The 9th Jat Regiment, also known as the Jat Regiment, was a former infantry regiment that functioned under the administration of the British Indian Army. The army unit was formed in the year 1922, when the British Government of India re-numbered and re-grouped the regiments in 1922. The single infantry regiments were amalgamated to create larger multi battalion infantry units of 4 to 6 battalions.
History of 9th Jat Regiment
The 9th Jat Regiment was raised in the year 1922 by the amalgamation of 5 former British Indian Army regiments, namely 2nd Battalion, 6th Jat Light Infantry, 6th Jat Light Infantry, 18th Infantry, 10th Jats and 119th Infantry (The Mooltan Regiment). The 6th Jat Light Infantry was designated as the 1st Battalion; the 119th Infantry (The Mooltan Regiment) became the 2nd Battalion; the 10th Jats regiment was appointed as the 3rd Battalion; the 18th Infantry unit was developed as the 4th Battalion; and the 2nd Battalion, 6th Jat Light Infantry was designated as the 10th (Training) Battalion, 9th Jat Regiment.
Later during the Second World War, five more regiments of the unit was formed, which included the 7th Battalion, 8th Battalion, 9th Battalion, 14th Battalion and the 15th Battalion.
Military Operations of 9th Jat Regiment
The 9th Jat Regiment provided significant military services to the British Crown during the Second World War. The troops of the regiments took part in several British battles and conquests during the period and showed their courage during the military operations in Java Sumatra, Singapore, Malaya, Burma, Ethiopia and North Africa.
Development of 9th Jat Regiment
The military regiment was honoured with a number of bravery awards, including the George Cross and the Victoria Cross. After the culmination of the war, the 9th Jat Regiment, along with other British Indian Infantry regiments, removed the numeral 9 from the designation. It was renamed as simply the Jat Regiment.
After the political withdrawal of the British Empire in India and the Partition of India on 15th August 1947, the former British India was geographically divided into the 2 new sovereign states, namely the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. The entire British Indian army was also shared amongst the armies of the 2 newly formed states. The troops of the 9th Jat Regiment were incorporated as a part of the modern Indian Army.