakaram Shinde, Havildar Maruti Chawan, Havildar Pandurang Kadam, Havildar Venkat Chawan, Naik Vishnu Mane, Naik Rajaram Sawant, Naik Dyanu Chawan, Sepoy Pandurang Powar, Babu Gaikwad, Lance-Naik Shivram Shinde, Sepoy Pandurang Tawde, Havildar Jaising Sawant, Naik Vithoba Jadhao, Jemadar Videy Prakash Misra, Sepoy Babaji Desai, Jemadar Sakharan Shinde ; Indian Distinguished Service Medal * Subedar Pandurang Chauhan, Naik Bala Kharade, Naik Sibaram Mhaske, Naik Baba Sahib Ingle, Sepoy Babu Desai, Sepoy Laku Jadhao, Havildar Bapu Jadhao, Havildar Baji Nalaode, Havildar Narayan Shirole, Havildar Narayan Naikwade, Havildar Ganpat Chawan, Havildar Yeshwant Jadhao, Havildar Maruti More, Naik Narayan Surwase, Lance-Naik Sidu Jadhao, Lance-Naik Maruti Shinde, Lance-Naik Dawlat Powar, Lance-Naik Vishnu Kohate, Sepoy Balu Powar, Sepoy Haibati Sawant, Sepoy Maruti Falke, Havildar Raj Aram Ghag, Lance-Havildar Ganesh Naik, Naik Balu Nikam, Lance-Naik Krishna Jagtap, Lance-Naik Newarti Nimbalkar, Company Havildar-Major Ganpat Bhosle, Naik Wastjdeo Sawant, Havildar Ganpat Kale, Lance-Naik Narayan Shinde, Sepoy Haibat Jadhao, Lance-Havildar Tukaram Jadhaol, Naik Krishna Shellar, Havildar Shankar Fartare, Havildar Daji Jadbao, Naik Laxuman Shinde ;

Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the British Armed Forces, armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth countries, below commissioned o ...

* Havildar Laxuman Sattam, Lance-Havildar Yeshwant Mane, Naik Ganpat Bhise, Naik Raghunath Salunke, Naik Yesu Jadhao, Lance-Havildar Dyanu Bhosle, Naik Ramchandra Ghadge, Lance-Naik Sitaram Jadhao, Naik Krishna Yururker, Lance-Naik Eshwara Kadam, Lance-Naik Krishna Mohite, Sepoy Jagu Autade, Sepoy Jaisingh More, Sepoy Kashiram Chawan, Sepoy Vishru Bhosle, Havildar Parshram Powar, Naik Jairam More, Naik Nathu Dhanaode, Naik Tukaram Chawan, Lance-Naik Keshao Surve, Sepoy Ramu Powar, Company Havildar-Major Baba Nikam, Naik Hari Kadam, Lance-Naik Krishna Sawant, Naik Parsuram Kadam, Naik Radhu Waman, Lance-Naik Chimaji More, Lance-Naik Govind Chawan, Lance-Naik Soma Mahajik, Sepoy Tukaram Nalawde, Naik Govind Dalvi, Naik Narayan Parab, Lance-Naik Dhanaji Khanvilikar, Sepoy Babu More, Sepoy Ramchandra Jadhao, Sepoy Shankar Sagwekar, Naik Dyanu Nale, Naik Tukaram Shedge, Sepoy Shripat Chaugule, Lance-Naik Pandurang Jadhao, Sepoy Nana More, Sepoy Shankar Borde, Sepoy Tatya Bhosle, Sepoy Genu Mate, Havildar Ganpatrao Tawde File:Naik Yeshwant Ghadge VC (1921-1944), 3-5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 1944.jpg, File:133308Bladin1947.jpg, File:Subadar Ganpat Patil receiving the Military Cross from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, 1944 (c).jpg, File:Naik Narayan Sinde, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry, receiving the Indian Distinguished Service Medal from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, 1945.jpg,

Post-independence

; Ashok Chakra * Captain Eric James Tucker – 2nd Battalion * Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair – 16th Battalion * Colonel Vasanth Venugopal – 9th Battalion * Lieutenant Navdeep Singh – 15th Battalion ; Maha Vir Chakra * Lieutenant Colonel Harbans Singh Virk – 3rd (Para) Battalion * Major Annavi Krishnaswamy Ramaswamy – 3rd (Para) Battalion * Major Satyapal Chopra – 3rd (Para) Battalion * Sepoy Pandurang Salunkhe – 15th Battalion ;

Kirti Chakra The Kirti Chakra () is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the ...

