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102-492: The Guides Infantry , or 2nd Battalion (Guides) The Frontier Force Regiment , is an infantry battalion of the Pakistan Army . It was raised in 1846 as part of the famous Corps of Guides , a highly mobile force to act as guides to troops in the field and gather intelligence beyond the borders of British India. The corps recruited men from various backgrounds, with Pathans , Punjabi Muslims , Sikhs , and Dogras forming

204-632: A United Nations mandated ceasefire followed by Russian mediation . The Frontier Force Regiment's units participated in the war in all active sectors along the Indo-Pakistani border , including Kashmir , Chhamb, Sialkot , Lahore, Khemkaran and Rajasthan. The 6th and 12th FF were involved in the advance on the Chhamb–Jaurian–Akhnur axis, and the 6th FF also fought in the Badiana-Chawinda-Pasrur axis, along with

306-615: A bridge head for the armoured division. After the launching of the division, the battalion was put under 21 Bde which was part of 11th Infantry Division. On 12 September the Guides Infantry and 5 Frontier Force captured the Indian town of Khem Karan. The battalion advanced up to Bhura Khana a small village in the north of the Khem Karan. On 17 Sep 1965 it was ordered to come back and take defence positions in front of Khem Kharan. On

408-605: A calligraphic signature known as their tughra . All the monarchs of Europe's six other surviving kingdoms use cyphers, with royal crowns above them. King Harald V of Norway uses the letter H crossed with the Arabic numeral 5; King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden uses the letters C and G overlapping with the Roman numeral XVI below them; King Felipe VI of Spain uses the letter F with the Roman numeral; and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark used

510-684: A further step and laid their claim on the Kanger Kot Fort. To back it with force they started amassing troops in the Rann of Kutch. Consequently, some troops of Pakistan Army including the Guides Infantry were promptly dispatched to deal with the situation. The Guides Infantry attacked and captured the strong points of the Indian Army at Biarbet and captured the position being defended by famous Indian PARA Brigade (Guides Infantry marks 12 April as Biarbet day). An area of approx five to six miles

612-835: A huge and dangerous load for UNOSOM and the Somali people. " The 35th FF Battalion participated in Cambrian Patrol and won Gold medal in 2010. Cambrian Patrol is a three-day military exercise organized by 160th (Wales) Brigade (part of 5th Infantry Division ) of the British Army in Wales. The exercise involves various military drills including: Battle Procedure, Orders, Infiltration , Target Reconnaissance , Support to Friendly Forces, Battlefield Drills, Exfiltration , and Debriefing . The other participant countries include USA, Canada, Germany, France, India. The officers of

714-572: A particular ruler. For example, the insignia of "N III" for Napoléon III is seen on some Paris bridges, such as the Pont au Change . The use of a royal cypher in the Commonwealth realms originated in the United Kingdom , where the public use of the royal initials dates at least from the early Tudor period , and was simply the initial of the sovereign with, after Henry VIII 's reign,

816-518: A pre-emptive attack on India from the west, which was only partially successful and met with massive retaliation. Fighting on two fronts, Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire after the surrender of her forces in the east and territorial losses in the west (later ceded back to Pakistan following the 1972 Simla Agreement ). Piffer units fought in both east and west. The 31st FF, Pakistan's first national service battalion, raised in November 1971 just before

918-501: A recipient of Sitara-e-Jurat , was posthumously awarded Nishan-e-Haider for his sacrifice. Hilal-i-Jur'at is the second highest military award given for valour to Armed forces personnel of Pakistan. Piffers who received Hilal-i-Jur'at are: Sitara-e-Jurat is the third highest military award given for valour to Armed forces personnel of Pakistan. Piffers who received Sitara-e-Jurat are: 23rd FF (for Rajistan Sadehwala sector 1965) (SJ & Bar) (1965&1971) The Victoria Cross

1020-585: A republic, all titles pertaining to British royalty were dropped. Consequently, the Guides Infantry was redesignated as the 2nd Battalion (Guides) The Frontier Force Regiment or 2 FF (Guides) . The intrepid Guides quickly made a name for themselves on the North West Frontier of India in numerous operations against the turbulent frontier tribes. Between 1847 and 1878, the corps participated in fifteen major frontier expeditions and operations. Their formidable reputation soon spread far and wide, and

1122-646: A stronghold in that sector. As a result of a vague demarcation of territory in the 1972 Simla Accord , both Pakistan and India lay claim to the Siachen Glacier , which lies in the eastern Karakorum mountain range at altitudes of up to 18,875 feet (5,753 m). Following a period of tension, in April 1984 the Indian Army launched Operation Meghdoot with the aim of capturing the glacier. Pakistan responded in kind, but Indian troops had already occupied

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1224-495: A television interview, " Many of the soldiers are alive today because of the willingness and skill of the Pakistani soldiers who worked jointly in a rescue operation with Malaysian and American soldiers in most difficult and dangerous combat circumstances. Such splendid soldiers to Somalia who we feel proud to serve with. Pakistani soldiers have been completely dependable even in the most difficult circumstances. They have shouldered

