PROEM

It was in 1610 that the Moghul Governor of Gujrat granted the East India Company of London permission to trade at Surat Steadily this ompany started esta!lishing its trade entres at various pla es in India" Eventually# it developed three main head$uarters at Cal utta in 16%& for the area whi h later alled the 'engal (residen y) at Madras in 16%* for what was to !e +nown as Madras (residen y) and at 'om!ay in 16%* for the 'om!ay (residen y"

the

was

,hese three head$uarters separately ontrolled a large num!er of manufa tories# warehouses and depots in their respe tive areas# and the three operated somewhat independently of ea h other" ,hese three# therefore# developed $uite separately till mid nineteenth entury when all these three presiden ies adopted a uniform administration" ,o evolve any oherent histori al re ord of ordnan e servi es in India# we shall first have to tra e the random administrative developments in the various Company entres !efore the 1-&&.&/ reorganisation" 0uring this period# the Company employed a staff of armed peons and European guards# who were armed with superior $uality of firearms and gun powder !rought from En# for the se urity and prote tion of its fa tories and warehouses" 1s the Company opened more entres# it started fortifying the major and important ones of these" In 1666# the Company arranged to o!tain stores of different des ription from England for improving the fortifi ations of 'om!ay" ,his an !e onsidered the first demand ever made from India for ordnan e stores" In 166-# the Company de ided to manufa ture gun powder at 'om!ay" ,hree years later# efforts were made to organise munition wor+ers and en ourage artifi ers# goldsmiths# armourers and other raftsmen to live in 'om!ay and wor+ for the Company"

In 16*&# the first Master of the 2rdnan e was appointed in 'om!ay to ommand gunners# mates# artifi ers# et " 3e was responsi!le for maintaining all the ordnan e instruments in servi ea!le ondition# as well as preparation of hand grenades# gun powder and other firewor+s" ,hus a fa tory. umarsenal gradually too+ shape at 'om!ay# whi h later played a very important part in the e4pansion of the 'ritish Empire in India" " ,o prote t the fa tories and warehouses of the Company against armed atta +s# annons and military stores were imported from 'ritain" 51I operate these guns and loo+ after the military stores# a rudimentary organi6ation was reated with the Gunner as the head of the 5gun room rew5" ,hese were the days of ontinuous s+irmishes !etween the Marathas and the Moghuls" So# there was a great demand for gun powder and i7 provision# manufa ture and storage were very important from !oth ommer ial and military points" In 18&6# the 1rtillery in 'om!ay# rather its 2rdnan e was reorgani6ed under a Captain Lieutenant of the 1rtillery# who was to !e assisted !y a Lieutenant 9ire wor+er" :nder their administrative harge was the Military Store+eeper who pro ured military stores lo ally and supplied these after harging a ertain per entage of ommission" 'esides the Military Store+eeper# there were the 0ire tor of La!oratory and other assistants" ,his was the 2rdnan e 0epartment at that time" It provided and held harge of all a outrements of war# while the rest of the 1rtillery manned the guns in the !attlefield or elsewhere when ne essary# !ut they did not have them on permanent harge" In 18/;# Captain 2live of the Company aptured the 9ort of 1r ot with huge ordnan e stores" ,hen onwards# the Company engaged in ontinuous fighting against the 9ren h# 3ydera!ad# Mysore# 'engal# 2udh# the Marathas and the 1fghans" 0uring this period# the 2rdnan e Servi es developed to a onsidera!le e4tent" ,o give an estimate of the 2rdnan e strength in 18/%# we give here the figures from the re ord of the 'om!ay (residen y whi h state that there were &00 ordnan es at that time in the various forts together with 80 3owit6ers and mortars# 100#000 round shots# /#000 dou!le.headed shots# 1#000 lead grapes# %#000 iron grapes# !esides shells# empties and ar asses" /#&%8 stone !alls for mortars# ;1& !arrels of European powder and 1#000 !arrels of ountry powder" " In 18/-# an 2rdnan e Supply Committee was set up to inspe t and superintend the issue of 2rdnan e stores# espe ially powder" ,he onstru tion of 9ort <illiam in Cal utta also started in this year" ,his fort"

ompleted in 1/ years# had the first 2rdnan e 0epot in it" In 186&# 'engal# 'ihar and 2rissa !e -"=I1e 'ritish possessions" ,he 'engal 1rtillery o!tained 1%% servi ea!le pie es of ordnan e with English arriages" ,he ne4t year "saw the 'ritish in 1llaha!ad# as also the esta!lishment of an 2rdnan e Maga6ine or (ar+ there" ,hus# the nu leus 5of the future arsenal had ome into !eing" In the re ords of this year# we find the first mention of 5 Condu tors=" i"e" two Condu tors were now in luded in the strength of ea h Company" !esides one 0eputy Commissary" 2n - 1pril 188/# a 'oard of 2rdnan e was onstituted in 'engal (residen y# whi h for the first time reated an organi6ation that ould effe tively ontrol all the stores of the Company 1rmy" ,he esta!lishment of this 'oard was a signifi ant histori al development and deserves a detailed study" ,he offi ial history of 1rmy 2rdnan e may !e said to !egin from this date" ,he esta!lishment of this 'oard of 2rdnan e was the first real attempt at organi6ing an effe tive ontrol over military e4penditure with a systemati distri!ution of ordnan e e$uipment and military stores to the troops" ,his was also the first attempt to have an effe tive entrali6ed authority over 2rdnan e" ,he 'oard was a high.powered !ody onsisting of the Governor General# the Commander of the 9or es# one mem!er of the Supreme Coun il# the Commissary.General of Stores# the Commanding 2ffi er of 1rtillery# the Chief Engineer# the Military Store+eeper# with a Se retary and assistants" the >uartermaster.General was added to the 'oard# later" ,he general ontrol of stores for the 1rmy was vested in this 'oard" Its main duties were ?. @aA ,o re eive periodi returns of stores from all Commanding 2ffi ers of garrisons and antonments and all artillery offi ers and other offi ers in harge of stores" ,o e4er ise ontrol over all ontra ts for the supply of stores# manufa ture of ordnan es and gun powder proofs of ordnan e and powder in the la!oratories" ,o san tion and pass all military indents for stores" ,o e4er ise ontrol over the 2rdnan e offi ers employed at the maga6ines and arsenals# as well as over the Commissaries with the troops engaged in operations"

@!A

@ A @dA

,he 'oard had !een given su h wide powers that its fun tioning was hampered due to open hostility shown !y the various offi ers !rought under its ontrol" 1s a result# the field system of a ounting and returns was onsidera!ly simplified"

The Military Board

In 18-6# the ivil and military administration of 'engal was reorgani6ed !y the Company" 1s a result# the 'oard of 2rdnan e was repla ed !y a !road.!ased Military 'oard# omprising the Commander.in. Chief# Engineer# the 1djutant.General# the >uartermaster.General and the Commissary General ,his 'oard e4er ised full ontrol over all army stores and e$uipment# and no stores ould !e supplied without its permission" 2nly this 'oard now had the authority to indent military stores from England" 'ut it did not wor+ independently of the Coun il# rather it was a 'oard of 5Beferen e and Beport5# whi h s rutini6ed every item of e4penditure !ut had nothing to do with the dis ipline or the distri!ution of the troops" In 1-%0# the Military 'oard was re onstituted and was given ontrol of 2rdnan e# (u!li <or+s# Canals# Commissariat and the stud"

SPECIAL ORDNANCE COMMISSION, 1875

'y 1-8/ the 'ritish had developed a !asi networ+ of ommuni ation in India" Many pla es# whi h were remote and almost ina essi!le earlier were now lin+ed !y road# rail and telegraph" <ater transport lines were also opened on rivers and anals" In addition regular o ean navigation was started !etween the ports along the Indian oast" <ith the 'ritish flag now flying over the largest part of the Indian su! ontinent# the 'ritish for es in the ountry too had in reased onsidera!ly" 1lso with the improved ommuni ations# the lo al distin tions in the armies of the three (residen ies were !e oming unne essary and um!ersome" 1s a natural onse$uen e# the dispersal of military stores at small depots a over t e ountry was no longer warranted" ,he Government of India therefore onstituted a Spe ial 2rdnan e Commission in 1-8& to re ommend a more effi ient and effe tive ordnan e system for India as a whole# without undue weight to regional interests" The Term o! Re!ere"#e

,he Commission started wor+ at Cal utta on * 9e!ruary 1-8&" ,he terms of referen e for the Commission were as under ? @aA ,he Commission was to determine for the whole of India the a tual num!ers and sites of arsenals# maga6ines# depots and manufa tories with due regard to strategi # military and politi al onsiderations# means of ommuni ations# lo al defen e availa!ility of s+illed la!our# a essi!ility to the dependent troops# and e onomy and onvenien e of supply from the primary sour e# whether England or India# to ea h arsenal# depot maga6ine and fa tory" ,he Commission was to define the ir le or distri t or military stations to !e supplied !y ea h arsenal# maga6ine or depot" ,he Commission was to fi4 the esta!lishment for the effi ient wor+ing of ea h fa tory# arsenal# maga6ine and depot# omparing the present with proposed strength and ost# with due regard to providing for e4pansion in war" ,he Commission was to name the groups of stores and materials to !e +ept in ea h arsenal# maga6ine or depot" ,he Commission was to e4amine the methods of e4e utive wor+# i"e" supply to the troops and internal e onomy of the installations# and to onsider in parti ular the system for the supply of amp e$uipage and ammunition to the army"

@!A @ A

@dA @eA

,he Commission studied the whole ordnan e setup in India# visited all the.(residen ies# one after the other# and investigated every $uestion on the spot" It found that the wor+ing of the 2rdnan e departments in India was vitiated !y a paro hial outloo+" 2rdnan e fa tories had !een esta!lished with a se tarian view to satisfy the e4 lusive need of ea h (residen y and not to serve India as a whole" ,he 2rdnan e supply entres# i"e" arsenals# maga6ines and depots had developed hapha6ardly and without any plan" Many of them had outlived their utility" Moreover# a great hange had ta+en pla e in the relative positions of the (residen y 1nnies? the 'engal 1rmy had now !e ome the most important of all the three" ,he entre of military gravity had shifted to the (unja! and the Corth. <estern 9rontiers" 1lso# ea h (residen y had its own separate on ept of 2rdnan e organisation" ,hus# the Commission fa ed a massive and omple4 tas+" 1fter lengthy deli!erations stret hing over an year# the Commission presented its

report on 8 1pril 1-8/"

Dire#ti$e Pri"#i%le
,o find a s ientifi approa h to the pro!lem !efore it# the Commission first formulated ertain dire tive prin iples# whi h were as under ? @iA Ea h unit of the army should# as far as possi!le# !e omplete in itself# i"e"# it should have its own ammunition# though not ne essarily in its own lines and a proper omplement of artifi ers with suffi ient proportion of materials in regimental stores" ,here should !e a periodi al issue of stores from arsenals to various units instead of the prevailing system of random fre$uent issue of small $uantities" 2rdnan e esta!lishments should ordinarily not !e alled upon to perform duties other than legitimate ordnan e wor+" 1rsenals and depots should not !e multiplied !eyond the num!er a!solutely ne essary for the effi ient supply to the army" <herever pra ti a!le# 2rdnan e esta!lishments for supply of the army should !e on the main line of ommuni ation" If the limati onditions permitted# the fa tories should !e sited as near to the sea !oard as is ompati!le with safety"

@iiA

@iiiA

@ivA

@vA

@viA

<ith these guidelines the Commission made its re ommendations" ,he following ta!le shows the relevant strength and the ordnan e situation in the three (residen ies at that time ? Me" Comma"d Ord"a"#e (ield Military E ta&li h' )*" Statio" I"dia" Briti h Total e"t
Be"+al 6%#&6 D &10;- E10&"18& Madra Bom&a y %%#*6% D1%#;%;E&8#1*/ ;6#8/% D1;#1;&E%-#-88 1% * 8 * 1% * ;&0 10/ -8 10; &/ &0

<ith the a!ove strength# the 'engal 1rmy drew its ordnan e supplies from the three main arsenals# vi6 9ort <illiams# 1llaha!ad# and 9ero6epore and a smaller arsenal at (eshawar" 9ort <illiam# o asionally the 9ero6epore arsenal too# dire tly re eived stores from England and replenished others" ,he Southern Indian 1rmy re eived its 2rdnan e supplies from the Grand 1rsenal of Madras# whi h dire tly re eived its supplies from England# and the arsenals at Se undera!ad# the maga6ines at Cagpore# 'angalore# and Bangoon# and the depots at 'ellary# Cannanore# ,ri hinopally# ,hayetmyo and ,ounghoo" ,he 'om!ay 1rmy got its supplies from the Grand 1rsenal of 'om!ay @the re eiving depot from EnglandA# and the arsenals at Mhow# (oons# 'elgaum# 3ydera!ad @SindA and 1den# and the Maga6ine at Ceemu h and depots at Furra hee @Fara hiA and 1hmeda!ad" ,he Commission onsidered that there were four main se tors where military operations might o ur on a large s ale? the Corth.<est 9rontier) the Corth.East and Eastern 9rontiers# in luding 'urma) and overseas theatres li+e (ersia# the Bed Sea or Egypt" Feeping these li+ely operational se tors in view the Commission determined the arsenals ne essary as se ondary !ases of supply and lastly# depots re$uired mainly as lin+s in the hain of supply" " ,he Commission gave new definitions to the following terms? Anenal should mean an esta!lishment for re eipt# storage# issue# onstru tion and repair of all munitions of war# and was to omprise two lasses ? (a) Fint-Class Al"8enal ? ,hese were to !e large installations at important strategi points5 to provide supplies for general operations and to feed se ond. lass arsenals and depots# and troops in its immediate vi inity" Second-Class AnenalB ? ,hese were to !e lo ated at points of se ondary strategi importan e for supply of stores to the depots and troops in their immediate vi inity"

(b)

Depots would signify a depository for ammunition and stores and would onsist of two lasses ? (a) Fint-Class Depot: was to have a reserve of ammunition and entren hing tools for the dependent troops# and in addition

tomaintain a small siege train apa!le# if ne essary# of e4pansion into a se ond. lass arsenal" (b) Second-Class Depot: was to ontain only ammunition and entren hing tools for the dependent troops"

Magazine: ,he use of this term was to !e dis ontinued" ,he ommission deli!erated at length on the hoi e of various stations here the arsenals and depots were to !e lo ated# and made following re ommendations ? Present Ar e"al
9ort <illiam 9ort St" George 'om!ay 1llaha!ad 9ero6epore (eshawar """ 9ort <illiam @lst lass arsenalA St" ,homas Mount.do. 'om!ay .do). 1llaha!ad .do. :m!alla or Saharan pore .do. (eshawar @;nd lass depotA Bawul (indi @;nd lass arsenalA . Fhundwa @;nd lass arsenalA (oona @1st lass depotA Se undera!ad @;nd lass depotA . . Cagpore @1st lass depotA 'angalore @.do.A Bangoon @;nd lass arsenalA 1den @.do.A Betained Changed Lo ations Betained Betained Belo ated Bedu ed Cew Esta!lishment reated 1!olished Belo ated Bedu ed Bedu ed 1!olished 1!olished Bedu ed Bedu ed 0esignation altered Betained

Proposed

Remarks

3ydera!ad" Sind """ Mhow (oona Se undera!ad 'elgaum Ceemu h @Maga6ineA Cagpore @.do.A 'angalore @.do.A Bangoon @.do.A 1den

De%ot 0era.Ismail.Fhan Mooltan "G Furra hee "G 'areilly 1gra Saugor 1hmeda!ad 1hmednagar Sholapore 1uranga!ad Elli hpore 3ingoly 'ellary Cannanore ,ri hinopoly ,hyetmyo ,onghoo

. Mooltan @1st lass depotA Furra hee @.do.A . 1gra @1st lass depotA . 1hmeda!ad @1st lass depotA . . 3ydera!ad Contingent 'ellary @;nd lass arsenalA . . . ,onghoo @;nd lass depotA

1!olished Betained Betained 1!olished Betained 1!olished Betained 1!olished 1!olished 1!olished