* Major Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair– 16th Battalion * Major Amit Oscar Fernandes – 7th Battalion * Captain Abhinav Handa – 9th Battalion * Second Lieutenant Rishi Ashok Malhotra – 8th Battalion * Company Havildar Major Jagtap Shivaji Balu – 6th Battalion * Havildar Rale Santosh Tanaji – 56 Rashtriya Rifles * Lance Naik Pandit Mane – 2nd Battalion

Notable officers

;Chief of Army Staff * General Joginder Jaswant Singh – 21st Chief of Army Staff ;Vice Chief of Army Staff * Lieutenant General Vijay Oberoi – Vice Chief of the Army Staff, former founder President of the War Wounded Foundation. ;Army Commanders * Lieutenant General T B Henderson Brooks – General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command * Lieutenant General Kuldip Singh Brar – GOC of 9th Infantry Division led Operation Bluestar. He retired as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command. * Lieutenant General Krishnamurthy Nagaraj – General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South-Western Command and Army Training Command * Lieutenant General Hari Prasad – General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command * Lieutenant General HRS Kalkat – General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command ;Others * Lieutenant General MA Zaki – Commanded 15 Corps, was Director General Infantry and later acted as the advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. * Lieutenant General DB Shekhatkar – General Officer Commanding 4 Corps, Additional Director General of Military operations and Director General of Perspective (Strategic) planning. Was chairman of the committee to recommend measures to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of the armed forces. * Lieutenant General Satish Nambiar – Director General of Military Operations and first Force Commander and Head of Mission of UNPROFOR, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Training and Coordination) * Lieutenant General Narendra Singh – Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Planning and Systems) * Lieutenant General DS Thakur – Director General Military Intelligence and Deputy Chief of the Army Staff. * Lieutenant General Harinder Singh – GOC 14 Corps and Commandant of Indian Military Academy. * Lieutenant General Ashok Ambre – Quarter Master General * Lieutenant General Satish Satpute – General Officer Commanding 21 Corps * Lieutenant General PR Gangadharan – General Officer Commanding 12 Corps and Military Secretary * Lieutenant General Dushyant Singh – General Officer Commanding 11 Corps * Lieutenant General J S Dhillon – General Officer Commanding 15 Corps * Lieutenant General Parminder Jit Singh Pannu – General Officer Commanding 14 Corps, Director General Infantry, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations). * Lieutenant General Asit Mistry – Commandant of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla * Lieutenant General TPS Brar – General Officer Commanding 16 Corps * Lieutenant General Gopal Krishan Duggal – General Officer Commanding 10 Corps * Major General DS Brar – Colonel Commandant of the Regiment * Major General Eustace D'Souza – Colonel Commandant of the Regiment * Major General H W Kulkarni – Colonel Commandant of the Regiment * Major General Bachitar Singh – Colonel Commandant of the Regiment * Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat – avid mountaineer and one of the most decorated officers of the Indian Army. * Captain C. P. Krishnan Nair – founder of The Leela Group. * Major

Nana Patekar Vishwanath Patekar (born 1 January 1951), better known as Nana Patekar, is an Indian actor, film maker, mainly working in Hindi language, Hindi and Marathi language, Marathi cinema. Widely regarded as one of the finest and most influential actors ...

– Actor, who was part of Indian Territorial Army

Sporting achievements

* Major Shantaram Jadhav, Subedar Shankar Laxman and Naik Vishwas Patil were part of the Indian hockey squad to the 1960 Rome Olympics in. * Colonel HS Chauhan is a veteran in the field of mountaineering, was awarded the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, went on to become Principal of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and became President of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. * The following have represented the country/services team in wrestling – Naib Subedar Shivaji Kekan, Naib Subedar Ashok Shirke, Naib Subedar Maruti Ghadi, Subedar Major Vasant Solankar, Subedar Major/Hony. Captain Shivaji Chingle, Subedar Major/Hony Capt Raghunath Pawar, Lance Naik Dudhappa Asudekar, Naik Yellappa Pote, Naib Subedar Ashok Shirke, Havildar Krishna Patil, Sepoy Prashant Jamnik. * Havildar Keshav More was the National Boxing Champion between 1962 and 1963. * Shooting – Subedar Shivaji Lavate, Havildar Begaram, Havildar BR Patil, Havildar Sanjay More.

Gallery

File:117th Mahrattas at a fort, 1909.jpg, File:Dekhani Mahrattas and Konkani Mahrattas.jpg, File:Indian Army volunteers, 1943 (c).jpg, File:A sepoy of the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 1943 (c).jpg, File:Mahratta sniper in Italy 1943.jpg, File:1-5MahrattaLightInfantryFlorence1944.jpg, File:Indian troops advance across the Aquino aerodrome 1944.jpg, File:Brits-Indiërs van het 6th Battalion the Mahratta Light Infantry, Bestanddeelnr 100A-1-1.jpg, File:14MARATHANCC.png, , File:Indra 2017 closing ceremony 1.jpg,

soldiers of the Maratha Light Infantry during closing ceremony of Indra 2017 military exercise.

References

External links

5th Mahratta Light Infantry , Regiments.org

Maratha Light Infantry Regiment , Regimental Officers Association

by the Maratha Light Infantry Band
Redetzky March I Maratha Light Infantry I Indian Army I The Peninsula Studios
{{Authority control British Indian Army infantry regiments Infantry regiments of the Indian Army from 1947 Military units and formations established in 1922 Monuments and memorials to Shivaji Units of the Indian Peace Keeping Force

Recruitment

History

Pre-independence

Post-independence

Units

Affiliated units

Regimental Centre

Battle slogan

Marching style

Regimental insignia

Uniform

Regimental colours

Battle honours

Gallantry awards

Pre-independence

Post-independence

Notable officers

Sporting achievements

Gallery

See also

References

External links