1326-615: Is also home to the Piffer Memorial, a 28 feet (8.5 m) tall obelisk built of sandstone known as Yadgar-e-Shuhada . This was originally erected at Kohat by Field Marshal William Birdwood on 23 October 1924 in the memory of those killed in World War I, but in 1964 on the orders of the then Commander-in-Chief General Muhammad Musa , it was moved to Abbottabad. It was unveiled in Abbottabad in April 1965. A Roll of Honour

1428-883: Is also the successor to several Sikh regiments due to their widespread deployments in the North-West Frontier during the British Raj . Presently, the regiment consists of 52 battalions , with its regimental centre located in Abbottabad , Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Due to this regiment's presence, Abbottabad is also locally known as the "Home of the Piffers". In its current form, the Frontier Force Regiment consists of both mechanized and motorized infantry battalions; there are also some armoured and artillery battalions which were raised from

1530-514: Is as a symbol not only of the sovereign him- or herself, but of Canada's full sovereignty. The royal cypher is also found on post offices and some government buildings in Australia . British royal cyphers are still visible on several public buildings and old post boxes in the Republic of Ireland . Other royal houses have also made use of royal or imperial cyphers; Ottoman sultans had

1632-406: Is displayed around the memorial on plates, and wreath-laying ceremonies are held on important national days and by visitors. Later a replica of the memorial was built at its original location at Kohat in 2001. Since independence in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three major wars and one minor war, and have been involved in an ongoing conflict since 1984. The casus belli for most of these

1734-572: Is gradually replacing the cypher of Elizabeth II in everyday use. The design was selected by Charles himself from a series of designs prepared by the College of Arms and features the King's initial "C" intertwined with the letter "R" for Rex with "III" denoting Charles III, with a Tudor Crown above the letters. Charles's Scottish cypher uses the Crown of Scotland instead. The late queen's cypher

1836-639: Is one of the six infantry regiments of the Pakistan Army . They are popularly known as the Piffers in reference to their military history as the PIF ( Punjab Irregular Force ) of the British Indian Army , or as the FF (Frontier Force). The regiment takes its name from the historic North-West Frontier , a former province of British India and later Pakistan (present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ). Most of

1938-483: Is the dispute between the two countries over the status of the state of Kashmir . Piffers participated in each of these conflicts with the participation in the war of 1947 by its founding formations. Concerned by what it saw as Indian attempts to absorb the disputed region of Kashmir, in 1965 Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar to foment a popular uprising against Indian control in Jammu and Kashmir . However,

2040-516: Is the highest battle order of Britain, awarded for valour. As the Frontier Force regiment still maintains the lineage of its predecessor regiments, so this award was received by following Piffers: The Military Cross is the third highest battle honour of Britain, awarded for valour. The Frontier Force regiment still maintains the lineage of its predecessor regiments so this award was received by following Piffers: The Order of British India

2142-512: Is undertaken by the regimental depot, which is usually directed by a brigadier . The regiment's highest-ranking officer is given the honorary title of Colonel-Commandant (usually for Lieutenant-Generals ) or " Colonel-in-Chief " (for the Chief of Army Staff or Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee ). The Frontier Force Regiment came into being in 1957 with the amalgamation of

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2244-544: The 12th Frontier Force Regiment and 13th Frontier Force Rifles . The use of the pre-fixing regimental numbers was discontinued in 1945, the two regiments becoming the Frontier Force Regiment and the Frontier Force Rifles, and both regiments were transferred to Pakistan by the United Kingdom in 1947, on the independence to British India . The Pathan Regiment was raised after independence from

2346-538: The 13th Frontier Force Rifles . The third component, the Pathan Regiment , had been raised from the elements of the former two. The regiments' merger took place when a major formation reorganization was carried out in the Pakistan Army. Battalions of the Frontier Force Regiment have seen extensive wartime combat with neighbouring India during all of the Indo-Pakistani wars that have occurred since

2448-716: The College of Arms or Court of the Lord Lyon and are subsequently approved by the monarch. See the Gallery section for example of the cyphers of other monarchs. The royal cyphers have been incorporated by the Canadian Heraldic Authority into the various royal standards of Canada . The use in Canada of the reigning monarch's cypher, which is sometimes uniquely surrounded by a garland of maple leaves ,

2550-848: The Frontier Force Regiment , the Frontier Force Rifles and the Pathan Regiment, all of which had their origins in the British Indian Army . During the 1840s, after the first and second Anglo-Sikh Wars, Colonel Sir Henry Lawrence , the Honourable East India Company 's agent to the Lahore Durbar (brother of the later Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab Sir John Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence ) sanctioned

2652-471: The Guides Cavalry , the 11th Cavalry, 1st SP Artillery and the 3rd, 4th, 9th, 13th and 14th FF, where the largest tank battle at that time since World War II was fought. The 3rd FF Battalion, while defending the border opposite Maharajke, was run over by the Indian Army's armoured division. The 7th, 11th, 15th and 16th FF took part in the defence of Lahore; the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 10th FF took part in