2ther re ommendations of the Commission# were as under?. @aA @!A @ A (d) (e) (f) (g) (a#torie ,he Commission gave similar thought to the lo ation of the fa tories" Ea h ategory of fa tories was onsidered as under ? ,he Bawul (indi 1rsenal was to !e ompleted at the earliest" 1 thorough e4amination of the possi!le sites was to !e underta+en for the proposed arsenal at Fhundwa" ,he e4penditure on Mhow arsenal was to !e restri ted in view of the sele tion at Fhundwa" Cew sites were to !e sele ted for the depots at (eshawar# 1hmeda!ad# (oona and 'angalore" Bepair and hange of armament of the forts was to !e under ta+en" :tili6ation of the amp e$uipage depot at Famptee was to !e further onsidered" Maintenan e of military roads wherever affe ted !y the hanges was spelt out"

(a)

Gun-Carriage Factoriee ? ,he Commission re ommended that only two gun. arriage fa tories might !e maintained in India at 1llaha!ad and Madras" ,he gun. arriage fa tory at 'om!ay was to !e losed down" Gunpowder FactorieB ? ,he three gunpowder fa tories at Ishapore# Madras and Fir+ee were to !e retained with further e4tensions !y in orporating mills in ea h fa tory" Small Arms AmmunitionB FactorieB ? ,he two fa tories at 0um 0um and Fir+ee were to !e retained and the fa tory at Fir+ee was to !e e4tended" ,hese were supplying small arms ammunitions" Foundr H S!ell Factor : ,he only fa tory in India whi h was then manufa turing artillery proje tiles was at Cassipore" It was to !e retained and e4tended" "ameBB H Saddler Factor : ,he only su h fa tory in India was at Fanpur" ,he Commission re ommended in reased esta!lishment and pIant for this fa tory"

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

Pro#ed*re ,he Commission also turned its attention to the tas+ of simplifying the pro edures and ma+ing them more s ientifi and effi ient" It re ommended a system so well on eived and sound that mu h of it survived till 1*1-" Some pro edural re ommendations are as follows ? (a) #$uipment %ableB ? ,he Commission re ommended that the E$uipment ,a!les should !e pu!lished for all the !ran hes and units of the Servi e# showing the proportions or periods of weat5 for all e$uipment" &ndent': ,he Commission re ommended that the demands for stores should !e made twi e a year and authorised indents should !e sent dire t to arsenals for he + and omplian e" Condemned Stores: ,he Commission re ommended that the stores should !e ondemned only when they !e ame unservi ea!le" Su h ondemned stores were to !e disposed of departmentally# through pu!li au tion" (eser)es: ,he Commission re ommended that ea h arsenal should +eep full s ale of reserve of all lasses of stores for its

(b)

(c)

(d)

own dependen y of troops# and the depots should hold /00 rounds per gun and %00 per rifle# together with entren hing tools for their own respe tive dependen ies" (e) (f) (g) %ransport ? ,he Commission re ommended that Commissariat should unnerta+e all transport responsi!ility" the

Barrac* Furniture H +t!er Supplies: ,he Commission was against 2rdnan e underta+ing this responsi!ility" (eceipts and &ssues ? ,he Commission re ommended that there should !e separate ondu tors of re eipts and issues# with full responsi!ilities" Gate ,ut ? ,he Commission re ommended that in all the arsenals# a warrant or non. ommissioned offi er should !e pla ed on gate duty !y roster" -or*s!ops: ,he Commission re ommended that in every arsenal# the wor+shops should !e a separate harge under a 1 st lass permanent Condu tor# with a Staff Sergeant to assist him" Camp #$uipage' ? ,he 2rdnan e was to provide and supply amp e$uipments"

(!)

(i)

(*)

Or+a"i,atio" o! Sto#,he Commission was of the view that in the 1st lass arsenals# stores should !e divided into eight or nine se tions5 or 5!ran hes5# ea h in harge of a <arrant 2ffi er with a Staff Sergeant as assistant" A##o*"t ,he Commission found different a ounting systems o!taining in !oth arsenals and fa tories" It re ommended for the adoption of a uniform pro edure# vi6" the 'engal arsenal system for the arsenals and the <oolwi h system for the fa tories" S*mmary o! Re#omme"datio" In the end we may try to re apitulate the main re ommendations of the Commission# whi h esta!lished the prin iples on whi h# !roadly spea+ing# 2rdnan e supply has !een !ased ever sin e" ,he re ommendations separated learly two aspe ts of the pro!lem of 2rdnan e supply" 2n the 1rmy side# it was laid down that @aA regular s hedules should !e formulated in respe t of e$uipment to !e held !y units"

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the e4tent to whi h reserves of su h e$uipment might !e held !y the units should !e defined# and repla ements to the units should !e ondu ted on a uniform system" storage and distri!ution should !e on entrated in a minimum num!er of large entres# and all superfluous# outlying esta!lishments !e a!andoned"

2n the 2rdnan e side# it was re ommended that ?. @aA @!A

,he Commission also laid down the prin iples on whi h reserves L 2rdnan e stores in arsenals were to !e al ulated" 1 uniform system of internal e onomy and pro edures for arsenals and depots was also formulated" Similarly# the num!er of fa tories was onsidered and on entration suggested"

T.E ARM/ IN INDIA COMMISSION, 1870

19,EB the Great Mutiny of 1-/8# the 'ritish arried out e4tensive reforms in the Indian 1rmy# in 1-61# to assuage the hurt feelings of Indian soldiers and develop a greater sense of loyalty and dis ipline in them" For more than two enturies# the 'ritish had now seen the Indian soldier in a tion and +new that with right type of in entives and proper onditioning# this soldiery ould !e !uilt into a mighty for e for the prote tion and e4pansion of the 'ritish domination" 1lthough the 1-61 reforms of the 1rmy were $uite e4tensive !ut still mu h was wanting as was proved later" ,he first o asion when the Indian 1rmy parti ipated in onsidera!le strength in any a tion was provided !y the ;nd 1fghan <ar @1-8-.1---A" It was during this war that the various defe ts and short. omings in the 1rmy organisation ame to fore" So in May 1-8*# Lord Lytton appointed the =1rmy in India Commission=# with the o!je t of underta+ing a thorough in$uiry into the military system in India with a view to introdu ing e onomy into the military administration without any loss of effi ien y" ,hus# this ommission had a mu h wider sphere of a tion than the previous Commission of 1-8/" ,his ommission studied every on eiva!le aspe t of the 1rmy and

made a num!er of re ommendations of far rea hing signifi an e" Its main re ommendation was for the unifi ation of the servi e !y virtual a!olition of the three (residen y 1rmies# and division of the army into five Commands# vi6" (unja!# 'engal# 'om!ay# Madras and 'urma" ,his was not a epted !y the Se retary of State immediately# !ut was implemented mu h later# in the year 1-*/" " ,he 2rdnan e portion of this report though rather small# was yet $uite signifi ant" 3ere too# the main re ommendation was the amalgamation of the three (residen y 2rdnan e 0epartments into a single all.India organi6ation under a 0ire tor.General of 2rdnan e" ,he Inspe tors General of 2rdnan e for 'engal# Madras and 'om!ay were to !e fun tionally responsi!le to the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e" 1nother aspe t of the Commission5s re ommendation was that !y and !y the fa tories5 organi6ation should !e pla ed dire tly under the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e" ,he upshot of the two ommissions.the Spe ial 2rdnan e Commission of 1-8/ and the 1rmy in India Commission of 1-8*.was that in 1--&# a omplete revolution was !rought a!out in the stru ture of the 2rdnan e Servi es in India"
2n 1 1pri11--7# the 2rdnan e esta!lishments of the three (residen ies were amalgamated into one department# aned the 52rdnan e 0epartment in India" ,he department was su!ordinate to the Government of India !ut was under the immediate e4e utive ontr01 of the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e# an appointment reated for the first time" ,he 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e# in addition to !eing responsi!1e for the effi ient wor+ing of the department# !e ame the offi ia1 adviser to the Government on all 2rdnan e matters" ,he department was divided into three ir 1es of superintenden e and supply.'engal# Madras and 'om!ay.ea h under the harge of an Inspe tor. General of 2rdnan e" 1ll the three Inspe tors General were p1a ed dire tly under the 0ire tor.General and were now to assist him in the administrative wor+ of the arsenals and depots in their respe tive ir 1es" Ea h Inspe tor.General of 2rdnan e was allowed an 1ssistant) in 'engal# however# a 0eputy was also allowed" 3owever# in 1-*0# the Government !ifur ated the 'engal Cir 1e into two ir 1es? Eastern and <estern ir 1es of 'engal# ea h under a separate Inspe tor.General" 1fter the a!olition of the separate (residen y 1rmies in5 1-*/# the ommand on ept ame into !eing and four ommands were esta!lished" It did not mu h affe t the 2rdnan e 0epartment# for the four ir 1es were easily

merged into the four ommands" ,he first 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e @0G2A was appointed on 1 1pril 1--&" ,he 0ire tor.General of 2rdnan e had a dual role to play" 3e was !asi ally under the Military Mem!er of the Coun il and yet had to !e an adviser to the Commander.in.Chief on 2rdnan e matters affe ting the 1rmy" 3e was the offi ial adviser to the Government of India on an $uestions of e$uipment and supply of stores) and on him devolved the duty of providing# holding# and issuing munitions of war re$uired for the servi e of the several !ran hes of the 1rmy in India" 3e was responsi!le for the manufa ture of su h warli+e stores as for whi h indigenous produ tion had !een esta!lished in the 2rdnan e fa tories in India" 3e was a1so the adviser to the Commander.in.Chief on an 2rdnan e matters" 9or the first time the 0ire tor.General !e ame the E4e utive head of an integrated 0epartment and thus inevita!ly gained in prestige H authority" 3e e4er ised fun ontrol over the staff# de iding their appointments# transfers and promotions" <ith a tight grip on the administration he ould now devote time and energy to the vital issues of planning and devising measures for the improvement of the 0epartment" In 1--&.-/# the esta!lishment under the 0ire tor. General of 2rdnan e# other than fa tories# was as follows ?

Ar e"al 1st Class

9ort <illiam 1llaha!ad 9ero6pur

De%ot ;nd Class 1st Class ;nd Class

0era Ismail Fhan BEN)AL CIRCLE

Bawalpindi >uetta

1gra

MADRAS CIRCLE Madras @In l" 0epot at St ,homas MountA 1st Cia"" 'ellary Bangoon BOMBA/ CIRCLE ,rimulgherry

'om!ay

Mhow Fara hi 1den

(oona

1hmeda!ad

,he year 1-*0 saw a signifi ant development in the 2rdnan e organisation" 9or the first time# the four Inspe tors.General of 2rdnan e were formally in orporated in the staffs of the Commands and appointed as te hni al adviser to the General 2ffi ers Commanding.in.Chief of the on erned

Command" It was also round this time that the designation of the Commissary of 2rdnan e was hanged to that of 2rdnan e 2ffi er" 1 (roof 0epartment was also set up at 'alasore on 1 1pril 1-*6" ,his 0epartment arried out proofs of e4plosives# ammunition and even of ordnan e" ,his esta!lished the prin iple that one and the same agen y should not !e made responsi!le for !oth its manufa ture and $uality testifi ation" Im%orta"t Or+a"i atio"al Cha"+e 1 3arness and Saddlery <or+shop was opened at the site of the old Madras Gunpowder 9a tory at (eram!ur in 1-*-" ,he Gunpowder 9a tory at Fir+ee was losed in 1*00" 1 new ordite fa tory near <ellington @now +nown as 1ruvan+aduA was opened in 1*01 and it started fun tioning in 1*0&" ,he Ishapore G:?1powder 9a tory was +ept open till the following year" ,he 1den 1rsenal was redu ed to a 1st Class 0epot in 1-*8" ,he 'ellary 1rsenal was losed in 1*00 and the ;nd Class 0epot at ,rimulghery was on urrently raised to a 1st Class 0epot" In 1*00# the arsenal at Bawalpindi was also raised to the 1st Class status" Red*#tio" Cir#le <ith the rapid growth of the 2rdnan e fa tories# the administration of the fa tories was removed from the jurisdi tion of the Inspe tors General of 2rdnan e of various Commands# and pla ed dire tly under the ontrol of the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e in India in the year 1-*-" ,his onsidera!ly de reased the wor+ and responsi!ilities of the Inspe tors General of 2rdnan e" ,herefore in 1*00 the four ir les of 2rdnan e supply were redu ed to two# vi6 Corthern and Southern" 1s a dire t onse$uen e of this amalgamation of ir les a mu h needed review of the personnel list was also arried out" ,he two. ir le organisation led to another nota!le hange" Curious as it may appear# ti:1*00 !y far the greater majority of Inspe tors.General of 2rdnan e were fa tory offi ers" Cow this tradition was to !e !ro+en and a new one reated" ,he first two Cir le Inspe tors.General of 2rdnan e were fa tory offi ers# !ut these were the last to administer the arsenals" 1fter that# arsenal administration remained purely in arsenal hands" Ord"a"#e E ta&li hme"t 110213 In 1*01 the 2rdnan e esta!lishments were as follows ? @aA 10 9a tories dire tly under the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e ?. 9oundry and Steel 9a tory Cossipore) Gun. arriage 9a tories at 9atehgarh# Madras and 'om!ay) Cordite 9a tory# 1ruvan+adu) Gunpowder 9a tory# Ishapore) 1mmunition 9a tories at 0um 0um and Fir+ee) 3arness H Saddlery 9a tory# Cawnpore) and 3arness H

Saddlery <or+shop# Madras" 1rsenals and 0epots under the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e through the Inspe tors General of 2rdnan e of the two ir les were as under ? Ar e"al 1st Class 9ort <illiam 1llaha!ad 9ero6pur 'om!ay Madras >uetta Bangoon Mhow Fara hi ;nd Class 1st Class 1gra NORT.ERN CIRCLE 0era Ismail Fhan De%ot ;nd Class

SO4T.ERN CIRCLE 1den 9ort 0ufferin ,rimulgherry (oona 1hmeda!ad

5it#he"er Re!orm Lord Fit henor too+ over as Commander.in.Chief in Covem!er 1*0;" 3e had ome to India with a mandate to reorganise the Indian 1rmy and to streamline the army administration" 3e was of the view that a Commander. in.Chief ould not fun tion effi iently if he had no effe tive ontrol over the administrative servi e" 3e was# therefore against the system of dual ontrol of the Military Mem!er and the Commander.in.Chief over military matters" 3e felt that the intervention of the Military 0epartment in 1rmy affairs was unne essary and# in fa t# harmful) it was his view that the Commander.in. Chief should !e the sole authority on military affairs" 3e warned that =divided oun ils# divided authority and divided responsi!ility would lead to disaster"= 1lthough the then Ji eroy# Lord Cur6on was opposed to the Commander.in.Chief# Lord Fit hener5s views# as was ta itly e4pressed !y him in his minute# the Ca!inet in England de ided that the Military 0epartment was to !e a!olished" So a new system of army administration ame into for e" In pla e of the Military 0epartment# two new !ran hes of the Government of India were instituted and designated as the 51rmy 0epartment5 and 5Military Supply 0epartment5"

,he e4periment# however proved short lived for in 1*0* Lord Morley# the then Se retary of State for India# 5as a measure of e onomy# a!olished the Military Supply 0epartment" 3en eforth# the Commander.in.Chief had full ontrol over the 1rmy" ,hus for the first time in history# the 2rdnan e Servi es ame to !e administered !y the Commander.in.Chief"

