4182) "2nd Battalion the Rajputana Rifles (Tololing) - Battle Honour Tiger Hill: Silver Jubilee Celebrations (1999-2024): A Special Cover (SC) issued by the Army Post Office (APO): Date/Year of Special Cover issue: 04.07.2024:
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2nd Battalion - The Rajputana Rifles (Tololing): A Special Cover (SC):
Battle cry:
Raja Ramchandraji ki Jai (Victory to Lord Rama).
Regimental Centre: Delhi Cantonment.
Regimental Motto: Veer Bhogya Vasundhara (The Brave Enjoy the Earth).
Regimental Language: Hindi.
Rajputs are Hindu warriors from the Rajputana region, who take great pride in their military virtues and possess enormous pride in their valour, bravery and their ancestry.
The British impressed by their exceptional skill and bravery, raised the first Rajput regiment in 1775.
It was named the 5th Bombay Sepoys.
In 1778 it was re-designated as 9th Bombay Sepoys. It was formally assembled in the year 1921 as a part of the British Indian Army.
The Special Cover (SC) is titled "2nd Battalion The Rajputana Rifles - Tololing" and presents the Regimental emblem/insignia of the Regiment at left. There are pictures of the Officers and soldiers of the Battalion after various combat operations.
At top right is affixed a 500 Paise (Rs.5/-) postage stamp cancelled with a special cancellation stamp featuring an special cancellation of the 25th anniversary of Operation VIJAY (1999-2024)
The postal address is of 56 APO and the date of Cancellation is - 05.11.2024.
The Information Brochure gives the following description:
"GLORIOUS LEGACY OF 208 YEARS - 5 NOVEMBER 2024":
"Brief History of the Unit:
1. The battalion was raised on 5th November 1817 at Baroda as the 2nd Battalion The 10th Regiment Bombay Native Infantry.
In 1824, the Battalion was renamed as 20th Regiment, Bombay Native Infantry and in 1903, the Battalion was renamed as 120th Rajputana Infantry.
In 1921, the Battalion earned the title of "Prince of Wales' Own" and was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion 6th Rajputana Rifles.
Upon Independence, the Battalion was named 2nd Battalion the Rajputana Rifles. The battalion proved its mettle during various campaigns and wars in the period of Pre-Independence and Post-Independence.
The splendid performance has enabled the Battalion to be awarded with a number of gallantry awards.
2. First Victoria Cross:
Captain John Augustus Wood was awarded the First Victoria Cross of the Indian Army for displaying extreme valour and courage on 9th December 1956 during the Persia war at Bushire for capture of the Reshire Fort.
3. Indo-Pak War 1947-48:
The Battalion was part of the famous Poonch link up Operation during this War. The battalion was awarded with one Mahavir Chakra, nine Vir Chakras, two Sena Medals and eighteen Mention-in-Despatches.
4. Indo-Pak War 1965:
The Battalion carried out a daring counterattack and recaptured the Jassar Bridge on the River Ravi in the Dear Baba Nanak Sector on the Western Front on 07th September 1965. The Battalion was awarded two Vir Chakras, one Sena Medal and six Mention-in Despatches.
5. Indo-Pak War 1971:
The Battalion was deployed at Munabao in the Barmer sector in the Western Front and was instrumental in the capture of Parbat Ali. The Battalion was awarded with three Sena Medals and four Mention-in-Despatches.
6. Operation Blue Star:
The battalion was deployed from June 1984 to September 1984 in Punjab and busted various hideouts of the militants and captured a huge cache of arms and ammunition.
7. Operation Rakshak: Kupwara (Sona Pindi Gali):
The Battalion was deployed in KUpwara Sector on the Line of Control from October 1993 to December 1995.
Braving the adverse climate and in the peak of militancy in Kashmir, the Battalion guarded the Line of Control and captured various arms and ammunition along with a few newly introduced weapons and equipment.
The Battalion was awarded with two Sena Medals and two Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards during its tenure at Kupwara.
8. Operation Vijay - 1999: Popularly known as the "Kargil war", the Battalion participated in "Operation Vijay" from 29th May to 26th July 1999. The Battalion gave the Indian Army its forst victory in the Operation Vijay.