2754-644: The Line of Control (LOC), the de facto border between Pakistan and India in the Kashmir region. In May 1999 elements in the Pakistan Armed Forces covertly trained and sent troops and paramilitary forces into Indian territory. The aim was to sever the link between Kashmir and Ladakh , and cause Indian forces to withdraw from the Siachen Glacier, thus forcing India to negotiate a settlement of

2856-485: The Partition of India in 1947, the Frontier Force Regiment was allotted to Pakistan . The Sikhs and Dogras were transferred to India and the new class composition of the regiment became Punjabi Muslims and Pathans in equal proportion. In 1956, the Frontier Force Rifles and Pathan Regiment were merged with the Frontier Force Regiment and all the battalions were re-numbered. At the same time, since Pakistan had become

2958-761: The Partition of India in 1947. Outside of the subcontinent , the regiment's elements have also served overseas, having been deployed to Saudi Arabia in the Middle East and to Somalia in Eastern Africa as part of the 1990s United Nations humanitarian peacekeeping force in Somalia . In the latter deployment, Frontier Force battalions participated in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. The battalions are divided under independent formations and are commanded by their formation commander. Training and record-keeping

3060-937: The Second Sikh War , played a crucial role in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny in Delhi , and served in the Second Afghan War , where they defended the British Residency in Kabul. During World War I , the Guides raised additional battalions and fought in Mesopotamia and Palestine . Following the war, the Corps of Guides was reorganized, with the cavalry and infantry becoming separate units. In

3162-707: The Second World War , the Guides Infantry or 5th Battalion (QVO Corps of Guides) 12th FF Regiment, served throughout in Iraq and Iran , guarding against the German threat from the north. They were not engaged in any fighting. The Guides Infantry made up for its lack of action during the Second World War by giving an excellent account of itself in Kashmir in 1948. The battalion was instrumental in checking

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3264-803: The Second World War , the Guides Infantry served in Iraq and Iran. The Guides Infantry demonstrated their valor in the Indo-Pakistan wars of 1948 and 1965 . In 1948, they defended the Kishenganga Valley in Kashmir, and in 1965, they established a bridgehead for the 1st Armored Division across the India-Pakistan border. The Guides Infantry also participated in the Rann of Kutch Conflict in 1965 , capturing Indian positions and earning several awards for their bravery. Throughout their history,

3366-631: The Third Afghan War of 1919. It was disbanded in August 1921. The 4th Guides Infantry was disbanded in December 1918. The end of the war also spelt the end of the Corps of Guides as a unit. In the post-war reorganization of the Indian Army in 1921, the corps was broken up and the cavalry and infantry became separate units, with the two battalions of Guides Infantry joining the 12th Frontier Force Regiment as its 5th and 10th Battalions. During

3468-741: The Victoria Cross for conspicuous gallantry. After the Second Afghan War, the Guides were involved in a number of actions along the North West Frontier including the Relief of Chitral in 1895, as part of Malakand and Buner Field Forces during the Frontier Uprising of 1897-98, and in the Mohmand Expedition of 1908. In 1906, the Corps of Guides was reorganized into separates units of cavalry and infantry within

3570-751: The Victoria Cross for gallantry. Following the Treaty of Gandamak in May 1879, the Afghan King agreed to the presence of a British Mission in Kabul . The mission, led by Sir Louis Cavagnari , arrived in Kabul on 24 July 1879, escorted by a detachment of 76 Guides under Lieutenant Hamilton, VC. However, on 3 September, a disgruntled regiment of the Afghan Army attacked the British Residency . Although

3672-399: The West Pakistani administrative authorities and the majority local population. India, to where many of East Pakistan's exiled political leaders and refugees from the fighting had fled, provided support for the dissidents including arming and training a Bangladeshi irregular force (the Mukti Bahini ). To relieve pressure on their forces in the east, in December 1971 Pakistani forces launched

3774-432: The independence of Pakistan, including Victoria Cross. The Pakistani medals and honours bestowed upon Piffers are listed here: Nishan-e-Haider is the highest military award given posthumously for valour, in Pakistan. The recipients of Nishan-e-Haider from the Frontier Force Regiment are: When the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 broke out, Major Muhammad Akram was commanding a company of 4th FF Battalion. His company

3876-433: The 15th's armoured personnel carriers. Following the operation the United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative, Admiral Jonathan Howe and UNOSOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Çevik Bir appreciated Pakistani troops' efforts and thanked them for helping the US troops. Major General Thomas M. Montgomery , Deputy Commander of the United Nations Forces in Somalia while praising Pakistani forces' said in

3978-433: The 1991 Gulf War . Deploying up to 5,500 troops in a strictly defensive role, the Pakistani contingent included the 63rd FF Battalion, which was stationed at Tabuk and Arar until the cessation of hostilities. The early 1990s also saw Pakistan's increased participation in UN peacekeeping operations. In 1992, the 7th FF Battalion spearheaded the UN military mission to Somalia . The US Marine landing on Mogadishu beach