(ACTORIES ADMINISTRATION
,3E year 1-*- forms an important landmar+ in the evolution of 2rdnan e Servi es as it was in this year that the administration of the fa tories was removed from the jurisdi tion of the several Inspe tors. General of 2rdnan e and on entrated under the dire t ontrol of the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e in India" In many ways this was a logi al development# as the 2rdnan e organi6ation had !y then !e ome too large and spe iali6ation was needed in !oth fields# i"e"# the arsenals and the fa tories" ,he year 1-*- also witnessed an interesting development in the general administration" Influen ed !y the e4ample of :F the Government of India de ided to institute an agen y for the inspe tion of e4plosives" Early in 1-**# two Carriage E4aminers from the Gun.Carriage 9a tories at 9atehgarh and 'om!ay were detailed to inspe t artillery e$uipment with the troops" ,his was pro!a!ly the first open re ognition !y the 2rdnan e Servi es in India of their responsi!ility for the ondition of e$uipment @other than small armsA in the hands of troops" It was also another step in the differentiation !etween inspe tion and manufa ture# whi h su!se$uently led to the formation of a separate inspe tion servi e" )ro6th o! the (a#torie Sin e the East India Company# and later the 'ritish Indian 1rmy had intimate lin+s with England# the rate of growth of the 2rdnan e fa tories in India was# to a large e4tent# affe ted !y the systems of transportation and ommuni ation with England" 0uring the 18 th H 1-th enturies when ommuni ations with England were pre arious# it was onsidered essential that India should !e self suffi ient in the matter of supplies e4 warli+e stores" 1 ordingly# esta!lishment of fa tories in India re eived greater impetus" In the latter part of the 1*th entury# however when ommuni ations with England improved# the dependen e upon England for the supply of artillery# small arms and ammunition in reased" ,he fa tor of in reasing omple4ity of armament stores was perhaps# also responsi!le

for this development" (oliti ally also# this dependen e of India on England suited the 'ritish" 'y 1-**# when Lord Cur6on !e ame the Ji eroy of India# the army was wholly dependent on England for the supply of artillery# rifles and the propellant" Cordite (a#tory ,he introdu tion of ordite as a propellant for rifles and gun ammunition made India dependent upon England" 'ut the transportation diffi ulties and rising osts led to the esta!lishment of the Cordite 9a tory at 1ryvan+adu in Covem!er 1*0&" ,he first lot of servi e ordite turned out !y this fa tory proved !etter than the English produ t" <ith the su!stitution of smo+eless ordite for gun powder# the gun powder fa tory at Madras was losed in 1-*/ and at Ishapore in 1*0;" Ri!le (a#tory As the fa tories in :F were una!le to supply more than /0#000 rifles a year to India# it was proposed to set up a rifle fa tory in India" ,he ere tion of the fa tory was started at the site of the old gunpowder fa tory at Ishapore in 1*0%) it !egan produ tion in 1*0/" Ce"tral )*"'Carria+e (a#tory ,he spe ial 2rdnan e Commission of 1-8/ had re ommended that a new Gun.Carriage 9a tory !e set up at 1llaha!ad to repla e those e4isting at 9ategarh and Madras" 3owever# towards the end of the 1*th entury# it was averred that one large esta!lishment !e set up in a entral lo ation" Ia!alpur was sele ted for the purpose" In 1-** Major CC ,ownsend# Superintendent Gun.Carriage 9a tory 9atehgarh# was sent to Ia!alpur to prepare detailed plans for the !uilding of the new fa tory" ,he new fa tory !e ame a going on ern in 1*0%" ,he 9atehgarh fa tory was losed in 1*0/# the other two fa tories at Madras and 'om!ay followed suit later" )*" a"d Shell (a#tory In 1*0/ a plant was installed at" the 9oundry and Shell 9a tory Cossipore for the manufa ture of 5>ui +.firing5 guns for 3orse and 9ield 1rtillery# then re ently introdu ed in England" ,he name of the fa tory was then hanged to the 5Gun and Shell 9a tory5# 1s more shells were re$uired for the $ui + firing 1- pdr and 1% pdr guns# three e4tensions of the shell se tion were made during the years 1*10.1*1%" In 1*1%# the manufa ture of &"/= 3owit6er was also started" In 1*1-# at the lose of <orld <ar i. this fa tory had a te hni al staff of 1*6# with 18* ler+s# and 1%#800 wor+men

on its rollK5)" Metal a"d Steel (a#tory ,he history of the Metal and Steel 9a tory !egan with the ere tion of a SiemensLs Martin open hearth steel plant at the 9oundry and Shell fa tory# Cossipore in 1-*;" In 1-*6 a rolling mill was ere ted" In 1*00# the Iron and steel furna es and the steel !ar mill were moved to Ishapore# 'y 1*0/# the fa tory started manufa turing as a !ran h of the Gun Shell 9a tory" Lyddite'(illi"+ (a#tory In 2 to!er 1-** it was de ided to e$uip the two Indian /"&= howit6er !atteries# 6= howit6er of the Corthwest 9rontier defen es as we! as Indian oastal defen es with lyddite shell" 9or that a shell filling fa tory was esta!lished as a !ran h of the e4isting small arm ammunition fa tory at Fir+ee" It started operating in 2 to!er 1*01" Small Arm Amm*"itio" (a#torie ,he two Small 1rm 1mmunition 9a tories at 0um 0um and Fir+ee ontinued to do useful wor+ and ma+e good progress" The .ar"e a"d Saddlery (a#tory

,he 3arness and Saddiery 9a tory at Fanpur was esta!lished in 1-/*" As the Fanpur fa tory was una!le to meet the ever.in reasing demands of the whole army# another fa tory at Madras was esta!lished in 1-*-# from the nu leus provided !y the 3arness and Saddlery <or+shops. Madras 1rsenal" A%%oi"tme"t o! I" %e#tor )e"eral o! Ord"a"#e (a#torie As a result of this emphasis on the importan e of produ tion of warli+e stores in India# an appointment of Inspe tor.General of 2rdnan e 9a tories was reated in 1*0/" ,he Inspe tor General of 2rdnan e 9a tories was to wor+ under the 0ire tor.General of 2rdnan e and was to administer dire tly a11 the 2rdnan e 9a tories in India"

E7OL4TION O( 8EAPONR/
,3E history of the 2rdnan e Corps will not !e omplete without a !rief referen e to the evolution of e$uipment and arms" The Ri!le

In 1-/%# the Boyal Small 1rms 9a tory at Enfield !rought out the rifled mus+et# !etter +nown as the Enfield Bifle# whi h had a per ussion ap" In 1-66# Iohn Snider @an 1meri anA designed a rifle whi h onverted the mu66le.loaders then in general use into !ree h loaders" ,his improvement was in orporated in the Enfield Bifle# whi h was then !eing used !y the 'ritish 1rmy" It was o!viously a stop.gap arrangement" 1 spe ial ommittee appointed !y the <ar 2ffi e re ommended a rifle whi h om!ined the !ree h me hanism of 9riedri h von Martini @an 1ustrianA with the !arrel of 1le4ander 3enry @an Edin!urgh gunma+erA" In 1-81 this Martini.3enry rifle was offi ially adopted as the 'ritish servi e arm" It was# however# only a single shot rifle# and had no maga6ine" It was superseded in 1---.-* !y the Lee.Metford rifle with a maga6ine" In 0e em!er 1--- the 'ritish Government approved the adoption of a maga6ine rifle for the 'ritish 1rmy @Lee.Metford Mar+ IA" In 1-*/ the rifling was hanged from the Metford system to the Enfield to suit the improved propellants# Le" ordite" ,his rifle was +nown as Lee.Enfield Mar+ I" 0uring the South 1fri an <ar @1-**.1*0;A# the short rifle +nown as Short Maga6ine Lee.Enfield Mar+ I was designed" It was approved in 0e em!er 1*0; and was adopted as the standard rifle of the 'ritish 1rmy" In 1*08# the Lee.Enfield was onverted to harger.loading" It meant that the maga6ine ould !e filled !y a harger ontaining five artridges" ,his rifle# Le"# Short Maga6ine Lee.Enfield Mar+ III was approved in Ianuary 1*08 and proved to !e the !est small arm during <orld <ar I" In the Indian 1rmy# the Enfield Bifle was introdu ed !etween 1-6181" ,he Snider followed in 1-81" ,he Martini.3enry was adopted in 1-*; and repla ed !y Lee.Enfield in 1*0/" Artillery 1fter 1-/8 !egan an important phase in the evolution of artillery" ,he smooth.!ore guns were repla ed !y the rifled ordnan e" In 1-/* <illiam 1rmstrong produ ed a rifled !ree h.loading gun# firing an elongated shell# and thus revolutioni6ed the system of gun onstru tion" 'y 1-80# all the gun !atteries in England were fitted with 1rmstrong Bifled !ree h.loading guns" 'ut already e4pert military opinion veered in favour of the mu66le. loader as it now had a wider range and a higher rate of fire as well as was mu h heaper" Conse$uently# !atteries in England were again repla ed !y * pdr BML guns" ,he !ree h.loading gun# however# soon re.esta!lished its suprema y due to the marvelous improvements effe ted !y the Germans and the

9ren h" ,he 'ritish Government adopted the interrupted review s rew system of !ree h loading" In 1--% the first all.steel 'L gun.a 1; pdr 8 wt made its appearan e" ,owards the lose of the nineteenth entury the 9ren h and the German armies were issued a new field gun with highly a urate rapid firing" ,he famous 9ren h 8/ mm gun made its appearan e in 1-*8 and ushered in the modern era of field artillery" ,he advent of this gun made the field artillery of other ountries o!solete" ,he prin iples of the 9ren h onstru tion# espe ially the re oil me hanism# were +ept a se ret# and it was not until <orld <ar I that they !e ame +nown" ,he Germans then designed their 88 mm gun# with a spring re oil" ,he 'ritish followed the German prin iple" ,he royal 3orse 1rtillery was e$uipped with 1% pdr guns and the 9ield 1rtillery with 1- pdr guns and &"/ in h howit6ers" ,he era of the $ui +.firing guns had !egun" ,ill 1-8* the mountain gun in use was the 8 pdr !ut in that year a jointed 10 pdr appeared whi h was repla ed in 1-*6 !y a jointed !ree h. loader" Later# a !etter type of mountain gun @%"8 in h howit6erA made its appearan e" 1lthough 1rtillery e$uipments in India were of the same pattern as in England !ut the pro ess of following up the hanges was $uite slow and awry" 2n the advi e of 9ield Marshal Lord Bo!erts# e$uipment was spe ially manufa tured to suit the re$uirements of the operations on the Corth" <est 9rontier of India" ,hese guns were the %0 pdr ;0 wt 'L gun# the &= ' L @jointedA howit6er# /"&= howit6er of 1% wt and the 6= howit6er of ;/ wt" 2n the eve of <orld <ar I the 3orse 1rtillery was e$uipped with 1% pdr $ui + firing guns and the 9ield 1rtillery with 1- pdr $ui + firing guns and &"/= howit6ers" ,he !atteries of Indian mountain artillery were e$uipped with 10 pdr guns" ,he !atteries of heavy artillery were e$uipped with %0 pdr guns# &= and /= guns"

CONDITIONS O( SER7ICE
,o a $uire a proper understanding of the development and growth of the 2rdnan e Servi e in India# we must a $uaint ourselves with the type of personnel employed in this organisation as well as their onditions of servi e" Logi ally the total adre employed in the Indian 2rdnan e

0epartment after its formation an !e separated into % ategories ? (i) (ii) (iii) Commi Commissioned 2ffi ers# 3onorary Commissioned 2ffi ers <arrant 2ffi ers) and Con.Commissioned 2ffi ers

io"ed O!!i#er

,he Commissioned 2ffi ers were !roadly divided into three ategories (a) 1dministrative 2ffi ers (b) 2rdnan e 2ffi ers and (c) Superintendents of 9a tories" Be ruitment to all the three ategories was open to offi ers of the Boyal 1rtillery# preferen e !eing given to those who had passed the 1rtillery College E4amination" Initially a new omer was appointed as an 2rdnan e 2ffi er of the lowest grade# unless he was spe ially sele ted for a parti ular appointment" ,here was a pro!ationary period of one year# during whi h he had to pass a departmental e4amination in 1rmy Begulations" 3e also had to a $uire general +nowledge a!out the vo a!ulary of stores# e$uipment ta!les# arsenal or fa tory administration and all the 2rdnan e pro edures of demanding# re eiving# issuing and preservation of stores" In 1--&# the rules pres ri!ed that offi ers of the Boyal 1rtillery were eligi!le for appointment to the 2rdnan e 0epartment in India for a period of five years" 1t the end of that period# reappointment for se ond five.year tenure was allowed" 1fter that the offi er was to return to his !attery" In 1-*0 the 5 ontinuous servi e5 system for Boyal 1rtillery 2ffi ers of the 2rdnan e 0epartment ame into e4isten e" 1 ording to these revised rules the Iunior 2ffi ers of the 1rtillery were made eligi!le for appointment to the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment for two su essive periods of five years" 1t the end of the ten years# an offi er either reverted to regimental duty or was sele ted for ontinuous servi e in the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment" 1s a result of the institution of 5 ontinuous servi e rules# the 2rdnan e 0epartment made onsidera!le progress in all spheres of its a tivities in the arsenals# in fa tories and the inspe tion" 8arra"t O!!i#er <arrant 2ffi ers generally held the post of Condu tors" Condu tors were promoted on the !asis of seniority from the list of Su!.Condu tors" 1ll <a1,ant 2ffi ers of the ran+ of Condu tor were# under ordinary ir umstan es# e4pe ted to assume harge of any division of an arsenal as

5Store.holders5 @e4 ept that of the <or+ yard for whi h spe ial +nowledge was re$uiredA" <arrant 2ffi ers $ualified themselves early for the appointments of 1ssistant 2verseer and 2verseer# whi h ran+ed higher than store holders" No"'Commi io"ed O!!i#er ,he designation of a non. ommissioned offi er in 1-&0 was 5(ar+ and Store Sergeant5 or 5Corporal5" In 1-8/ it was 5Maga6ine Sergeant5) !ut later it was hanged to 5Store Sergeant5" ,hen# as a result of the re ommendation of the Committee on the :natta hed List appointed in 1*06# the designation 5Store Sergeant5 was a!olished" 3en eforth# the non. ommissioned offi ers of the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment# li+e those of other servi es# were +nown as 5Sergeant5 and 5Staff Sergeant5" 1 non ommissioned offi er ould not !e re ommended for promotion to the wa1,ant grade# until he had passed the departmental e4amination for promotion" ,hose in possession of ertifi ates of having passed long ourses of instru tions at the Boyal La!oratory# Boyal Gun 9a tory# and Boyal Carnage 0epartment# <oolwi h# were e4empted from the e4amination"

Cir#*m ta"#e Leadi"+ to the Reor+a"i,atio" o! 1011 9

<ith the rapid te hni al improvements in military e$uipment# the duties of the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment had in reased !oth in magnitude and in omple4ity to an e4tent that the same organi6ation ould not handle the fun tions of produ tion in the fa tories# inspe tion and holding of stores for su!se$uent issue" ,he need for spe iali6ation in ea h of the three a tivities !e ame a ute" It may !e re al1ed that as a result of deli!erations of the Spe ial 2rdnan e Commission of 1-8/ and the Commission of 1rmy in India of 1-8*# the poli y of on entration of stores in the minimum num!er of large entres had already !een a epted" ,ill the lose of the 1*th entury# India had !een onsidered the Me a of a soldier" ,he ontinuous frontier ampaigns# varied !y military ventures in 'urma# China# (ersia and other pla es had all made India an ideal training ground" In other ways# too# India led the van" It was# for instan e# India that first !rought into general use the +ha+i dress) India produ ed the offi er5s Sam 'rown !elt# whi h was worn !y most foreign armies) India first showed that the 5an+le5 !oots and gaiters were mu h !etter than the um!ersome Ia + !oots) India gave the offi ers their open ollar) and lastly India with its magnifi ent artillery pra ti e grounds and its

system of ondu ting reliefLs !y road @whi h often meant a mar h of three or four monthsA# provided une$ualled opportunities for training" 'ut the South 1fri an war !rought a!out a hange of attitude) it widened the hori6ons of military thought and a tivity" Co longer ould a system# whi h after all was !ased mainly on the onditions of frontier warfare# suffi e as the main field of military e4perien e" <ider views and more varied prin iples !egan to permeate military s hool of thought" In fa t# India had to yield pride of pla e to the :F Inevita!ly# in 2rdnan e affairs# India !egan to refer# more than of old to :F for guidan e" Major General B3 Mahon# the then 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e in India su!mitted a proposal to the Government of India on ; 1pril 1*08 ontained in 1; se tions of a omprehensive memorandum# whi h also gave a graphi pi ture of the 2rdnan e 0epartment# its defe ts and how these ould !e removed" ,he s heme visuali6ed a tripartite organi6ation for the 2rdnan e 0epartment to allow spe iali6ation on three lines ? 9a tories# Stores and Inspe tion"

Reor+a"i,atio" o! 1011
,he Government of India a epted the s heme# whi h was san tioned !y the Se retary of State in 1*10 and ame into for e in 1*11" ,he S heme re$uired the su!.division of the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment into three units# orresponding to the three main spheres of 2rdnan e a tivities# i"e"# manufa ture @represented !y fa toriesA# storage and distri!ution @represented !y arsenalsA# and inspe tion" ,he three se tions. the 9a tory se tion# the Stores se tion# and the Inspe tion.were to remain dire tly under the ontrol of the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e# !ut ea h was to have a separate 0ire tor# and its su!ordinate units were to !e separately organi6ed" ,hus it will !e seen that the reorgani6ation of 1*11 was the starting point for the e4isting trends of thought" 9irstly# the 0epartment was organi6ed to allow spe iali6ation in three distin t spheres ? 9a tories# Stores @1rsenalsA and Inspe tion# the last !eing an entirely new feature" Se ondly# the on entration poli y was arried to its limit" ,hirdly# the system of pla ing senior 2rdnan e 2ffi ers on the administrative staff of Commands @a dire t result of the poli y of assimilating in India the organi6ation of the 2rdnan e 0epartment of :FA was a epted"

9urther the reorgani6ation of 1*11 !rought many alterations in onditions of servi e !oth of Boyal 1rtillery 2ffi ers and the departmental ran+s" ,he former were given the !enefit of a time s ale of pay# a very real Improvement on the former graded list system" ,he <arrant and non ommissioned offi ers were re.graded on a systemati plan and granted a s ale of harge pay whi h was onsidera!ly higher than their e4isting rates" Ord"a"#e E ta&li hme"t 110113 ,he following ta!le represents the position in 1*11 after the S heme was implemented ?

