1 Para (Commando)

Defence India

October 17, 1986

A commemorative postage stamp on the 225^th Anniversary of the 8^th Battalion of Coast Sepoys (now 1^st Battalion of Parachute Regiment Commando) :

Issued by India

Issued on Oct 17, 1986

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on the 225^th Anniversary of 1^st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment Commando.

Description of Designs : The 300 P multi colour stamp has been prepared by India Security Press, Nashik Road. The layout of the stamp and the cancellation has been designed by Miss Nenu Bagga.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 300 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported unwatermarked adhesive gravure coated stamp paper

Number printed : 15,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed at : India Security Press

About :

The First Battalion the Parachute Regiment, the eldest Battalion of our Army, was raised as 8^th Battalion of Coast Sepoys by Capt. Cooke in Trichinopoly in 1761. From these early roots, it rose to give a glorious account of itself, straddling three centuries of Indian Military history and emerging through incessant campaigning as an epitome of valour, loyalty and military tradition.
After continuous active service in India, it was one of the first units to leave its shores and saw action in Trincomalee, Ceylon in 1795. In a span of 140 years, it was thrice called out to fight in Burma and also served in Penang, Malacca and Singapore. By 1902, 7 Madras Infantry, as it then came to be known, established itself as one of the finest fighting outfits in the country.
In 1903, 7 Madras Infantry was reorganised as the 67^th Punjabis. After the outbreak of World War I, the Battalion found itself in the valley of Tigris in Mesopotamia in 1915. It gave a spirited account of itself in the siege of Kut Al Amara and fought fierce battles with the Turks earning 98 decorations and the battle honour of ‘Kut Al Amara‘ and the theatre honour of ‘Mesopotamia 1915-1918‘ and returned to India in 1920.
The Battalion was re-designated as ½nd PUNJAB in 1922 and after a long but deserved respite it went on to spend another three years (1936-39) in Malaya. The Battalion’s participation in World War II was a saga of memorable battles and sacrifices through a bloody pageant of historic names in Indian Military history. The indomitable spirit of the Battalion showed best during the battle for the Idice Bridgehead in Italy.
At the onset of partition in 1947, the Muslim companies of the Battalion went to Pakistan and the Sikh and Dogra companies from 1^st Frontier Force Rifles replaced them. The Battalion was flown to Srinagar and onwards to Baramula in October 1947 for the operations in Jammu and Kashmir. It saw action in Jhangar, Naushera, Gurund Galli, Pir Badesar and earned its first post Independence battle honour “Punch” for its role in the recapture of that town.
It was selected to represent India in the UNEF forces at Gaza and served there in 1957-58. In 1961, the Battalion celebrated its Bicentenary to mark 200 years of unbroken service and followed it up with a swift entry into Panjim, Goa during operation Vijay against the Portuguese. In 1965, new chapters were added when the Battalion captured the famous Hajipir Pass earning the Battalion its second post-independence battle honour. In 1971 war, the Battalion earned fresh laurels.
In April, 1975, it assisted in a large measure the merger of Sikkim in the Indian Union. It received three decorations including the first Shaurya Chakra for its efforts.
In 1978, the Battalion was converted into a modern breed of Commandos. Apart from a reorganisation in its structure, a more difficult and unconventional form of training, a stricter method of selecting every member of this elite force was also incorporated.
These personnel specialise in various skills such as underwater diving, sky diving, rock climbing, handling explosives and survival in tropical jungles. There is a team of martial arts pros who temper every person in unarmed combat.