Jalandhar: Jalandhar based Vajra Corps celebrated the 85th Raising Day of the elite Armoured Corps of the Indian Army on Monday. Lieutenant General Devendra Sharma, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps laid wreath on behalf of all veterans and serving officers at the Vajra Shaurya Sthal. On the occasion he conveyed his best wishes to all the serving and retired personnel of the Corps and lauded them for their selfless devotion and dedication to duty.
It was on April 14, 1938 at Rawalpindi (now in Pakistan) when the first regiment to be mechanised, The Scinde Horse paraded its horses for the last time. They collected their mounts ‘The Chevrolet Armoured Cars’ and ‘Vickers Light Tanks’ in the coming weeks and began their conversion training on 01 May 1938. Thus began a new era of the Armoured vehicles and the occasion is till date celebrated as Armoured Corps day.
The first equipment to be inducted were the Chevrolet Armoured Cars and Vickers Light Tanks. Over the last 85 years, the Indian Armoured Corps has come a long way and is presently equipped with a fleet of T-72 AJEYA, T-90 BHISHMA and MBT Arjun Tanks.
‘Courage in the face of fearful odds’, has been the enduring saga of the Armoured Corps and is exemplified by the Armoured Corps time and again through their professionalism and valour on the battlefield. Testimony to this are two Victoria Crosses, two Param Vir Chakras, 16 Maha Vir Chakras and 60 Vir Chakras which have been conferred upon its personnel besides numerous theatre and battle honours bestowed upon its units.