0G2 00G2 10G2 (a#tory Se#tio"

009 00 29 9a tories Gun H Shells 9a tory# Cossipore 1mmunition 9a tory# 0um 0um 1mmunition 9a tory# Fir+ee

Store Se#tio" Se#tio" 02S 002S Ar e"al De%ot

Bawalpindi 9ero6epore Fir+ee 1llaha!ad >uetta Madras 9ort <illiam Fara hi 1den 'om!ay 1gra

I" %e#tio"

No91 Char+e
Guns H Bifles 3> Ishapore

No9: Char+e
1mmunition 3> 0um 0um

Gun.Carriage 9a tory# Ia!alpur Cordite 9a tory# 1ruvan+adu 3arness H Saddlery 9a tory# Fanpur Bifle 9a tory# Ishapore

Bangoon

No9; Char+e Gun Carriages 3> Ia!alpur General Stores Charges 3> Fanpur (roof H E4perimental 2ffi er# 'alasore# Chief Chemi al E4aminer# Cainital

,he esta!lishment of Boyal 1rtillery 2ffi ers of the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment in 1*11 was as followa ? 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e 1 0eputy 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e 1 1ssistant 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e 1 0ire tor of 9a tories 1 0eputy 0ire tor of 9a tories 1 0ire tor of Store 1 0eputy 0ire tor of Stores 1 0eputy 1ssistant 0ire tor of Stores 1 0ire tor of Inspe tion 1 1ssistant 0ire tor of Inspe tion 1 "Superintendents of 9a tories 8 1ssistant Superintendents of 9a tories 1% 1ssistant 0ire tor of Stores# of 1rsenals 8 2rdnan e 2ffi ers ;% Inspe tion % (roof 2ffi er 1 2rdnan e 2ffi er in Inspe tion 1ssistant 2rdnan e Consulting 2ffi er 1 at India 2ffi e Total < 7; In 1*0-# the Indian 1rmy had !een organi6ed into two armies# the Corthern and the Southern"" (rior to <orld <ar I# the Committee of Imperial 0efen e in London gave the garrisoning of the Middle East ountries and operations in 1fri a to India Command" 2n 1 1ugust 1*1& when the war !ro+e out# the strength of the Indian 1rmy stood at one and a half million" It was maintained from seven arsenals and / depots" ,his war had a tremendous impa t on the

2rdnan e Servi es" <ar preparations now urgently re$uired heavy replenishments" 2n the one hand# the availa!le limited sto +s dwindled due to the e4pansion and mo!ili6ation of the 1rmy) on the other# it had to s$uee6e out personnel from the arsenals to go with the 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+s a ompanying ertain e4peditionary for es" ,he organi6ation went through a very diffi ult e4perien e !ut it stood up to the o asion and emerged from <orld <ar I ready to ta+e the strain of the major reorgani6ation that too+ pla e in 1*1-" 2f the many hanges !rought a!out in the organi6ation# some are !riefly mentioned !elow?. M*!ti to 4"i!orm9 ,he tint important hange ordered in 1*1& was that instead of wor+ing in plain lothes# the offi ers of the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment had to wear uniform as a regular feature" ,his !rought a loser identifi ation and a deeper spirit of amaraderie with the fighting !ran hes of the 1rmy" Ord"a"#e Re%re e"tati$e 6ith Di tri#t = Bri+ade So far the 2rdnan e organi6ation had their representatives at the army and divisional level" Cow 2rdnan e representatives were pla ed with distri ts and !rigades as well" ,hus the 0eputy 1ssistant 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es and 'rigade 2rdnan e <arrant 2ffi ers ame to !e a epted as part of the post.war 2rdnan e 2rgani6ation" E!!e#t o" Ar e"al ,he war affe ted the fun tioning of the arsenals a great deal" ,hese pea e esta!lishments held 5reserves5 for various purposes# !ut the $uantum of these reserves was sealed for only the e4isting units and planned new raisings under war onditions" Sto +s for the 2rdnan e =9ield (ar+s s heduled to go with e4peditionary for es were al ulated on the !asis of the num!ers of ea h item re$uired !y a division for repla ements during si4 months of war :nfortunately# owing to retren hments and other measures of e onomy# these reserves had !een serious ut down" 0espat h of 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+s to 9ran e# East 1fri a and Mesopotamia pla ed heavy demands on the arsenals# ausing further depletion" ,hen# the for es sent out of India were far in e4 ess of India5s previously ontemplated plans or resour es" ,hus ever.growing demands poured in and swallowed up the reserves" Per o""el ,he personnel situation of the 2rdnan e Servi es during <orld <ar I was indeed very a ute" It !e ame e4tremely diffi ult to o!tain 'ritish

re ruits for the offi er as well as the non. ommissioned ran+s" ,he despat h of 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+s to 9ran e# Mesopotamia and mis ellaneous personnel to other theatres onstituted a severe drain on an esta!lishment whi h was# in any ase# not designed on a generous s ale" Moung offi ers" and non. ommissioned offi ers found themselves in responsi!le positions" ,han+s to their sound training# they a $uitted themselves well"

REOR)ANISATION O( 1018
19,EB the "end of the Great war in Covem!er 1*1-# the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment had to get through the stupendous tas+ of disposing of a umulations of war materials# and evolving a pea e time order out of the haos of war and its aftermath" 1s the heavy war.time re$uirements tapered off# the Indian Munitions 'oard was a!olished and was repla ed !y the Indian Stores 0epartment in Ianuary 1*;;# a pea e.time organi6ation for the pur hase of stores re$uired !y the various departments of the Government of India" Reor+a"i,atio" o! 1018 'earing in mind# the de!a le in Mesopotamia# the Government of India re$uested the 'ritish Government to depute a senior offi er of the :F 1rmy 2rdnan e 0epartment to report on the desira!ility and pra ti a!ility of modifying the Indian 2rdnan e system to onform to the pattern in the =:F" Major General 3 (erry# was sele ted for this spe ial assignment" 2n 1 Mar h 1*1-# he presented his report" General (erry5s +ey re ommendations were as follows ? @aA ,hat the administration of the arsenals should !e separated from other 2rdnan e Servi es and the ontrol of these arsenals esta!lishments should !e transferred from 2rdnan e to the >uarter Master General" Clothing and ertain general stores dealt with !y Supply and ,ransport group should !e ome arti les of 2rdnan e supply" ,he designation of 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Stores !e altered to that of 0ire tor of E$uipment and 2rdnan e Stores"

@!A @ A

1s a result of these re ommendations on 1 1pril 1*1-# the then re tor of 2rdnan e Stores !e ame 0ire tor of E$uipment and 2rdnan e Store

under the >uarter Master General" ,his virtually meant that the fa tories organi6ation# whi h remained under the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e <as separated from the main fold of the 2rdnan e 2rgani6ation# whi h stage <as now set for the 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps to ta+e !irth a few years later" I"trod*#tio" o! )ro*% i" Ar e"al 1nother vital hange introdu ed was the a!olition of the old 5division in the arsenals and its su!stitution !y 5group5" In 1ugust 1*1- the Chief 2rdnan e 2ffi ers were ordered to arrange the stores in nine groups" 1 ordingly# the stores were regrouped as follows ? @aA @!A ,he 1rmory 0ivision# J.1# onfined hitherto to the storage and are of rifles and pistols# had ma hine.guns added to it" J.' !arra + and hospital stores and te4tiles# and signaling e$uipment# re eived in addition se tions ;- and ;* of the vo a!ulary " ,he old J.C undertoo+ the e4tra !urden of metals# tim!er# oils# paints# hemi als# pa +ages and iron.mongery" J.0# 5tools5 !e ame the foster parent also of a musi al instruments and harness and saddlery" outrements#

@ A @dA @eA

1ll e4plosives and maga6ine stores# previously two separate harges under J.E# were !rought together as group E" J.9 and J.G having oast defen e elements !e ame the group 595"

Ba e Ar e"al It was de ided to esta!lish a 5'ase 1rsenal5# i"e" a new arsenal to in rease storage potential of the 2rdnan e Servi es" ,his new arsenal was not to !e a distri!uting entre li+e the e4isting esta!lishments# !ut a sort of a reserve entre whi h would hold all reserves not re$uired# lose to the frontier" Fara hi 0epot was sele ted for this purpose" Stora+e Pro&lem India was allotted onsidera!le funds for improving the storage apa ity of arsenals" In 9ero6epore the railway was !rought into the arsenal" In Bawalpindi a 5hornwor+5 was onstru ted outside the fort# with a num!er of !uildings" ,he Fir+ee 1rsenal# whi h had a!sor!ed the divisional Clothing 0epot @started at (oona in 1*1-A was given a num!er of temporary sheds to ontain lothing and other stores" Su!stantial improvements were effe ted in other arsenals also# as at >uetta and 1llaha!ad" ,hus one of the most remar+a!le results of the Great <ar was a

general improvement in the storage onditions in arsenals and depots in India" S*%%ly o! Clothi"+ 1; Clothing 0epots @administered !y the 0E2SA were opened for !ul+ storage and retail issues" Steps were also ta+en to standardi6e the stores pur hased from the trade upto an 2rdnan e standard" ,he 0ire tor of E$uipment and 2rdnan e Stores also too+ over the supply of !oots" 1 'oot 0epot was opened at Fanpur to store !oots re eived from the trade"

(ORMATION O( T.E INDIAN ARM/ ORDNANCE CORPS

1s a result of the 1*1- reorgani6ation# the Indian ordnan e 0epartment was split into two separate entities" ,he manufa ture and inspe tion @during the ourse of manufa tureA of lethal weapons and other military e$uipments# e4 ept lothing# !e ame the responsi!ility of the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e" ,he erstwhile Stores 'ran h# +nown as 2rdnan e and Clothing Servi es# !e ame the harge of the 0ire tor of E$uipment and 2rdnan e Stores ontrolled !y the >uarter Master General in India" It was on the histori day of 1- Iuly 1*;; that the 2rdnan e Corps# as it is +nown today# too+ the final shape and got organi6ed as a self. ontained !ody# having the status of a 0epartment and designated as the 5Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps5" ,he Corps was to !e ommanded !y the 0ire tor of E$uipment and 2rdnan e Stores @0E2SA under the overall administrative ontrol of the >uarter Master General in India" Its fun tions were to o!tain army supplies of 2rdnan e Stores and E$uipments from the 2rdnan e 9a tories and other sour es as well as their storage and distri!ution to the troops" It was also responsi!le for the manufa ture# storage and issue of lothing to the 1rmy" ,he e4isting arsenals# 2rdnan e depots and lothing depots as also the lothing fa tories# formed part of the Corps" ,he 0E2S was also made responsi!le for the inspe tion of 2rdnan e e$uipment and lothing in the hands of the regular 1rmy# the Boyal 1ir 9or e and the 1u4iliary and ,erritorial 9or es" ,he 0E2S was assisted !y two 0eputy 0ire tors# one in ea h of the Commands e4 ept 'urma# and a 0eputy 1ssistant 0ire tor in ea h military distri t" ,he Inspe ting 2rdnan e 2ffi ers for ammunition and e4plosives# and Inspe tors of Ma hinery# lo ated in various arsenals inspe ted artillery#

2rdnan e vehi les and onne ted e$uipment in the areas allotted to them" Civil Chief Master 1rmourers inspe ted small arms# ma hine guns and !i y les" 1n Inspe torate of General Stores was lo ated at Fanpur# onsisting of a Chief Inspe tor of General Stores# an Inspe tor of 3arness and Saddlery and Inspe tors of Clothing# and lothing stores# su h as un. manufa tured material" ,here was also a (roof and E4perimental 2ffi er to proof he + ordnan e# artillery# vehi les and ammunition made in India" ,he final shape of the two 0epartments as they e4isted in 1*;; will !e lear from the followings? ,he Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps was organi6ed as follows ?

1rmy 3> >MG 0E2S ("ead of t!e &ndian Arm +rdnaru:e Corps) 010s 2S 0istri ts 00s 2S Commands Inspe torate of General Stores Clothi"+ De%ot >(a#toriea

Ar e"al Ord"a"#e De%ot 1gra 1den 'om!ay 9ort <illiam Fara hi

Shahjahanpur Madras Bawalpindi >uetta (eshawar Bawalpindi 9ero6epore 1llaha!ad Fir+ee

Bangoon >uetta Madras ,he Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment was organised as follows ? 2rdnan e 'ran h @1rmy 3>A 0G2 Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment
2rdnan e Consulting 2ffi er in India 2ffi e in :F" 0ire tor 2rdnan e 9a tories 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Inspe tion Inspe tor of Gun.Carriage H Jehi les# Ia!alpur Inspe tor of Gun H Billes# Ishapore Inspe tor of 1mmunition# Fir+ee (roof 2ffi er# 'alasore Chemi al Inspe tor# Fir+ee 1mmunition 9a tory# 0um 0um 1mmunition 9a tory# Fir+ee Cordite 9a tory# Ia!alpur Gun H Shell 9a tory# Cossipore 3arness H Saddlery 9a tory# Fanpur Bille 9a tory# Ishapore Metal H Steel 9a tory# Ishapore

I"dia"i,atio" In 1*;; the 2rdnan e Servi es were thrown open to offi ers !elonging to a: !ran hes of the army" 1lso# it was de ided to turn the 2rdnan e into a purely Indian 1rmy department" Cow offi ers# after su essfu:y ompleting % years5 pro!ation in the 2rdnan e# !e ame offi ers of the Indian 1rmy" Dire#ti"+ Sta!! In 1*;6 a hange in nomen 1ature was introdu ed insofar as the term 51dministrative 2ffi er5 was hanged as the 0ire ting Staff"

1ppointments to the 0ire ting Staff of the l1oe were to !e made from offi ers of a: !ran hes of the servi e# whether serving in India or elsewhere" Time'S#ale Promotio" In 1*;8 a time s ale of promotion was introdu ed for departmental offi ers# <arrant 2ffi ers and non. ommissioned offi ers" I"dia" Other Ra"Indian Military <ing of the Indian 1nny 2rdnan e Corps was reated and las ars wor+ing in arsenals and depots were given uniform# rations# fi4ed pay and finally a pension" 2n joining the l12C the young re ruit was sent to the ,raining Company at the l12C S hool at Fir+ee @whi h was esta!lished temporarily in 1*;/ and permanently in 1*;8A" 9or 10 months he was put through a ourse whi h taught him regimental soldiering and the !asi s of edu ation whi h ena!led him# in due ourse# to pass various pres ri!ed e4aminations" In additi"on# the 2rdnan e Corps re ruit had to learn the essentials of the spe ialised wor+ of the 2rdnan e) how to !undle and pa +# how to fuse# defuse and fill a shell# how to paint and a host of other similar jo!s" A%%oi"tme"t o! (ir t Colo"el Comma"da"t 1n event of great signifi an e in the annals of the Corps too+ pla e in 1*%1 when# at the initiative of the then 02S# the Commander.in.Chief re ommended to the India 2ffi e that Col 3< 'owen# CIE# 0S2# !e made the first Colonel Commandant of the l12C" 3e was then oldest surviving 0ire tor of the Corps" ,he appointment appeared in the Ga6ette of India of 6 Mar h 1*%1"