4080-452: The 4th Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment and the 4th and 15th Battalions of the Frontier Force Rifles. Initially the regimental depot was at Dera Ismail Khan but it relocated to Kohat in 1949 and was later merged into the Frontier Force Regiment with its regimental depot at Abbottabad . Fifteen of the modern Frontier Force Regiment's 52 battalions trace their origins back to British Indian Army units, as tabulated below. At present,

4182-411: The 4th Guides Infantry was raised in October 1918 by Lieutenant ND Douglas at Nowshera . In 1917, the 1st Guides Infantry joined the 7th (Meerut) Division in Mesopotamia and fought in the action of Tikrit. In 1918, both 1st and 2nd Guides Infantry served in Palestine and took part in the Battle of Megiddo , which led to the annihilation of Turkish Army in Palestine. The 3rd Guides Infantry served in

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4284-399: The Afghans offered quarter to the Indian ranks, the Guides chose to fight to the death. The Residency finally fell after twelve hours of fierce resistance by the Guides, who perished to the last man along with 600 of their foes. The sacrifice of these gallant men is commemorated in the impressive Guides Memorial at Mardan with the following words: The epic stand of the Guides at Kabul Residency

4386-426: The Beriwala Bridge on Sabuna Drain on 3 December and repulsed five attempts by opposition forces to retake it. Major Shabbir Sharif , a holder of the Sitara-e-Jurat from the 1965 conflict, was awarded a posthumous Nishan-e-Haider. The 36th FF also fought in the Sulemanki sector, and the 20th, 21st, and 39th FF saw action in the Rajhisthan sector. After enemy offensive the 21st and 39th FF withdrew from Parbat Ali,

4488-428: The Corps of Guides. Their mission was to maintain order on the Punjab Frontier; a task they performed efficiently during the next fifty years. In 1876, Queen Victoria rewarded the Guides by granting them the use of the Royal Cypher and they became the Queen's Own Corps of Guides with the Prince of Wales as their Colonel. During the First World War , the cavalry and infantry of the Guides fought separately. During

4590-424: The Crown of Scotland image rather than the E II R cypher, which continued to be used in the rest of the United Kingdom and in the other realms and territories. The production of the cypher was an early step in the preparations for her coronation in 1953 as it had to be embroidered on to the uniforms of the Royal Household and on other articles. Cyphers for other members of the royal family are designed by

4692-427: The Empire , the Girl Guides' handbook has this to say about the Corps of Guides: Following their victory in the First Sikh War of 1845-46, the British posted a Resident at the Sikh Durbar at Lahore to control the affairs of the Sikh state. However, the Sikhs resented British interference in their affairs and began planning a revolt. Early in 1848, Lumsden and his Guides were summoned to Lahore to gather evidence of

4794-500: The Frontier Force Regiment and the Pathan Regiment (then based at Sialkot and Kohat respectively). The Abbottabad depot is responsible for the regiment's basic recruit training. Initially recruits are trained for a period of 36 weeks. Since 1981 has housed the Piffer Museum, which records the Piffer's regimental history. The museum's collection includes medals, weapons, dress and insignia, portraits and flags, history books, albums, paintings, cutlery and musical instruments. Abbottabad

4896-481: The Frontier Force Regiment musters 67 infantry battalions, some of which are mechanised or motorised with the remainder known colloquially as "foot infantry". Each battalion is subdivided into four companies , normally named Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta. The regiment also includes armoured and artillery units, established from among its strength. All Piffer battalions serve alongside other Pakistan Army units in mixed formations; operational control resides with

4998-421: The Guides Infantry played a vital role in frontier operations and earned a reputation as a brave and dependable force. The Corps of Guides was raised at Peshawar on 14 December 1846 by Lieutenant Harry Burnett Lumsden on the orders of Sir Henry Lawrence , the British Resident at Lahore , capital of the Sikh Empire . Initially composed of a troop of cavalry and two companies of infantry mounted on camels ,

5100-566: The Guides were organized as a highly mobile force. The corps was ordered to recruit Although the corps recruited men from all over the country and even beyond the Frontier of India , Pathans , Punjabi Muslims, Sikhs and Dogras later formed the bulk of their manpower. Harry Lumsden was chosen to train and lead the force: Lumsden left a lasting imprint on the Guides, who first fought in numerous frontier operations. Believing that fighting troops were for service and not for show, Lumsden introduced loose and comfortable dust-coloured uniforms for

5202-464: The Indian army in December 1971. In West Pakistan, the 11th Cavalry saw heavy fighting in the Chhamb sector. The 2nd FF Battalion, while defending Shisabladi post at Kashmir sector, drove back an Indian brigade. Along with 2nd FF 3rd, 5th, 17th and 33rd FF also operated in the Kashmir sector. In the Sialkot sector, the 19th, 23rd, 27th, 29th, 35th and 37th FF took part in fighting. The 35th FF Battalion suffered heavy casualties in an offensive at Jarpal,

