Madras Engineer Group

Madras Engineer Group (MEG) or the "Madras Sappers" are a regiment of the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army which draw their origin from the erstwhile Madras Presidency army of the British Raj. This regiment has a large base in Bangalore. In World War I they became particularly famous for inventing the mine clearing torpedo that goes by the name of "Bangalore torpedo".

History

The Madras Sappers originated from two companies of Pioneers started in 1780 that were called the 'Madras Pioneers'. This later became the 'Corps of Madras Pioneers' and was renamed the 'Corps of Madras Sappers and Miners' in 1831. In 1876 they were prefixed by 'Queen's Own'. In 1903 they were renamed '2nd Queen's Own Madras Sappers and Miners' as part of the Kitchener Reforms. In 1911 they were called the '2nd Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners'.

Battle Honours

*Carnatic 1781-82
*Sholinghur 1781-82
*Mysore 1792
*Seringapatam 1799
*Egypt with the Sphinx 1801
*Assaye 1803
*Java 1811
*Nagpur 1819
*Meheidpur 1819
*Ava 1825
*China 1840
*Meanee 1843
*Hyderabad 1843
*Pegu 1852
*Persia 1856-57
*Central India 1858
*Lucknow 1858
*Taku Forts 1860
*Pekin 1860
*Abyssinia 1868
*Afghanistan 1878-80
*Egypt 1882
*Tel-el-Kebir 1882
*Suakin 1885
*Tofrek 1885
*Burma 1885-87
*Chitral 1895
*Malakand 1897
*Tirah 1897-98
*Punjab Frontier 1897-98
*China 1900
*France & Flanders 1914-15
*N.W. Frontier 1914-15
*Suez Canal 1915-17
*Egypt 1915-17
*Baghdad 1915-18
*Mesopotamia 1915-18
*Tigris 1916
*Kut-el-Amara 1917
*India 1917
*Gaza 1917
*Megiddo 1917
*Sharon 1918
*Palestine 1918
*Persia 1918
*East Africa 1918
*Mersa Matruh 1940-43
*Ngakyedauk Pass 1942-45
*Bishenpur 1942-45
*Meiktila 1942-45
*Tamu Road 1942-45
*Cassino I 1943-45
*Zoji La 1948
*Basantar River 1971

Theatre Honours

*Abyssinia 1940-41
*North Africa 1940-43
*Iraq 1941
*Syria 1941
*Malaya 1941-42
*Burma 1942-45
*Italy 1943-45
*Jammu & Kashmir 1947-48
*Jammu & Kashmir 1965
*Punjab 1965
*Jammu & Kashmir 1971
*Punjab 1971
*East Pakistan 1971

External links

* http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/9460/remem.htm
* http://www.warbirdsofindia.com/warrelics/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=50
* http://www.regiments.org/regiments/southasia/art-eng-sig/sm-mad.htm
* http://www.remuseum.org.uk/corpshistory/rem_corps_part10.htm
* http://sify.com/cities/bangalore/fullstory.php?id=13958631

ee also

* Indian Army
* Indian Army Corps of Engineers
* Bengal Engineer Group
* Bombay Engineer Group