APPOINTMENT O( M)O
The E her Committee o! 1010 1 ommittee was appointed in 1*1* with Lord Esher as its Chairman to review the 1rmy administration in India" ,he Committee su!mitted its re ommendations in 1*;0" ,hese re ommendations pla ed the 1rmy on a !etter footing and !rought a!out a signifi ant improvement in the servi e terms of the Indian soldier" As far as 2rdnan e was on erned# a majority opinion of the Committee felt that all manufa ture and produ tion should !e pla ed under a ivil.mem!er of supply" 'ut a minority report re ommended the organisation of a ivil supply !ran h as part of the 1rmy 3ead$uarters"

Ma ter )e"eral o! S*%%ly 0ue to finan ial diffi ulties# the report ould !e implemented only !y the end of 1*;%" ,he Government favoured the minority re ommendation for the appointment of Surveyor.General in harge of produ tion under the Commander.in.Chief" As no suita!le ivil offi er ould !e found# it was de ided to have a military offi er# for whom the title 5Master General of Supply5 was sele ted" ,he Master General of Supply was to ontrol the 2rdnan e fa tories in luding lothing fa tories" ,he 2rdnan e 'ran h at 1rmy 3ead$uarters# under the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e was renamed Master General of Supply 'ran h and it ontrolled the 0ire torate of 9a tories" Ma ter )e"eral o! Ord"a"#e i" I"dia ,he a!ove organisational setup !rought a!out in 1*;& did not prove satisfa tory !e ause of the dual ontrol of the >MG and the MGS" 2n 1/ Iune 1*;*# therefore# the offi e of MGS was a!olished and the first Master General of 2rdnan e in India was appointed" ,he entire 2rdnan e Servi es e pla ed under him" 3e was dire tly responsi!le to the Commander.in def" ,his that the Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps# so far fun tioning un er the >MG# now ame under the MG2" Dire#tor o! Ord"a"#e Ser$i#e "" <ith the reation of the MG2 'ran h in 1rmy 3ead$uarters on 1/ Iune 1*;*# the 0ire tor of E$uipment and 2rdnan e Stores @0E2SA was redesignated as 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es @02SA" ,he administration of the arsenals and depots# in luding the personnel employed therein# was delegated !y the MG2 to the 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es who was onsidered the 2ffi er Commanding of the Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps" Ord"a"#e Or+a"i atio" i" 10:0 In 1*;* the 0ire torate of 2rdnan e Servi es was a sma' !ut we'. +nit organisation and had the following offi ers ? @aA @!A @eA @dA @eA @fA 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es 0eputy 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es 1ssistant 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es @(ersA 102S of ,e hni al 2rganisation 102S @(rovisionA 102S @,e hni alA

In addition there was a 0102S @(rovisionA# a Staff5 Captain and a ,e hni al 2ffi er @(rovisionA" Ord"a"#e at Other Le$el 9ollowing offi ers were atta hed at various levels to advise on 2rdnan e matters ? @iA @iiA @iiiA 1Il 102S at Command 3ead$uarters 1 0102S at 0istri t 3ead$uarters 1 'rigade 2rdnan e <arrant 2ffi er at every 'rigade 3ead$uarters"

,he 'rigade 2rdnan e <arrant 2ffi er dealt hiefly with the $uartermaster !ran h of the unit" 3e helped the unit in the su!mission of indents# sto +ta+ing# identifi ation of stores# disposal of o!solete stores# determining the inservirea!ility# re.arrangement of stores in the store rooms# and adjustment of dis repan ies" Cha"+e i" Ar e"al 'y 1*%/ many hanges had ta+en pla e in the arsenals and depots" ,he 1rsenal at 9ort St" George was losed down" 1 large modern 2rdnan e depot ame up at Lahore Cantonment" 'oth arsenals at 9ort <illiam and Fara hi were !rought down to 2rdnan e depots" ,he Fara hi 0epot was moved to a new site 7t 0righ Boad" ,he Bangoon 1rsenal was moved to Mingaladon Cantonment" 'oth 1gra and 1den 0epots were losed down" 1 portion of the 9ero6epore 1rsenal was moved to Lahore"

Ar e"al Or+a"i atio" o! the 10;2 ,he arsenal in 1*%0s was !ran hes ?" (a) (b) (e) (d) (e) Main 2ffi e 1dm" 'ran h La!oratory Sto + Groups <or+shops arried out in the following main groups or

,here were the following field offi ers?.

Chie! Ord"a"#e O!!i#er: ,he term Chief 2rdnan e offi er @C22A was used for the first time in 1*1- when the senior 2rdnan e 2ffi er at an arsenal# then +nown as 52rdnan e 2ffi er in Charge5 or 51ssistant 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es5 was so redesignated" ,he C22 was the Commanding 2ffi er of the arsenal# !ut not of 0epots within his area" In a !ig arsenal he ontrolled a!out a do6en offi ers# 100 warrant and non. ommissioned offi ers# &00 sepoys and permanent ler+s# and 1#/00 s+illed and asual la!ourers" De%*ty Chie! Ord"a"#e O!!i#er< ,he 0eputy Chief 2rdnan e 2ffi er @0C22A was responsi!le to the C22 for the e4e utive wor+ of the arsenal @as distin t from the administrative wor+A" )ro*% O!!i#er? ,he Group 2ffi er# a ommissioned offi er# was responsi!le to the Chief 2rdnan e 2ffi er through the 0C22 for the effi ien y of one or more groups" Storeholder< ,he Storeholders @or GroupholdersA wor+ed under the Group 2ffi er" ,hey were the !a +!one of the arsenal organisation" ,hey were usually <arrant 2ffi ers of twelve to twenty years5 servi e" Ea h Storeholder was in harge of a sto + group and was responsi!le for its effi ien y" ,he group was self. ontained# for it arried out every pro ess onne ted with the re eipt and issue of stores" Other Officers ? 2f the other offi ers# mention may !e made of the Esta!lishment 2ffi er in harge of the offi e esta!lishment and the Company Commander in harge of the regimental administration of Indian 2ther Ban+s" Ordnance Mechanical Engineer: 'efore <orld <ar I# 2rdnan e 2ffi ers were in harge of <or+shops" ,hey were now repla ed !y 2rdnan e Me hani al Engineers" ,he old I20 military wor+shop foremen were repla ed !y ivilian foremen or !y B12C Ban+s" ndiani!ation? Indians were appointed mainly as Store+eepers# ler+s and storemen !ut the progress of Indianisation was slow" ,he esta!lishment of the lower staff in 1*%1 was as follows ? Store+eepers 1ssistant Store+eepers Storemen :pper 0ivision Cler+s Lower 0ivision Cler+s . . . . . 1%% 1-& ;%6 6; ;8/

Boutine 0espat h Cler+s

1*1

CORPS AT T.E O4TBREA5 O( 8ORLD 8AR II 110;03

IC 1*%-# two ommittees were appointed to review the situation in India and ma+e re ommendations for the me hani6ation and moderni6ation of the Indian 1rmy" 2ne was presided over !y Lord Chatfield and its report is popularly +nows as the Chatfield Committee Beport" ,he other was appointed !y the Commander.in.Chief in India" General 1u hinle +# and is +nown as the Moderni6ation Committee or the 1u hinle + Committee" ,hese ommittees made many re ommendations !ut !efore these ould !e implemented the Se ond <orld <ar !ro+e out on % Septem!er 1*%*" ,he Chatfield Committee had made a signifi ant o!servation. =the fa t must !e fa ed that Great 'ritain may not. now !e in a position to guarantee India5s e4ternal se urity in the same manner as in the past"= ,he ommittee learly stated that India was not prepared for a major war" Sin e all vehi les had to !e imported# the 1rmy was still !ased mainly on animal transport" Its me hanisation had not +ept pa e with the re$uirements of modern warfare" India had no motor industry of its own" Even the repair fa ilities and wor+shops were yet to !e organised on a proper s ale" (etrol had to !e imported from the (ersian Gulf as indigenous produ tion was not ade$uate" Tra" !er o! MT to Ord"a"#e <ith effe t from 1 1pril 1*%*# the Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps @l12CA was made responsi!le for the entire te hni al maintenan e of the Indian 1rmy in the field" 1s a result# the te hni al maintenan e of all me hani al vehi les and provision# storage and issue of their spares was made the responsi!ility of the l12C" <ith this# 1%% offi ers# %*- 'ritishK Indian other ran+s and ;-;- ivilian personnel !elonging to the BI1SC were transferred to the l12C" ,he 2rdnan e Corps whi h at that time had a range of &0#000 items thus a $uired another &/#000 items !elonging to the then MT vo a!ulary" ,his meant more than 100N in rease of its wor+load" ,he total strength of the 2rdnan e Corps prior to the transfer of

Bl1SC personnel was 110 administrative offi ers# /6 departmental offi ers# /8- 'ritish <arrant and Con.Commissioned 2ffi ers# 1#00/ Ji eroy5s Commissioned 2ffi ers and Indian other ran+s# 80- permanent ivilians# store+eepers# storemen and ler+s# -#88- temporary staff in luding la!our" 1rsenals and 0epots manned !y these personnel served a for e of %0/#0&1 m7n the then strength of the Indian 1rmy" 1s the defined role of the 1rmy was 5mainly the internal se urity and defen e of the Corth <est 9rontier @with one division for any possi!le overseas involvementA# the 2rdnan e organi6ation too was tailored to meet su h a wor+load" 1 ordingly# 2rdnan e installations were mainly lo ated in the triangle >uetta.(oona.1llaha!ad# with the entre of gravity at Bawalpindi" ,he $uantities and types of stores held were ade$uate only for operations on the 9rontier or in 1fghanistan" ,he e$uipment held !y the troops and depots was anti$uated" ,he artillery was largely horse.drawn" ,he !attery of %= guns was the sole anti.air raft defen e" Me hani6ing the Cavalry had !arely started" <ireless was elementary" ,here were only / arsenals @>uetta# Bawalpindi# 9ero6epore# 1llaha!ad and Fir+eeA and / 0epots @9ort <illiam# 0righ Boad# 'om!ay# Lahore and ShahjahanpurA" ,he former held store of every +ind while the latter held only lothing and general stores" <ith the added responsi!ility for me hani al transport# the Me hani al ,ransport Store 0epot at Cha+lala was also transfeI,ed to 2rdnan e Servi es" ,he depots were geared for relatively slow# pea etime pro edures of re eipt and issue of stores" 9a ilities li+e material handling e$uipment or other la!our saving or effi ien y devi es were non.e4istent" ,he depots were not authorised to have me hani al transport vehi les on their esta!lishment" ,hey had to demand these from the Station ,ransport 2ffi er and half the time ould not get them" In the pre.war period there were no Central or Command 0epots as su h e4 ept only at Sha!jahanpur and Cha+lala whi h a ted as Central 0epots for lothing and me hani al transport spares# respe tively" Or+a"i,atio" at Army .ead?*arter ,he Master General of 2rdnan e in India ontrolled a num!er of dire torates# one of whi h was the 0ire torate of 2rdnan e Servi es" ,he 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es then held the ran+ of 'rigadier# and was responsi!le for the effi ient fun tioning of the l12C whi h in luded# !roadly spea+ing# the administration of the arsenals and depots# the inspe tion of ammunition and vehi les and the training of the personnel" Sin e provision

was entralised at 1rmy 3># the 02S also had under him a (rovision Se tion" 1rsenal had !een well organised !y 1*%1" Co further important hanges too+ pla e" ,he following harts will indi ate the typi -"1 organisation of an arsenal"

OR)ANISATION O( T.E ARSENAL 4NDER T.E COO

Mard @2ld 0ivision IJA Inspe tion @2ld 0iovision IIA (rodu t H Sales @2ld0ivision JIA

,he Senior 2rdnan e Me hani al Engineer# who was the C22Ls te hni al advisor ontrol the following organi6ation?.

,he Esta!lishment 2ffi er was responsi!le for ash and funds# !udget estimates# payments# personnel matters# dis ipline et " ,he Indent 'ran h# at present +nown as Control 2ffi e# fun tioned dire tly under the C22 and the C22 was the only authority to de ided on $uestion of issues" ,he Senior 2rdnan e Me hani al Engineer @S2MEA was under the C22 and was on erned with the state of the guns# arriages# vehi les and Instruments in the hands of the tr60ps dependent on the arsenal# as "well as those in arsenal sto +" 3e had under him te hni ally $ualified offi ers aned 2rdnan e Me hani al Engineers @2MEsA and a staff of armourers and armament artifi ers# who are spe ialists in various trades" # Ord"a"#e (ield Par- 1O(P3 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+ a ompanied a for e of the si6e of a division" ,he 29( arried 2rdnan e stores for si4 months# maintenan e of the for e in# the field" 'y 1*;8# the omposition of an 29( was a Stores Company# onsisting of; 2ffi ers# ;6 'ritish other ran+s# 18 Indian ler+s# ;/0 sepoys and /0 artifi ers and an 1mmunition Se tion onsisting of 1 2ffi er# % 'ritish other ran+s# ; ler+s# and ; sepoys" Sin e all these personnel ame from the arsenals# the arsenals# as a result# were depleted upto &0N of their strength at the ru ial moment of general mo!ili6ation" ,he shortage of e4perien ed personnel proved the main draw!a + in the fun tioning of

the arsenals during <orld <ar II" Pro#*reme"t A+e"#ie 0emands for stores were pla ed either on the :nited Fingdom or on indigenous sour es# !eing mainly the 2rdnan e fa tories" 'roadly spea+ing# lethal stores @e4 ept rifles# Ji +ers# 'erthier# light ma hine guns and %"8= howit6ersA were ordered from :F and the general stores and lothing @e4 ept we! e$uipment and toolsA from India" 1mmunition was partly indigenous and partly imported" Be$uirements were o!tained through the following four agen ies ? (a) 2rdnan e 9a tories . <eapons# ammunition# saddlery# and lothing) (b) 0ire torate of Contra ts . General Stores) (c) Indian Stores 0epartment . ,e4tiles# ele tri al stores and hardware) (d) 0ire tor General# Indian Stores 0epartment# London . Imported items of supply" I" %e#tio" o! Store E4perien ed inspe tors arried out the inspe tion of stores# espe ially lethal weapons" ,he Chief Inspe tor of Stores and Clothing# Fanpur inspe ted arti les manufa tured in the Clothing 9a tory" ,he Indian Stores 0epartment had its own inspe tion organisation" Per o""el ,here were two ategories of personnel employed# vi6 permanent and temporary" ,he permanent ategory onsisted of the Fing5s Commissioned 2ffi ers# the 'ritish <arrant and non. ommissioned offi ers# the Ji eroy5s Commissioned 2ffi ers# Indian <arrant 2ffi ers" non. ommissioned offi ers# Indian other ran+s and Civilian store+eepers# storemen and ler+s" ,he temporary personnel were on E4tra ,emporary Esta!lishment @E,EA and in luded ler+s# storemen and other tradesmen" ,he esta!lishment of the permanent personnel for ea h arsenal and ordnan e depot was fi4ed !y 1rmy 3ead$uarters and their appointment and transfer was ontrolled !y the 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es" ,emporary staff was re ruited lo ally and was te hni ally terminated on %1 Mar h every year" ,heir strength varied in the arsenals and depots a ording to re$uirements and the san tioned amount"

E@PANSION D4RIN) 8ORLD 8AR II

<2BL0 <ar II !rought a tremendous e4pansion in the whole 1rmy" In 2rdnan e too# while it had only 10 installations @in luding arsenalsA in Septem!er 1*%*# they in reased to 88# at the end of the <ar in 1*&/" Similarly# while the tonnage of stores issued and re eived in all depots in India in 1*%-G%* was 68#/00 tons# the figure in reased to 16%#000 in 1*&1G&; and then re orded a steep rise to ;#/00#000 tons in 1*&%" ,o provide for the a!ove in reased wor+load and to ma+e good the heavy drain on manpower due to the initial ommitments in the overseas theatres li+e Sudan# 1den# Ira$# Malaya and 'urma# the strength of personnel in the Corps was progressively !uilt up# in the ase of some ategories# to as mu h as twenty times the pre.war figure" ,he year !y year growth an !e seen at 1ppendi4 5'5" Ty%e o! De%ot ,o !ring the Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps organi6ation in line with the Boyal 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps# many hanges had !een effe ted even !efore the war" 2ne of these hanges was the introdu tion of the system of new types of depots with the role as given !elow ? @aA Central ordnan e 0epots to re eive all stores of the spe ified range from overseas and indigenous tradeGindustry and ma+e !ul+ issues to Command 0epots and 9ield 0epots" Command 0epots to hold stores for retail issue to the troops in their own area of supply" 3olding 0epots to re eive !ul+ onsignments from tradeGindustry and hold them on !ehalf of the Central 0epots" ,ransit 0epots to re eive stores from the :FI:S1 and transfer them to the depots inland"