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5304-447: The Indian army, long enough for the 10th Brigade of 7th Infantry Division to prepare defences along the Panjkot Nullah, preventing their advance. The Guides suffered casualties of 37 killed and 105 wounded, and were awarded eleven gallantry awards. In 1965 the Guides Infantry (2FF) was camping at Kasur where A and D companies of the battalion were carrying watermanship training at Thaman Distributary near Luliani after they had moved from

5406-430: The Indian offensive in the Kishenganga Valley, where it fought with great gallantry at Tithwal and foiled all enemy efforts at advance. Jemadar Dost Muhammad's platoon of the Guides were defending Richmar Gali, near Tithwal . Coming under attack from approximately 700 Indian soldiers, he ordered a bayonet charge as a last ditch effort, leading to his death and the capture of Richmar Gali by the Indians. His actions delayed

5508-547: The Piffers' beret is rifle green with the insignia of the regiment at front. The Sam Browne belt worn by members of the regiment, which was designed by General Sir Sam Browne, is black in colour. The battle dress uniform worn by the regiment is camouflage without any distinctions since inception of new CCD. Royal Cypher Royal cyphers appear on some government buildings, impressed upon royal and state documents, and are used by governmental departments . They may also appear on other governmental structures built under

5610-405: The Rann of Katch area. The battalion was assigned the task of establishing a bridge head on Rohhi Nullah for launching of 1 Armoured Division across the India – Pakistan border. A and D companies joined the Paltan at about 1230 hrs. The Guides moved out from the camp to cross the border. The battalion crossed the Rohi Nullah on foot and entered the enemy territory on night 6/7 Sep 1965 and established

5712-407: The Republic of France for securing areas of Indo-China in 1946. The only Piffer to have received this distinction: This is the highest military decoration that may be bestowed by the US Government upon a foreign national. Piffers who received the Legion of Merit are: This is the fourth class of the Order of the British Empire. Piffers who received the military division of the MBE are: The motto of

5814-489: The United Kingdom (except in Scotland) and the Commonwealth realms by a stylised version of the Tudor Crown or St Edward's Crown ; in Scotland , the Crown of Scotland is used instead. Though royal symbols (including, most notably, the coat of arms, royal standards and great seals ) differ among the 15 Commonwealth realms, as they are separate monarchies, the one sovereign uses the same cypher throughout all of his or her countries. Distinction continues to be made between

5916-440: The addition of the letter 'R' for ' Rex ' or ' Regina ' . The letter 'I' for ' Imperatrix ' was added to Queen Victoria 's monogram after she became Empress of India in 1877. The initials – which had no set pattern or form of lettering laid down – were usually shown in company with the royal arms or crown as on the king's manors and palaces – such as those of Henry VIII on

6018-457: The appropriate brigade , whereas administrative control remains with the Frontier Force regimental depot. The regiment recruits mostly from the Pashtun tribes of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa , although officers and other ranks from all over Pakistan have served and continue to serve in the regiment. Prior to 2000, the Piffers had been standardised to include equal numbers of Pashtuns and Punjabis in its non-officer ranks, but in 2000, this composition

6120-438: The area captured a day before. An Indian commander, Lieutenant-Colonel V P Airy, of the 3rd Grenadier Guards who fought against 35th FF said: "35 FF's immortal attack won their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Akram Raja, a posthumous Hilal-i-Jur'at , with the highest compliment a gallant soldier could receive". The 8th and 18th FF fought on the Lahore front. In the Sulemanki sector, the 6th FF gained fame when it captured

6222-425: The battalion received a Sitara-e-Jurat , a Tamgha-i-Jurat and an Imtiazi Sanad . (This entire description needs re-visiting. 2 FF was deployed in Chakothi sector, with battalion HQ at Chakothi, a company deployed on Sugna-Ziarat ridge, A company at Parat and another company which repulsed the Indian infiltration of Ziarat ridge under the command of Captain Gulzar Ahmed Wazir. The fourth company under Major Aziz Ahmed

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6324-463: The broader Kashmir dispute. The Kargil Conflict was triggered when Pakistan occupied around 130 Indian observation posts on the Indian side of the LOC. As India responded, regular Pakistan army units were called up. The 19th, 33rd, 38th and 44th FF Battalions, and some Piffer officers serving in Northern Light Infantry battalions, participated in the conflict. In total four officers and twenty four other ranks were killed in action. The war ended after

6426-526: The capture of Khem Karan in the Kasur Sector, and the 8th and 18th FF made significant gains in the Rajhistan Sector. Some fighting continued after the ceasefire, and two months later in the Rajhistan Sector, the 23rd FF re-captured the Sadhewala Post. The three Piffer armoured regiments successfully repulsed the Indian offensive in the Sialkot sector, while the Guides Cavalry turned back repeated assaults from India's 1st Armoured Division. Another armoured regiment (the 11th Cavalry) also fought at Chhamb as part of

6528-405: The corps. At the outbreak of World War I , the Corps of Guides initially remained in India for service on the Frontier; both Guides Infantry and Cavalry participating in the Mohmand Blockade in 1915. In January 1917, a second battalion of Guides Infantry was raised by Captain RCG Pollock at Mardan. In October, the 3rd Guides Infantry was raised by Colonel GP Villiers Stuart, also at Mardan, while