The Battalion captured "Tololing" on 12th & 13th June 1999 and thereafter captured "Three Pimples Complex" on 28th & 29th June 1999.
The Chief of Army Staff awarded the Battalion with an "Instant Unit Citation" and the Battalion was awarded with four Mahavir Chakras, seven Vir Chakras, ten Sena Medals and one Mention-in-Despatch in this Operation.
9. UN Peace Keeping Force:
The Battalion was deployed as UN Peace Keeping Force in the Democratic Republic of Congo from July 2006 to September 2007.
99 hardcore terrorists along with arms surrendered and gave up their arms. The Battalion played a major role in the conduct of free and fair elections in Katanga Province to form the First Democratically elected Government in the DRC after 40 years. The Battalion was awarded the "Force Commander's Appreciation Letter:" for its commendable tenure as UN Peace Keepers.
10. Operation Rakshak (Uri):
The Battalion was deployed in the Uri sector, J&K from Nov 2009 to June 2012.
The Battalion conducted "Operation Kopra Loran Gali" from 28th to 31st August 2010 in which ten Pakistani trained terrorists were killed and a huge cache of arms, ammunition and equipment was recovered from them.
During its tenure, the Battalion was awarded one Kirti Chakra, one Shaurya Chakra, one Sena Medal, one Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card and fourteen GOC-in-C Northern Command Commendation Cards. In addition, the unit was also awarded the "Unit Appreciation" from the GOC-in-C Northern Command.
11. Operation Rakshak (LC):
The Battalion was deployed at the Line of Control in Akhnoor Sector from April 2015 till Oct 2017.
The Battalion conducted "Operation Sangar" on 2nd Sep 2016, wherein the unit eliminated two Pakistani soldiers. Also on 18 Aug 2017, the Battalion again carried out ten major fire assaults on enemy posts subsequently and caused heavy damage to the enemy and its infrastructure.
12. Op Snow Leopard/Op Meghdoot:
The Battalion was deployed at Fukchey from July 2020 the Dec 2020 wherein the Battalion took major upgradation of Op Works/Defence Works thereby ensuring formidable defence architecture.
Thereafter, the unit was inducted to Central Glacier under Operation Meghdoot. The unit successfully carried out induction and de-induction during its incident free deployment in the glaciated terrain.
In cognizance of the operational tasks performed by the Battalion, the unit was awarded with the "Unit Appreciation" from GOC-in-C Northern Command.
13: On the occasion of completion of two Hundred and Eight glorious years of raising the 2nd Battalion The Rajputana Rifles and also completion of 25 Years of Operation Vijay, this Special Cover with a Special Cancellation was issued by the Army Post Office (APO) along with Information Brochure.
14. The Regimental Insignia: Bugle and Cords, below a pair of crossed Katars (Rajput daggers).
Links:
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3) Did You Know Series (116): 1) An elephant named Mohini guided by her mahavat Dilshad and helper Sonu, was the one to carry the Special Philatelic Covers from Siddharth Enclave to Buddhapex-25 in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh: 2) The Taming of the Mad Elephant Nalagiri by thed Buddha in Buddhist Literature: Date/Year of Special Philatelic Cover issue: 10.07.2025
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21) Chandrayaan - 2 Moon Mission, India: A Special Postal Cover brought out by the West Bengal Postal Circle of India Post on 07.09.2019
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2) Commemorative Stamps on "Swachh Bharat" Mission3) Commemorative Stamps on "Project Rukmini" 4) Commemorative Stamps on "Indian Ocean & Rajenda Chola I"5) International Day of Yoga - "Commemorative Stamps & Coins" 6) India-France - 50 Years of Space Co-operation - Commemorative Stamps7) Commemorative Stamps on 50 years (Golden Jubilee) of "Engineers India Limited"
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Links to posts on my Alma Mater - La Martiniere College, Lucknow:
8) Did You Know Series (82): Major General Claude Martin (05.01.1735-13.09.1800), Founder of the Martiniere Colleges in Calcutta (present day Kolkata - India), Lucknow (India) and Lyon (France): Remembering his legacy on the 223rd Founder's Day - 13.09.2023