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I"dia a a Ba e !or So*th'Ea t A ia 1fter the formation of the South.East 1sia Command in 1ugust 1*&%# a major offensive was planned against the Iapanese in the South.East 1sia region" 9or this purpose a large for e omprising the 1&th 1rmy was formed under General Slim" India was to !e the !ase for this for e of a!out ;0 0ivisions made up of not only India5s own troops# !ut also large elements of 'ritish 1meri an# Chinese# <est and East 1fri an troops" It was de ided to reate three Beserve 'ases in India" ,he development of these !ases and positioning of 2rdnan e installations too+ the following pattern ? @aA No ; Re er$e Ba e'Pa"a+ar9 ,his Beserve 'ase had /60#000

s$" ft" of overed a ommodation and in luded Co ;0/ Indian 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot whi h was to hold one month5s supply of general stores and lothing items of indigenous supply# and three months5 supply of imported stores for the entire for e of ;0 0ivisions" 'y mid of 1*&& the depot was handling 1%#000 tons of stores per month" 1 large ammunition depot and an e$ually large vehi le depot were also esta!lished at (anagar" In addition# an ammunition depot was developed at 'anaras as a part of this Beserve 'ase to feed up to / 0ivisions operating on the northern line" 'y mid 1*&&# 'anaras depot was maintaining as many as - 0ivisions" @!A No A re er$e Ba e at A$adi 1"ear Madra 39 ,his Beserve 'ase was developed with &/0#000 s$" ft" of a ommodation and had Co" ;06 Indian 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot whi h held warli+e stores in luding me hani al transport spares for the entire for e of ;0 0ivisions" 1 spe ial responsi!ility of this 0epot was to prepare spe ial pa +ages of stores for amphi!ian landing operations +nown as Landing Beserve Sets and 'ea h Maintenan e (a +s @LBSs and 'M(sA" 1 large Jehi le 0epot was also esta!lished in this Beserve 'ase" 1n 1mmunition 0epot# as part of the Beserve 'ase# was esta!lished at Gummudipundi at a distan e of ;6 miles from Madras" No 5 Re er$e Ba e'8altair 1"ear 7i,a+a%al"am3 " :nli+e the other two Beserve 'ases# this was an e4tensive e4port transit !ase with ;/0#000 s$" ft" of transit storage" 2nly an 2rdnan e Store and 1mmunition ,ransit 0epot was esta!lished here" ,his 0epot was a stand.!y arrangement in the event of a !rea+down of the Cal utta port" S%e#ial (or#e De%ot 9 ,wo spe ial depots were installed.the Spe ial 9or e 0epot at 1gra for holding spe iali6ed e$uipment for the <ingate E4pedition and 5S5 0epot at 0ehu for se ret weapons and e$uipment and spe ial stores for 5S5 0ivision# South East 1sia Command" Ce"tral Pro$i io" De%ot at Deh*9 1 !ran h of the Central (rovision 2ffi e @C(2A of the :F was esta!lished in India" ,his depot had the C(2 sto +s" 1fter the war# this depot was onverted into a Command 0epot for Southern Command"

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Ne6 De%ot 2rdnan e had to fa e an a ute shortage of storage a ommodation during <orld <ar II for ever in reasing $uantities of 2rdnan e stores" So# in 1*&; new depots were planned at Ia!alpur# Fanpur# 0ehu# 3ar!anspura @now in (a+istanA# Bampur# Sha+ur!asti# Mathura# Mo+ameh# 'aroda and Chheo+i" Similarly# ammunition depots were planned at (ulgaon and 'anaras" 1n e4pansion of 2rdnan e 0epot Sewri @'om!ayA and the Fasu!egu 0epot was also underta+en" 'y early 1*&% 2rdnan e had nearly 1% million s$" ft" of overed a ommodation and# in addition# a further 11 million s$" ft" was under onstru tion and / million s$" ft" was at proje t stage# as ompared with the ;"8 million s$" ft" of overed storage availa!le in all the arsenals and depots at the out!rea+ of the war" 'efore the war# the 0ire torate of 2rdnan e Servi es ontrolled / depots and / arsenals with an inventory range of *0#000 items" Its dependen y for affording 2rdnan e over onsisted of %0/#0&1 men of the regular# irregular and Indian States 9or es# !esides the Boyal Indian Cavy# and Boyal Indian 1ir 9or e for ommon user items" 'ut within four years of war# 0ire torate of 2rdnan e Servi es had to administer -1 depots with an inventory range of &00#000 items and serving a for e of ;"/ million men" ,o ope with this enormously enlarged a tivity# tremendous e4pansion too+ pla e in the Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps and despite the !ifu ation of repair and inspe tion a tivity# the Corps tou hed a figure of twenty times its pre.war strength @see 1ppendi4 5'5A" ,he progressive in rease in the staff will !e lear from the following ta!le ? EB%a" io" o! the Sta!! o! the Ord"a"#e Ser$i#e Dire#torate D*ri"+ the 8ar
Class of (ersonnel 2ffi ers 'ritish 2ther Ban+s 2ther Cleri al Staff Total All )rade 1"10"%* ;& ;/ 1// :2A 1"1"&0 %; // ;;0 ;27 1"1"&1 && 8/ %%& A5; 1"1"&; 88 118 /// 7A0 1"1"&% 110 1&/ 6*% 05: 1"*"&& 161 1&/ -%; 1,1;8 1"1"&/" 1&* 1%8/0 1,2;7

Main reasons for redu tion in figures in the last olumn were the dis!andment ofM2S- at the end of 1*&& when 10 2ffi ers and &- ler+s from this Se tion were transferred to 1G 'ran h and the Civilian (ersonnel

0ire torate and the transfer of the s aling Se tion @MGIS.;&A to the 0<E with a staff of * 2ffi ers and /* ler+s" MaCor Cha"+e i" Ord"a"#e Dire#torate Some of the major hanges that too+ pla e in the 2rdnan e 0ire torate over the year were as under? @aA ,he (roje ts Se tion of the 0ire torate was enlarged to deal with the in reased volume of wor+ on erning the sitting# !uilding and maintaining of many new depots" 5(rovision5 wor+ was de entrali6ed to Central 2rdnan e 7pots in 1*&%" 1 0eputy 0ire tor# 2rdnan e Servi es @StoresA @later upgraded to 'rigadier StoresA was appointed with a large staff to ontrol the various types of stores" In order to o.ordinate la!our poli y within the M22 'ran h# a separate 0ire torate of Civilian (ersonnel was reated in 1*&&" ,he training duties were transferred to the 2peration Se tion of the 0ire torate# there!y lessening the !urden of the 1dministrative se tion" 1 full fledged 2peration Se tion was reated to deal with the various aspe ts of o.ordination and operational planning"

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'y the end of the war# the 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es @Maj GenA was assisted !y the 0y 02S @'rigA and a 'rigadier @StoresA" ,here were si4 other 0eputy 0ire tors" ,here was also an Inspe tor# Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Servi es who inspe ted all 2rdnan e installations on !ehalf of the 02S" Reor+a"i,atio" o! De%ot 110A;3 ,o properly reorgani6e the administration and operation of the ordnan e depots after their rapid ad !oc e4pansion# a ommittee# under the Chairmanship of 1 <illiamson# ICS @+nown as the <illiamson CommitteeA was appointed in 9e!ruary 1*&% to re ommend hanges in depot organi6ation" 1 ording to this new organi6ation plan a depot was split into four main parts ea h under a senior offi er ena!ling the Chief 2rdnan e 2ffi er or the Commandant to on entrate on the major pro!lems of his esta!lishment and to e4er ise more effe tive ontrol" The !o*r mai" di$i io" o! a de%ot 6ere < @aA 3ead$uarter# 'ran h fun tioned under the 1ssistant Chief 2rdnan e 2ffi er @later designated as 2ffi er IC 3>A and dealt

with $uestions of poli y and top se ret and se ret orresponden e" @!A (lanning 'ran h was responsi!le for maintaining depot statisti s and a ting as an =effi ien y !ureau= on systems and pro edures" @ A 1dministrative 'ran h loo+ed after the Military Esta!lishment# the Civilian Esta!lishment# 0epot 9inan e# the Se urity Se tion# the 9ire 9ighting# the ,ransport Se tion# the Medi al Inspe tion Bom# <elfare and the Mard responsi!le for depot sanitation and ontrolled the la!our pool for distri!ution to groups and !ran hes" @dA E4e utive 'ran h for Store"# (rovision# Control and 1 ountH It omprised the (rovision and Lo al (ur hase Se tionK Control 'ran h for he +ing indents and issuing stores" 0epot 1 ounts 'ran h for maintenan e of a ounts# sto +ing and adjustment of dis repan ies" 9our su! depots for physi al re eipt# storage and issue of stores and a Beturn Stores Su!.0epot for stores returned !y the units as well as a (est Control Se tion# a ,raffi 'ran h for re eipt and despat h of stores# a ,raining Se tion for the departmental training of personnel" It will thus !e seen that the urrent organi6ation of depots# with whi h we are all so familiar was developed during <orld <ar II" Ne6 Cate+orie o! O!!i#er Some of the new ategories of offi ers introdu ed into the Corps during 1*&%.1*&& are given !elow ? @aA 2rdnan e 2ffi er @1dministrationA ontrolled the administration of the depot" @!A (lanning 2ffi er maintained statisti s and reported on the state of the depot output and effi ien y" @ A Se urity 2ffi er was responsi!le for the se urity of the depot from theft# sa!otage# fire and su!versive a tivities" 3e was also the 9ire Master of the depot" @dA ,raining +fficer was responsi!le for military as well as departmental training of all ran+s" @eA @fA <elfare 2ffi er was +nown as Civilian La!our 2ffi er" (rovision 2ffi er supervised provision wor+ in the Central 0epot"

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0epot 1 ounts 2ffi er handled the store a and was also responsi!le for sto +.ta+ing" (reservation 2ffi er loo+ed after pest ontrol"

ounts in a depot

2rdnan e 2ffi er# Beturned Stores 0epot ensured smooth handling of re eipts from the units"

Sta"dardi,atio" o! Pro#ed*re 0ue to rapid e4pansion during the war and enormous in rease in the range of stores held !y the 2rdnan e Servi es# oupled with untrained staff# ertain wea+nesses unavoida!ly rept into the 2rdnan e system" ,o eradi ate the short omings# two 'ritish offi ers were !rought to India as (lanning 1dvisers" 1fter a short tour of some depots and arsenals# they su!mitted a report" in Septem!er 1*&;# suggesting that a system of planning and statisti al ontrol should initially !e introdu ed at one depot whi h would fun 5"12n as a training esta!lishment for prospe tive planning offi ers for other depots 1 ordingly# in Covem!er 1*&;# a (lanning Cell of the 2rdnan e S hool <as 7t up at the Fir+ee 1rsenal for training of (lanning 2ffi ers" 1 num!er of dire tives were on ul?#0151tly issued from G3> dealing <ith different aspe ts of depot a tivities" Gradually standard (ro edure= on Be eipts# Issues# 0ues.out Control# Sto +ta+ing# (arts Changes and (u!li ations# 1 ounts# Standard ,e hni al (ro edure for vehi le depots# and pro edure for Beturned Stores Su!.0epots were pu!lished Coordination 2ffi ers were posted to the 0epots under the (lanning 2ffi ers to he + their implementation" ,hese new pro edures streamlined and standardi6ed the e4isting methods" 1 omplete innovation was the adoption of 0ues.out Control system early in 1*&& involving the preparation of further part single item vou hers whi h revolutioni6ed the system of li$uidating ina!ilities of the units !y trapping fresh re eipts at the earliest stage in the flow of do uments" Pa#-i"+ a"d Pre er$atio" 1 su!.se tion was reated in the 2rdnan e Servi e 0ire torate to deal solely with the preservation# pa +ing and mar+ing of pa +ages" India was now a!le to produ e the spe ial pa +ing ases# artons and other re$uisites" Sy tem o! Pro$i io"i"+ ,ill 1*%*# ta!ulating the stores re$uirement of demands on suppliers was a omparatively simple matter" It was !ased on +nown fa tors#

overing normal pea e wastage# initial re$uirements of new units# authori6ed in reases in s ales and ertain learly defined reserves" (rovision was made for ea h finan ial year on the stri tly limited !asis di tated !y finan ial onsiderations" In Septem!er 1*&0 a system of 9orward (rogramming was evolved to pla e demands in !ul+ for anti ipated re$uirements to over the initial e$uipment for new units# maintenan e and reserves for the period right up to mar h 1*&%" ,his ena!led the Supply 0epartment to plan produ tion and pur hase on a long term !asis" De#e"trali,atio" o! Pro$i io"i"+ In Mar h 1*&% the provisioning was de entrali6ed so that the a tual al ulations were arried out at the main holding site5 of the relevant stores# i"e# the various Central 2rdnan e 0epots" ,he only e4 eptions were the General Staff 5Controlled5 stores.mainly weapons# vehi les# ammunition and main te hni al e$uipments# and ertain important general stores" 3owever# the provisioning poli y and dire tion ontinued to !e vested in the Stores Se tions of the 2rdnan e 0ire torate and instru tions were onveyed to (rovision 2ffi ers in C20s through periodi al dire tives" A*tomati# S*%%ly o! S%are 1s the range and types of new e$uipments in reased and sour es of supply were e4tended to 1llied and 'ritish Commonwealth ountries# a large measue of automati maintenan e was adopted" ,his amounted to a on urrent and automati supply of spares and onne ted stores# and su!se$uent periodi al maintenan e of all supplies of urrent and new e$uipments re eived in India" (ormatio" o! Pro$i io", Coordi"atio" a"d S*%%ly Se#tio" ,he (rovision# Coordination and Supply @(CHSA Se tion of the MG2 'ran h was formed early in 1*&1 under the ontrol of a 'rigadier designated 'rig (CHS" ,his se tion provided a lin+ !etween the 1rmed 9or es India @i"e" all (rovision 'ran hes of 1rmy# Caval and 1ir 9or e head$uartersA and the 0epartment of Supply" It was finally wound up in Iuly 1*&6" I"dia" M*"itio" A i+"me"t Committee 1lMAC3

,he Government of India had agreed to the esta!lishment of an Indian Munitions 1ssignment Committee in India in Ianuary 1*&%" It

onsisted of (a) Master General of 2rdnan e in India# (b) Controller# General 1rmy (rovision @Eastern GroupA) @ A 0eputy Chief of General Staff# and (d) ,wo 1meri an mem!ers" ,he KM1C a tivities were not onfined only to munitions# !ut it had jurisdi tion over all general stores and their provision and supply" It ontrolled the total Indian produ tion of su h stores# and the distri!ution of surplus "left over after meeting India5s own re$uirements" ,he KM1C was a!olished on 1 Covem!er 1*&/" Pro$i io" o! 7ehi#le a"d Related Store In 1*%- the M, fleet onsisted of a!out &#/00 vehi les in luding reserves of various ma+es and types re eived from the :F" Soon after the a eptan e of the Chatfield Committee Beport# additional vehi les were ordered" ,he M, fleet then started e4panding steadily and !y 1*&/ it had soared to %/0#000 vehi les of various ma+es" ,hen it was passed on to IEME"

ORDNANCE (IELD 4NITS AND DEPOTS

Ord"a"#e (ield Com%a"ie 0uring the war# there arose a need for immediate 2rdnan e servi e in the different theatres of war" So# five 2rdnan e 9ield Companies were raised and dispat hed to different theatres of war" Later# another 2rdnan e field Company was raised and dispat hed to Ira$" In 1*&1 reinfor ements were sent to onvert the two 2rdnan e 9ield Companies in Ira$ into an Indian 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot" Ba e a"d Ad$a"#e De%ot 1t the end of 1*&1# two new units# an Indian 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot and an Indian 'ase 1mmunition 0epot were raised and sent to Ira$" 9rom these two units# an Indian 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot and an Indian 1dvan e 1mmunition 0epot were also raised in 1*&;" In addition the Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps dispat hed the following depots overseas and to other operational areas ? @aA @!A @ A 2ne Complete 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot 1mmunition 0epot to Sudan in 1*&0" 1n 2rdnan e 0epot to 1den in 1*&0" 2ne 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot# one 'ase 1mmunition 0epot and an 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot to 'urma in 1*&1" and one 'ase