6630-410: The defence of the Islamic holy land . However, the brigade was withdrawn after the Government of Pakistan was unable to accede to a Saudi request that only Sunnis be included in the troops sent to their land. Then President of Pakistan, General Zia-ul-Haq said, there was no discrimination in the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan formed part of the multinational coalition force that participated in

6732-401: The dissolution of the Sikh state and annexation of the Punjab by the British. In May 1857, when the mutiny broke out, Lumsden was on a mission at Kandahar and Captain Henry Daly led the Guides to join the Delhi Field Force then besieging the ancient capital city. They left Hoti Mardan on 13 May and arrived at Delhi on 9 June after marching 580 miles in twenty-six days and fourteen hours in

6834-424: The distinction of red piping on their tunic collars; an honour shared with the 60th Foot and the Sirmoor Rifles , who fought alongside them at Delhi. During the Second Afghan War of 1878-80, the Guides joined the Peshawar Field Force under General Sir Sam Browne and took part in the capture of Ali Masjid , the advance to Jalalabad and the cavalry action at Fatehabad , where Lieutenant Walter Hamilton won

6936-410: The endeavour, aimed at achieving the assigned mission. Piffers wear the same basic khaki uniform as in other regiments in the Pakistan Army, although the rank colour differs with Piffer personnel wearing rank insignia that are black with a red background. They also wear a badge on the shoulder strap of the uniform with "FF Regiment" written of it that uses the same colour combination. The colour of

7038-504: The first time, which would soon become famous as " khaki " and within decades would be adopted by the British Army for service in India. In 1851, the Guides established themselves at Mardan , which would remain their home until 1938. In 1851, the Corps of Guides became part of the Punjab Irregular Force , which later became famous as the Punjab Frontier Force or Piffers . The Piffers consisted of five regiments of cavalry, eleven regiments of infantry and five batteries of artillery besides

7140-409: The gatehouse of St James's Palace . The purpose seems to have been simply to identify an individual sovereign, particularly on certain landmarks that he or she has commissioned, as the royal coat of arms in contrast was often used by successive monarchs and is therefore not distinct. The initials are furthermore used on government papers, duty stamps and similar objects, and are surmounted throughout

7242-481: The hurdles were an enemy minefield and a defensive canal, 30 feet (9.1 m) wide and 10 feet (3.0 m) deep. Shabbir Sharif succeeded in capturing the area by early evening on 3 December. In this fight 43 Indian soldiers were killed, 28 were taken prisoner and four tanks were destroyed. Shabbir Sharif repelled repeated counterattacks by the opposing forces for the next three days and nights and kept strategically better position, holding two Indian battalions at bay. On

7344-737: The letter M with the Arabic numeral 2 and the letter R (for Regina) below it during her reign. King Philippe of the Belgians uses the letters P and F intertwined, referring to the fact that his name is Philippe in French and Philipp in German , but Filip in Dutch , the three main languages in Belgium . King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his Queen Maxima share a joint cypher consisting of

7446-424: The major mountain passes west of the glacier and captured many strategic points. Both countries established military posts, and from 1984 until 2003, intermittent fighting took place. The conflict is remarkable for the harsh conditions under which it was fought—on average, one Pakistani soldier died every fourth day, with most of the casualties caused by the severe climate. A number of Piffer units were deployed to

7548-741: The majority of their manpower. Under the leadership of Lieutenant Harry Burnett Lumsden , the Guides gained a formidable reputation and introduced the dust-colored "khaki" uniforms, later adopted by the British Army in India. The corps became part of the Punjab Frontier Force, known as Piffers, which maintained order on the Punjab Frontier for fifty years. The Guides participated in numerous frontier operations, earning recognition for their gallantry and resilience. They fought in

7650-541: The new infantry regiment. The 10th became the Training Battalion of the regiment. Their new class composition was one company each of Punjabi Muslims, Pathans, Sikhs and Dogras. The regiment adopted the drab uniform with red facings of the Corps of Guides. In 1943, the 10th (Training) Battalion was converted into the 12th Frontier Force Regimental Centre, while in 1945, '12' was dropped from the regiment's designation, changing it to The Frontier Force Regiment. On

7752-421: The newly raised 6th Armoured Division . The 1st SP Field Artillery, while providing fire support in the battle of Chawinda , lost their commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Rehman. Recognizing their combat performance, the unit was authorised to wear red piping on their collars. In 1971, following a divisive election result, civil war broke out in the former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh ) between

7854-628: The night 21/22 September 1965 C company position was shelled heavily and was attacked by Indian troops who succeeded in overrunning part of a forward platoon. A counter-attack was launched by C company which recovered the position. During the conflict, the Guides Infantry were awarded one Tamgha-i-Jurat and two C-in-C Commendation cards. Rann of Kutch Conflict – April 1965 . The trouble began in March 1965 when India started interfering with Pakistan Rangers patrol in Kanger Kot area. Immediately they took

7956-428: The night of 5 December/ 6, during one of the enemy attacks, Sharif hopped out of his trench, killed the enemy Company Commander of 4th Jat Regiment and recovered important documents from his possession. In another attack on the morning of 6 December, Shabbir Sharif took over an anti-tank gun from his gunner, and while engaging enemy tanks, he was killed in action by a direct hit from a tank. Major Shabbir Sharif already

8058-559: The operation did not produce the hoped-for results, and following a period of escalating clashes between Indian and Pakistani troops and irregulars from April to September, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 began. Also known as the Second Kashmir War ( the first having been fought in 1947), the five-week conflict led to territorial gains and losses, and caused thousands of casualties, on both sides, before ending in

8160-426: The personal cypher and the simpler, more workaday public initials, the former being the sovereign's own monogram and the latter simply a means of identifying a reign. Nowadays, the initials are also called the royal cypher, but, to aid clarification, the monogram is referred to as the royal cypher interlaced and reversed. On 26 September 2022, Buckingham Palace unveiled the cypher of the new king, Charles III , that

8262-531: The planned Sikh insurrection - a mission that they successfully carried out. However, British counter-measures were unable to prevent the revolt, which broke out at Multan in April 1848 and soon spread to the rest of the country. The Guides served at the Siege of Multan and then participated in the Battle of Gujrat on 21 February 1849, where the Sikh Army was decisively defeated. The Second Sikh War resulted in

8364-480: The raising of the Corps of Guides and a number of infantry regiments by incorporating veterans from the disbanded Sikh Khalsa army. During the early 1850s some of Lawrence's Sikh regiments were designated the " Punjab Irregular Force ", giving rise to the "Piffer" nickname which the Regiment carries to the present day, and through a series of reorganisations that culminated in 1922, these units would eventually become

8466-480: The ranks of the Frontier Force or one of its predecessor regiments. The modern Frontier Force is Pakistan's third-oldest military regiment in terms of the date of most recent amalgamation, behind the Punjab and Baloch regiments. The regiment was raised in its current form in 1957, through the amalgamation of two (with a later third component) former British Indian Army regiments: the 12th Frontier Force Regiment and

8568-587: The regiment is Labbaik , an Arabic word, which means Here I Come . It is commonly used as an invocation to respond to Allah's call for pilgrimage during Hajj , the annual Muslims pilgrimage. Before 1970, each Piffer unit had its own motto but on the whole the regiment had no motto, so it was decided at the Piffer Conference in 1970 to adopt Labbaik as the regimental motto. The official meaning of this motto is: —making all preparations required for going to battle, and putting ones heart and soul into

8670-585: The regiment who are promoted to the designation of Chief of Army Staff are known as Colonels in Chief . It is an honorary appointment. The FF regiment has only the following Colonels in Chief since its formation. The Colonel Commandant is an honorary designation given to the highest-ranked officer in service of the regiment. The Colonel Commandants since the creation of the regiment are listed below: Piffers have won many honours for their gallantry deeds in each battle. They were also awarded foreign medals before

8772-564: The regiment's ancestral military formations were units composed of infantry of either Punjabi or Pathan origin. However, the oldest unit of the regiment is the Scinde Camel Corps , raised in 1843 under Company rule in India . Another ancestral unit was the infantry component of the British Indian Army Corps of Guides ( partial cavalry unit ). Despite being a Pakistani regiment, the Frontier Force Regiment

8874-410: The searing Indian summer. The Guides went into action the same day and by evening, all of their officers were killed or wounded. They continued to fight gallantly throughout the summer and took part in the final assault and capture of Delhi . By the time they returned home, they had suffered 350 casualties out of the 600 men who had set out in May. For their gallant conduct at Delhi, they were awarded

8976-467: The then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif , agreed to call the troops back on 4 July 1999, after meeting with U.S President Bill Clinton . The Frontier Force Regiment has served outside Pakistan in various multinational and peacekeeping roles. From 1981 to 1988, the Piffer's mechanised infantry battalions were stationed at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia , as part of a Pakistani armoured brigade allocated for

9078-438: The war, the Guides Infantry raised three more battalions. The 3rd and 4th Guides Infantry were disbanded after the war. In 1921, the cavalry and infantry components were formally separated; the cavalry becoming the 10th Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides Cavalry (Frontier Force), while the infantry joined the newly formed 12th Frontier Force Regiment to make up the 5th and 10th (Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides) Battalions of

9180-605: The war, was deployed at Lahore and in the Khemkaran Sector. In East Pakistan, the 4th and 13th FF were present at the Battle of Hilli , where 4th FF held its position until ordered out. Major Muhammad Akram of the 4th FF was posthumously awarded Pakistan's highest award for gallantry, the Nishan-e-Haider . Other units which operated from East Pakistan were the 12th, 15th, 22nd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 30th and 38th FF. They became prisoners of war once Dhaka fell to