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Beinfor ements# e$uivalent to a 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot and an 1dvan e 0epot to 'urma in 1*&1" 1n 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot to Malaya in 1*&1" ,hree 'ase 2rdnan e 0epots# three 1dvan e? 1mmunition 0epots# and a num!er of other small units to 1ssam and East 'engal during 1*&;.&&"

Ord"a"#e (ield ParCo 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+s e4isted at the start of <orld <ar II" 2nly in 1*&; four 0ivisional and two ,an+ 'rigade 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+s were raised" ,hereafter these units played a very important role in the operations" 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+s were mo!ile units holding the formation reserve of ontrolled stores and spares for vehi les# armament and te hni al e$uipments# to over first e helon repairs" 1t the end of 1*&%# Corps and ?my 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+s were also provided !esides the 0iv 29(s" Ord"a"#e (ield De%ot In the Eastern 1rmy area# owing to the terrain fa tors# and as a safeguard against the ris+ of isolation through enemy a tion# small ordnan e 9ield 0epots @290sA had to !e formed to hold !oth stores and ammunition" ,herefore# early in 1*&%# a war esta!lishment for Indian 2rdnan e 9ield 0epots was drawn up" 1n 290 had a 3ead$uarters# a railhead group# and one platoon of ea h type of spe ially" In 1*&/# the 290s were reorgani6ed into 9orward 2rdnan e Maintenan e Companies" La*"dry 4"it In 1*&1 si4 Indian Mo!ile Laundry and 9orward 0e ontamination :nits were raised# four of these were sent to Ira$ and two to the Middle East" In 1*&%# these units were amalgamated with the Mo!ile 'ath :nits# then under the (ioneer Corps# and were designated as the I12C Mo!ile Laundry and 'ath :nits" ,wenty.one su h units @in addition to the si4 already serving overseasA were raised" In Ianuary 1*&/ the I12C assumed the responsi!ility for hospital laundries also" 'y May 1*&/ the Corps had seventeen 3ospital Laundries and an additional four 1irport Laundries" Sal$a+e 4"it In 1*&/# 2rdnan e raised eight salvage units.four for Ira$# two for the Middle East# and two for Malaya" 'y Covem!er 1*&%# twenty si4 units had

!een raised" Meanwhile# in Iuly 1*&; the Salvage 0ire torate was set up !ut 2rdnan e Servi es ontinued to have the overall responsi!ility" Mo&ile Amm*"itio" 4"it In 1*&%# the 2rdnan e Servi es too+ over the responsi!ility for the inspe tion# maintenan e and repair of all ammunition and e4plosives in the servi e" ,wenty Mo!ile 1mmunition La!oratories and ;& Mo!ile 1mmunition Inspe tion :nits were raised" In 1*&/# these two types of units were amalgamated to form a new unit +nown as 5Mo!ile 1mmunition Bepair :nit5 whi h was allotted one per 0ivision" Port Ord"a"#e a"d Amm*"itio" Deta#hme"t 1t the end of 1*&%# (ort 2rdnan e 0eta hments and (ort 1mmunition 0eta hments ommanded !y (ort 2rdnan e 2ffi ers and (ort Inspe ting 2rdnan e 2ffi ers# respe tively# were formed to advise the do + personnel on all te hni al matters onne ted with the handling of 2rdnan e Stores and ammunition onsignments" 9ourteen su h deta hments were raised"

T.E 8OR5S.OP BRANC.

9B2M the earliest times the 2rdnan e Corps had !een responsi!le for provisioning# repairing and maintaining all 2rdnan e stores" <hen me hani al vehi les su h as lorries and am!ulan es were first introdu ed into the 1rmy# the responsi!ility for maintaining them was given to the Bl1SC" Su!se$uently# when other types" of vehi les# su h as tan+s# armored arriers and artillery tra tors were introdu ed# their maintenan e too was assigned to the Bl1SC# who were already doing a similar jo!" ,hus two para1lel wor+shop and stores organi6ations operated in the 1rmy? one# as Bl1SC under the >uarter Master General and the other as I12C# ontrolled !y the Master General of 2rdnan e" <ith the progress of me hani6ation of the 1rmy# a revision of this dual system !e ame imperative" ,he alternatives were either to form an entirely new orps to ta+e over the total maintenan e wor+ or assign the responsi!ility of entire repair wor+ to one of the two e4isting organi6ations" 3owever# in view of the emergent war situation# the provision and maintenan e of all me hani al vehi les were onso1idated and !rought under the ontrol of the M22# with effe t from 1 1pril 1*%*" <ith the transfer of the Bl1SC wor+shop Servi es to the I12C# the division pf the 2rdnan e Corps into two main !ran hes# vi6 the Stores !ran h and the <or+shop !ran h already e4isting# !e ame more pronoun ed" ,he

<or+shop 'ran h of the I12C fun tioned smoothly and ta +led the manifold pro!lems of a fast e4panding modern me hani6ed army# for a period of four years" 'ut in 1*&;# a large ontingent of 1meri an tan+s ame to India" ,he wor+ of assem!ling# handling and repairing these tan+s presented tremendous pro!lems" So on e again the proposal to have a separate orps to ta+e over all the engineering wor+ from I12C was revived" 3aving then studied the matter in detail# it was de ided to form a new Corps of Indian Ele tri al and Me hani al Engineering" 1n IEME ommittee was held for this purpose# whi h held its first meeting on 16 Ianuary 1*&%" ,he new Corps of Indian Ele tri al and Me hani al Engineering ame into !eing on 1 May 1*&%" As the Stores and <or+shop Servi es in the I12C were for the main part already operating as separate organi6ations# the transfer of the wor+shop servi es to the new Corps did not pose any great pro!lems" 1longwith the wor+shops# almost the whole wor+shop staff of offi ers# JC2S and 2Bs was also transferred to the new Corps# on their e4isting terms and onditions of servi e"

A(TERMAT. O( 8ORLD 8AR II

,3E end of the <"""ld <ar n mar+ed the !eginning of another phase of intensive a tivity" 1t this time 2rdnan e installations and units got !usier than !efore" <hile the demand for stores steadily de lined# redu ing the outflow from depots# all the sto +holding e helons of the Corps were flooded with !a + loaded e$uipment and stores of all des ription rendered repaira!le or unservi ea!le during the war# in luding those aptured from the enemy" :nits under dis!andment also started returning their entire unit e$uipment" 1t the same time s heme for various ategories of personnel reswted in onsidera!le redu tion in the staff of 2rdnan e 0epots" ,he Corps was thus fa ed with the pro!lem of in reased wor+load and redu ed staff" ,he following three depots were also pla ed under the harge of the 02S# thus further adding to the e4isting heavy wor+load ? ;;% 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot# Chittagong &&/ 1dvan e 1mmunition 0epot# Chittagong Finematograph Servi es Central 0epot# 'om!ay @in 1*&8A Storage (roje ts ,owards the end of 1*&& when the end of the war was in sight# a review of e4isting storage a ommodation was arried out !ased on an appre iation for postwar re onstru tion !y the Master General of 2rdnan e

with a view to lose down ertain depots after the war" 3owever# as the news of the rapid progress of the Indian troops in 'urma started oming in and after the Indian troops# entry in the ity of Bangoon on ; May 1*&/# orders were given that all low priority proje ts !e re.e4amined and a!andoned even if with ;/N of ompletion unless onsidered vitally ne essary" So# e4pansion programme was drasti ally ut down espe ially in ase of Jehi le 0epots" E4pansion wor+s for ;0/ I'20# C20 Fanpur# and planned wor+ at C20 1gra# were allowed to ontinue" Closing of 0epots and Centrali6ation of Sto +s 9inan ial stringen y made it ne essary to lose down depots whi h were not re$uired in the postwar period" 1nother way to redu e the num!er of sto +.holding installations was to entrali6e sto +s" So# it was de ided to on entrate M, spares and warli+e te hni al stores in as few depots as possi!le# prefera!ly one per Command" ,o illustrate this# we may give the e4ample of the Southern 1rmy where it was de ided to on entrate te hni al stores of armaments and signal range at 2rdnan e 0epot# se undera!ad" M, spares for the Corth 1meri an vehi 1es and 515 vehi 1es spares were to !e issued from C20 0ehu and its su!.depot at Fir+ee# respe tively" Similarly# M, spares for vehi 1es of the :F origin were to !e held at the Command 2rdnan e 0epot at Fir+ee" ,his poli y was ontinued later in respe t of general stores and 10thing also" Con entration of <ar 2ffi e Stores" 1nother step ta+en early in 1*&6 was to on entrate <ar 7 e sto +s" ;06 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot# 1vadi# was sele ted to hold a11 the <ar 2ffi e Sto +s of M, and ,e hni al Stores" ;0/ 'aSe 2rdnan e 0epot# (anagarh# and the Central (rovision 0epot# 0ehu# were assigned to hold items of General Stores and Clothing for the <a5r 2ffi e" Di %o al o! S*r%l* Store ,o ta +le the pro!lem of disposing of war surplus stores# a 0ire torate General of 0isposa1 @0G0A was formed in the Supply 0epartment of the Government of India" Con urrently# the Military Surplus Stores Se tion was reated as part of the (rovision# Coordination and Supply Se tion @(CHSA of the MG2" ,he Military Surplus Store Se tion fun tioned upto May 1*&6" Ret*r"ed Store ,he stores returned to the 2rdnan e at the end of a ampaign have to !e re eived# sorted out# onditioned and repaired for either re.issue or disposa1" ,he heavy !urden of this a tivity in the wa+e of the !iggest war

in history# stret hed =the Corps to the utmost limit" ,o help the 1rea 3ead$uarters# the returned stores su!.depots @BSS0sA of the various installations# were ordered to form 'rigade Group 2rdnan e Stores 3olding Se tions to re eive stores from units and hold them until the BSS0s were in a position to a ept them" Similarly# in 1mmunition 0epots# Beturn 1mmunition and Empties 1reas were esta!lished to handle ammunition !a + loaded from forward areas" " Cha"+e i" the Or+a"i,atio" o! Ord"a"#e De%ot 1 new organi6ation for 2rdnan e 0epots was adopted in 1*&%G&&" :nder It some of t1Oe more important hanges were as follows ?. @aA Admi"i tratio"< ,he Internal ,ransport 'ran h in a depot# whi h was so far fun tioning as part of the ,raffi 'ran h under the 0eputy Commandant or the 0C22# was transferred to the ontrol of the 2rdnan e 2ffi er @1dministrationA" Similarly# the 2rdnan e 2ffi er @Esta!lishment"" and 9inan eA was given additional harge of La!our 'ureau and Grain Shop" @!A EBe#*ti$e Bra"#he ? 1 ounts for the whole depot were !rought under the 0epot 1 ounts 2ffi er" Similarly# fun tions li+e operational do umentation were also entrali6ed in Control 'ran hes"

PARTITION AND ITS E((ECT ON T.E CORPS

,3E interim government whi h was esta!lished in India to prepare for the transfer of power# set up a Cationali6ation Committee under Sir Gopalaswamy Iyengar towards the end of 1*&6" It was de ided that the two self.governing dominions of India and (a+istan would ome into !eing on 1/ 1ugust 1*&8" ,he old Indian 1rmy was to !e split into the Indian 1rmy and (a+istan 1rmy" ,he 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es of the undivided army at that time was Maj 2en 0ouglas"Iones" 1fter the partition# the appointment to the post of the 02S was su!ordinated to that of a 'rigadier and 'rig S< 1n+etel Iones was posted as the first 02S in the partitioned Indian 1rmy" Col E1 Bodrigues# M'E# then the seniormost Indian offi er attending the Staff College# was !rought as 0eputy 02S and understudy to the 02S @IndiaA" 3owever# within a few days of Col Bodrigues5 appointment as 0eputy 02S# 'rig 1n+let Iones sought retirement to avoid involvement in the imminent Indo.(a+ onfrontation over Fashmir" ,hus# on %0 Covem!er 1*&8# 'rig E1 Bodrigues# M'E !e ame the first Indian 02S of free India" Partitio" o! A et o! the IAOC ,he division of the army !etween India and (a+istan generally too+ pla e in the ratio of ; ? 1" ,he I12C installations lo ated in either dominions were automati ally inherited !y the army on erned" 1s regards the 2rdnan e 9a tories# all the 16 .2rdnan e 9a tories were lo ated in India# so these were retained !y India" 3owever# India agreed to give (a+istan a total sum of Bs" 6 rores as ompensation for setting up its own 2rdnan e fa tories" In respe t of 2rdnan e stores# they were first !ifur ated into two ategories ? @iA Stores re$uired for normal use# and @iiA ,hose whi h might !e held as surplus over the normal maintenan e re$uirements" ,hese were then divided !etween the two armies in a ordan e with their respe tive strengths" Sin e the Supreme Command 3> was showing partiality# the two dominions posted their supervising teams to Central 2rdnan e 0epots# 1mmunition 0epots and Jehi le 0epots in the other dominion to supervise the wor+ of sele tion and despat h of stores to their own dominions"

A%%oi"tme"t o! I"dia" O!!i#er 2ne of the first pro!lems fa ed !y the 2rdnan e 0ire torate of the new Indian 1rmy was the $uestion of appointing Indian 2ffi ers to the various senior appointments in the Corps to fill the va an ies reated !y the departure of the 'ritish 2ffi ers" ,he poli y of the Government of India in this regard was that while India did not mind +eeping a few 'ritish 2ffi ers at various e helons in an advisory apa ity# posts on erned with poli y and dire tion should have Indian 2ffi ers" 1 ordingly# Indian 2ffi ers were appointed in various senior appointments and in ommand of major installations of the 2rdnan e Corps"

CORPS D4RIN) 1052

Re"ami"+ o! the Cor% India de lared itself a Bepu!li on ;6 Ianuary 1*/0" ,he Fing5s pla e as head of the state was now ta+en over !y the newly ele ted (resident of India" ,he word 5Indian5 as a prefi4 to the names of various arms and servi es# therefore# lost its relevan e and was eliminated" As a result# the Corps name# i"e"# Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps was now hanged as 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps" 1 new !adge was also designed and adopted in 1*/&" ,he =ran+ of the 02S was again upgraded to that of Maj Gen in 1*/6" Emer+e"#e o! Ord"a"#e Mai"te"a"#e Com%a"ie So far# the main omponent of the 2rdnan e Corps in an infantry division had !een the 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+# i"e"# a mo!ile unit with its own transport and sto +s restri ted to M, spares and other te hni al spares for armament engineering and signal e$uipments !esides ertain reserves of ontrolled stores" Su h a unit was not onsidered suita!le for a mountain division" It was felt that a mountain division must sto + general stores and lothing and ammunition as well" So an 2rdnan e Maintenan e Company @2MCA was provided with ea h mountain division# for handling general stores and lothing# and ammunition in addition to te hni al spares for M, vehi les and armaments# engineering and signal e$uipments" ,he 2MC of a mountain division thus !e ame a grounded unit with onsidera!le sto +s" Te#h"i#al Store Se#tio" ,he 2rdnan e Stores Se tions atta hed to EME 9ield <or+shops in a were redesignated as ,e hni al Stores Se tions" It now meant that maintenan e omponent of a field wor+shop was fully integrated with the

field <or+shop" ,his small su!.unit is the last !ut the vital lin+ in the system of supply of 2rdnan e stores# that is# the field repair# parti ularly# the provision of spares of important e$uipments" EB%a" io" a"d Rearmame"t 1fter the 1*6; Sino.Indian war# the Indian 1rmy was rearmed and re e$uipped with more modem and sophisti ated weapons and sophisti ated weapons and e$uipments" ,his at on e gave the 2rdnan e Corps a !ig assignment of the phasing of new e$uipments and the phasing out of old e$uipments together with their respe tive range of spares" ,his was a omple4 tas+ for while some of the new additional e$uipment had to !e pro ured through the developing indigenous sour es the rest had to ome from foreign sour es of supply" ,he indigenous sour es did their !est to meet their produ tion targets" 'ut# the foreign suppliers reated pro!lems while they showed enthusiasm after the Chinese atta + they started hedging with the onset of Indo.(a+ hostilities in 1*6/" ,he :S1# for instan e# undertoo+ to e$uip some mountain divisions deployed on the Indo.,i!etan !order" 'ut in Septem!er 1*6/# it unilaterally stopped all supplies" In fa t# it went a step further and !anned all sales of lethal e$uipment to India even !y private :S agen ies" ,hus the hangeover to the new e$uipments was a pro ess that got stret hed over a long period" Di #ard Poli#y !or 7ehi#le 1t this stage# the 1rmy adopted a poli y to dis ard vehi les that were not fully relia!le and !attle worthy" ,win riteria of vintage and mileage were wor+ed out as a !asis for dis arding a vehi le from servi e" ,his meant that a ertain num!er of vehi les would go out of the 1rmy fleet and !e disposed of every year for further e4ploitation !y ommer ial agen ies" ,his rationali6ed the national priorities and too+ are of !oth the 0efen e and Civil re$uirements" EB%a" io" i" the Cor% 1lthough the 1rmy strength was at this time in reased from a!out % la+hs to a!out - la+hs# the e4pansion of the 2rdnan e Corps was not of the same order" Its strength was in reased from a!out 1/#000 to only a!out ;/#000"