9282-438: The world's highest battleground, including the 3rd, 4th, 8th, 24th, 26th, 28th, 31st, 36th, 38th, 39th and 47th FF. In addition, some Northern Light Infantry Battalions, who were the first to arrive, were led by Piffer officers. Frontier Force casualties in the conflict include three officers, two junior commissioned officers, and 81 other ranks killed in action. The town and district of Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir lies on

9384-523: Was E II R , standing for Elizabeth II Regina . Elizabeth's cypher was usually surmounted by a stylised version of St. Edward's Crown. In Scotland, as a result of the ' Pillar Box War ', which was a dispute over the correct title of the new monarch ( Elizabeth I of England and Ireland was not a monarch of Scotland, so the new queen would have been Elizabeth I, not II, in Scotland according to that view), after 1953 new post boxes carried only

9486-675: Was amended to include 10% Sindhis and 5% Balochis , reducing the quota of Punjabis to 35%. This measure was intended to diminish segregation within the Army. The regiment is currently based in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 's city of Abbottabad , which also houses the depots of the Baloch Regiment and the Army Medical Corps. The city was originally the headquarters of the Frontier Force Rifles prior to their merger with

9588-509: Was awarded by the Viceroy of India for long, faithful and honourable service by Viceroy's Commissioned (i.e. native Indian) Officers in the Indian Army . The Frontier Force regiment still maintains the lineage of its predecessor regiments so this award was received by following Piffers: Commandeur of the Légion d'honneur , the third of the five classes of the Légion d'honneur was awarded by

9690-647: Was captured and cleared of the Indians immediately. In this small battle the battalion was awarded two Tamgha-e-Jurat, Four Imtiazi Sanads and one C-in-C Commendation Card. Honours Tamgh-e-Jurat Imtiazi Sanad Commendation Card On 3 October 1971 during the war , the battalion was deployed to the Chakothi area to defend the Sirinager-to- Muzaffarabad road in the Uri section. C Company

9792-657: Was detached to Lipa Valley where it fought a glorious action on Shisha Ladi ridge, "R" battery of 25 Composite Mountain Regiment (Artillery) was in support. It was commanded by Lt Col Abdul Hameed Khan in 1971.) Mooltan, Goojerat, Punjaub, Delhi 1857, Ali Masjid, Kabul 1879, Afghanistan 1878-80, Chitral, Punjab Frontier, Malakand, Mesopotamia 1917-18, Megiddo, Sharon, Palestine 1918, NW Frontier, India 1914-15, Afghanistan 1919, Kashmir 1948, Rann of Kutch 1965, Khem Karan 1965. http://www.radio.gov.pk/03-04-2019/pakistan-army-approves-promotion-of-40-brigadiers-to-major-general Frontier Force Regiment The Frontier Force Regiment

9894-576: Was immortalized by MM Kaye in her bestselling novel The Far Pavilions and in the 1984 motion picture of the same name. The massacre at Kabul led to the resumption of hostilities and in December 1879, the Guides were dispatched to join the Kabul Field Force under General Sir Frederick Roberts at Sherpur Cantonment near Kabul. They participated in the attacks on Takht-i-Shah and Asmai Heights , where Captain Arthur Hammond won

9996-399: Was immortalized by Rudyard Kipling in several of his works such as The Ballad of East and West . By around the start of the 20th century, the Guides had acquired such a legendary status that when Robert Baden-Powell , the founder of Boy Scouts , decided to form a similar organization for girls in 1909, he named them Girl Guides after the Corps of Guides. How Girls Can Help to Build Up

10098-527: Was in an area secured by the 7th FF, and the 5th, 8th and 15th FF were also deployed to the region. On 3 October 1993, the 15th FF's Quick Reaction Force participated in the Pakistani-led rescue operation of a force of US Rangers that had become pinned down in Mogadishu; contrary to the fictionalised depiction of events in the movie Black Hawk Down , a number of Rangers were taken to safety in

10200-618: Was involved in the Battle of Hilli . On the opposite side India had an Infantry brigade with the support of a tank squadron which were making way for the 20th Mountain Division. Major Akram and his men fought for a whole fortnight against enemy who was superior both in number and fire power. Hilli was the only battle sector where the fight continued even after the Fall of Dhaka on 16 December 1971. Major Akram died in action while defending in an epic manner after defying surrender. For his sacrifice he

10302-603: Was posthumously awarded Nishan-e-Haider. On 3 December 1971, Major Shabbir Sharif who was commanding a company of 6th FF Regiment near Sulemanki headworks, was assigned the task of capturing the high ground overlooking the Gurmukh Khera and Beriwala villages in the Sulemanki sector. On the opposite side India had more than a company of the Assam Regiment which was supported by a squadron of tanks. Also among

10404-588: Was sent to defend the Lipa valley, joined by elements of the Tochi Scouts. Lipa was defended under second-in-command Abdul Hamid Afridi. On 8 November, Indian forces attacked two patrols of C Company at Shisha Ladi with the intent of capturing the Lipa valley. The final attack was repulsed at 04:15. At 08:00 the second attack began with heavy artillery fire, incurring many casualties by 10:30. Major Aziz Ahmed, Samandar Shah and three jawans held Shahadat. Members of

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