REOR)ANISATION O( ORDNANCE SER7ICES A(TER 1071

19,EB the Indo.(a+ w=5 of 1*81# the wor+load of the 2S 0ire torate had gone up !y 61"6N as ompared with the wor+load in 1*6; mainly on a ount of ?. @aA @!A @ A @dA 0iversified sour es of supply whi h now in luded several East European ountries as well" 1n almost two.fold in rease in the strength of the army" Introdu tion of new e$uipment" In reased authori6ation"

Stress on development of indigenous su!stitutes# re$uirement of greater utili6ation of o!solete stores# indigenous produ tion of vehi les and spares alled for in reased intera tion of the 0G 2S with the Ministry of 0efen e# 0G 29# 0GSH0 and foreign sour es" ,e hnologi al advan ement in the field of warfare had !rought in plethora of new e$uipments# vi6 tan+s# om!at vehi les# air defen e systems# ammunition# mines and missiles# mine.sweeping e$uipment and engineer stores# even harging sets# generators and storage !atteries" In the field of ele troni s# the pa e of te hnologi al progress was !e oming so fast that in a short time now the weapons and e$uipments !e ame o!solete" ,o attune the 2rdnan e Servi es to this fast pa e situation# a reorgani6ation was arried out in May 1*8/" ,he salient features of this reorgani6ation are as follows ? @aA @!A ,he designation of the 0eputy 02S was Commander Stores Group and 0eputy 02S" hanged to

,he e4isting post of 102S @CA was upgraded and redesignated as Col @CoordA @(rovision (oli y# 'udget# S aling and (u!li ationA and was pla ed under the Commander Stores Group and 0eputy 02S" ,he entire organi6ation in luding the 00 2S @General Stores and ClothingA would fun tion under the Commander Stores Group and 0eputy 02S" M, stores and vehi les were pla ed under the harge of a 'rigadier Com!at Jehi les" 1 002S @CoOA was made responsi!le for 5'5 vehi les and spares) an 102S ea h was responsi!le for vehi les and for spares" 515 vehi les and

@ A

@dA

onne ted spares were pla ed under a separate 102S" @eA @fA ,e hni al stores and ammunition were pla ed under 'rigadier ,e hni al Stores and 1mmunition" Engineers Stores of 2rdnan e origin @2S.161A was pla ed dire tly under 0102S @EngineersA under the 'rigadier ,e hni al Stores and 1mmunition" 2S.8 and 2S.;0 were pla ed under an 102S @2rg and (HM3A 0isposal "of stores# stationery and indigenous produ tion were om!ined and vested in 002S @l( H 0isposalA C20s 0elhi Cantt# 1gra# Ia!alpur# 0ehu# Fanpur# Chheo+i and MaKad# C10 (ulgaon and C19J0 Fir+ee were pla ed dire tly under the te hni al ontrol of Commander Stores Group and 0y 02S" ,hese depots ould orrespond dire tly with the on erned stores se tion at 1rmy 3ead$uarters"

@gA @hA @jA

Ce"tral Pro$i io" Cell ,he Central (rovision Cell was esta!lished in the 0ire torate General of 2rdnan e Servi es on 1/ Covem!er 1*/- !y transferring to it the provisioning responsi!ilities of general stores and lothing whi h were earlier arried out !y Central 2rdnan e 0epots Chheo+i and Fanpur" Initially the Central (rovision Cell was headed !y a Colonel designated as 002S @(A# whi h was su!se$uently hanged to 002S @GSHCA in Iuly 1*8/ and then to Col @GSHCA in Iune 1*-;" ,he appointment of Col @GSHCA was upgraded to the ran+ of 'rigadier and the designation hanged to 0 0GS @GSHCA on ;0 Ianuary 1*-6" Material .a"dli"+ E?*i%me"t 1M.E3 Cell 2n ;0 1pril 1*-;# the Government of India san tioned the raising of a Materials 3andling E$uipment Cell in the 2rdnan e Servi es 0ire torate for arrying out the wor+ relating to moderni6ing the materials handling system" ,he ell was lo ated in C20 0elhi Cantt under an 2ffi er.in.Charge# M3E Cell" ,he duties of the M3E Cell in luded designing of sheds# liaison with indigenous produ tion agen ies# e4ploring the possi!ility of palletisation of ammunition and ordnan e stores and sele tion of suita!le ma hinery and pl nt for maintenan e and servi ing of M3E in depots" <hereas the per eived aims were lauda!le# in pra ti e the a hievements of the M3E Cell have !een marginal due to la + of manpower and

e4pertise# the time it ta+es for proje t studies to !e ompleted# re$uirement of trials and finan ial and other onstraints" Reor+a"i atio"'(e&r*ary 1085 <ith a view to improving promotion prospe ts# 1rmy 3ead$uarters undertoo+ two adre reviews in the eighties" <ith effe t from 1 9e!ruary 1*-/# the 0ire torate of 2rdnan e Servi es and other appointments were redesignated in +eeping with ran+s as follows ?

OR)ANIDATION O( ORDNANCE SER7ICES DTE

0ire tor General of 2rdnan e Servi es @00 2SA 1ddl 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e Servi e @1ddl 0G 2SA 0eputy 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e Servi e @0 0G 2SA 0ire tor @2SA Ioint 0ire tor @2SA 0eputy 0ire tor @2S 1ssistant 0ire tor @2S

Lt General Maj General 'rigadier Colonel Lt Colonel Major Captain

,he responsi!ilities of the three 1ddl 0Gs 2S were distri!uted as follows ? @aA Addl D) OS 1CN=AE9 ,o e4er ise ontrol over C20s Fanpur and Chheo+i and Ioint 0ire tor @2S 9a toriesA Fanpur" In 1nny 3ead$uarters# 0 00 as @2ps H 1dmA# 0 0G as @10(A# 0ire tor @2S 0isp and I(A# 0 00 2S @GSHCA and I0 @l2S persA were pla ed under the 1ddl 00 as @CCH1A" Addl D) OS 1C739 C20s 0elhi Cantt# 0ehu Boad# 'om!ay and C19J0 Fir+ee# ass /0/# /0-# /10 and /1; 1rmy 'ase <or+shops" I0 @aS 9ysA Ia!alpur" In 1nny 3ead$uarters the 0 0G 2S C15 Jeh H SparesA and 0ire tor @2S 5'5 Jehs and SparesA were pla ed under his dire t on trol" Addl D) OS 1TS39 Ca0s 1gra and Ia!alpur and C10 (ulgaon# ass /06 and /0* 1nny 'ase <or+shops# I0 @2S (S:sA 'angalore" In 1nny 3ead$uarters# 0ire tor @2S 1rmt H 1mnA# I0 @2S EngrsA# 0oo as @LA and 0ire tor @2S MissilesA were pla ed under the 1ddl 0G as @,SA"

@!A

@ A

,he following appoint7nts in the 0ire torate General of 2rdnan e Servi es were upgraded from C2lonel to 'rigadier 0 0G as @10(SA 0 0G 2S @2ps H 1dmA 0 0G 2S @GS H CA 0 0G as @l H 'CA 0 0G 2S CA/ Jeh H SparesA 0 0G 2S @LA 1nother signifi ant hange in this reorganisation was that 2S.-1 was separated from the 0ire torate General of 2rdnan e Servi es and arnalgamated with the Military Se retary5s 'ran h as MS.1/"

4P)RADATIONS A(TER CADRE RE7IE8

,o improve promotional prospe ts provide a !etter areer in the 1rmy two adre reviews were arried out during the de ade of the eighties" ,he first adre review was ompleted in 1*-&" <ith the approved upgradations# the Corps now has san tioned appointments for ; Lieutenant Generals# * Major Generals# ;8 'rigadiers# 1;& Colonels and 1;8 Lieutenant Colonels" ,he details of the various upgradations are given in the su eeding paragraphs" Comma"d .ead?*arter 1ll 's12C have now !een upgraded to Major General" Ea h Command now has a 002S in the ran+ of a Colonel wor+ing under the 5MG12C" Cor% .ead?*arter C12C Corps ,roops# whi h had an independent esta!lishment till 1*-0# was merged into the war esta!lishment of the 002S at Corps 3ead$uarters" ,he appointment of the 002S was upgraded to 'rigadier in an Corps" Later the appointment of 102S of Corps 3ead$uarters was upgraded to Colonel as Col" 2rd" Area .ead?*arter ,he 2rdnan e representatives in 1rea 3ead$uarters have also !een elevated" Di$i io"al Ord"a"#e 4"it 1ll 0ivisional 2rdnan e :nits will !e ommanded !y Colonels with Lieutenant Colonels as Se ond"in"Command" Ce"tral De%ot ,he ran+ of the Commandant of C20s 1gra# Chheo+i# 0elhi Cantt# 0ehu Boad# Ia!alpur# and Fanpur# of C10 (ulgaon# of C19J0 Fir+ee as wen as of 20 Sha+ur!asti were upgraded su!se$uently" ,he ran+s of 0eputy Commandants and Senior provision 2ffi ers in spe ified depots were upgraded from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel" ABOD ,he ran+ of 0eputy Commandant and 1dministrative 2ffi er was upgraded from Major to Lieutenant Colonel"

(OD >(AD l AD ,he Chief 2rdnan e 2ffi ers of all 920sl910sl10s were upgraded to Colonel" Colle+e o! Material Ma"a+eme"t ,he ran+ of the Commandant of the Co11ege of Materials Management @formerly the 12C S hoolA was elevated from Major General to Lieutenant General" ,he ran+ of the 0eputy Commandant and Chief Instru tor was raised from 'rigadier to Major General# respe tively" ,he Commander 1rmament and 1mmunition <ing was upgraded to Colonel" Similarly all other <ing Commanders also are now Colonels" AOC Ce"tre ,he ran+ of the Centre Commandant was raised from Colonel to 'rigadier" ,he ran+s of the 0eputy Commandant and CI# and 2C Co"1 and Co" ; ,raining 'attalions were upgraded to Colonel" ,he Se ond in Command of the training !attalions !e ame Lieutenant Colonel" Other 4"it ,he fo11owing units were upgraded to !e ommanded !y Lt" Colonels ?,hree Corps 2rdnan e Maintenan e Companies" 2ne 1mmunition Company ,wo Jehi le Companies CADRE RE7IE8 ' AOC, ECOS AND OT.ER RAN5S ,he two adre reviews san tioned !y the Government en ompassed IC2s and other ran+s as we11" ,he first adre review was san tioned in 0e em!er 1*8* and the se ond in Iuly 1*-&"

(IRST CADRE RE7IE8

In the adre review on 1% 07em!er 1*8* an overa11 in rease was san tioned in the ran+ stru ture and honorary ran+s in the 1rmy" ,he fo11owing onditions were laid down?. @aA @!A ,here will !e no in rease !eyond the pres ri!ed strength" eiling

,he e4isting riteria for sele tion to higher jo!s was to !e stri tly followed"

,he !ren+down of in reaseGde renSE5 iK) givpn !E5low ? "rade 1mn ,e h Cler+s G0GStores SFs, S3 G0l,e h 1rtifi ers ,otal Note< .a$lNaiS#$ Ma%or / %1 ;8 / ; 80 1F3 1:G S#$ &;// ;;& 1066 801 &$ S#$ &; @.A /8 @.A &6 /% %1 ;% Se%oy OR 118 @.A ;;* @.A ;0/ @.A 1/6 @.A 100 @.A /8% 1'3 1:G

Per#e"ta+e Ra"- Str*#t*re

Rank !efore Cadre Re'ie( Percentage Percenta of ge tre"+th o! o! total ECO tre"+th &"1 %0"* 6&"* . 0"%1 ;"%% /"0 *;"%6 After Cadre Re'ie( Percentage Percenta of ge tre"+th o! o! total ECO tre"+th /"& &6"6 &-"0 . 0"/ &"&"* -*"-

Su! Maj Su! Cai! Su! 2B

Cote? Batio amongst IC2s ? Su! Maj ) Su!? C! Su! (rior to Cadre Beview 1?-?1* 1fter Cadre Beview . 1?1;?10 .o"orary Commi io" ,he ratio for honorary ommission was also revised for ea h Bepu!li and Independen e 0ay as follows? 3ony Capts 1 ? & Lts 3ony Lts 1;? 1000 IC2s 3ony Cai! Su!edars /00 va an ies 3ony 3avs 1/ per ent of Cai+s retiring every year

to !e granted 3ony 3av in their last year of servi e"

SECOND CADRE RE7IE8

,he se ond adre review in respe t of IC2s and other ran+s was san tioned !y the (resident on ;- Iuly 1*-&" ,he Government order san tioned an overall in rease in the ran+ stru ture honorary ommission and ran+s and time s ale promotion upto and in luding the ran+ of Cai+ in the 1rmy" ,he onditions laid down were similar to those laid down for the first adre review" ,he details of va an ies anotted to the 12C are given in the following ta!les ?

Cadre Re$ie6'AOC EOC a"d Other Ra"Additio"al 7a#a"#ie AOC

"rade
0rivers S3 G0 S3 ,e h Carp# (tr @:A# E'B ,e4 Bep" 2L( ,insmith @:A et " IC2 1,s @one ea h for (G0 and 1- 910A Total

S#$ Ma%or
; % 1 % ; 11

S#$edar
* ;6 / 6

&ai$ S#$edar
1; %/ 6 -

)a'ildar
6; 180 %; %6

AG

G1

;22

)ra"t o! .o"orary Commi

io" a"d .o"orary Ra"-

,he ratios of honorary ommission and honorary ran+ of 3av were also revised for ea h Bepu!li and Independen e 0ay as fonows ? 3onorary Lieutenant" 1; ? 1000 Iunior Commissioned 2ffi ers" 3onorary "a)ildars ;0 per ent of sele ted Cai+s retiring every year to !e granted 3onorary 3avildars in their last year of servi e" ,ime s ale Cai+s would not !e eligi!le for the grant of 3onorary 3avildar"

Time S#ale Promotio" 1 ording to the Government orders of Iuly -&# time s ale promotion

to the ran+ ofCai+ is to !e granted to Lan e Cai+s and Sepoys who are not granted the ran+ of Cai+ for any reasons# one year !efore the ompletion of the period of engagement" Promotio" o! Se%oy to L>Nai- i" AOC Conse$uent upon the san tion of additional va an ies in 1*8* and reJlsedlin reased ratiosGper entages# a large num!er of va an ies for promotion to :Cai+s !e ame availa!le during 1*-0" It was de ided that as 1n the ase of promotion of IC2s and CC2s# :Cai+s would also !e (romoted on the Corps roster" (rior to adre review# promotion of Sepoys to :Cai+s was made on unit !asis in a ordan e with the 0efen e Servi es Begulations" Centralisation of promotions to LGCai+s on Corps roster was ordered !e ause the units were fa ing diffi ulty# on a ount of la + of eligi!le and $ualified senionnost sepoys" ,he improvement in promotion prospe ts of a Sepoy to LGCai+ !etween Septem!er 1*-&# Iune 1*-/ and Iune 1**1 is refle ted in some e4amples Given !elow ?. Ser*i#e i" /ear Hor Trade Cate+ory Pay Se%8A Promotio" to LINai)ro*% E*" 85 E*" 01
Cl+ G0GStores S+s ,e h Carp @uA Carp Inr E'B H Sdlr @:A 2M3E Sdlr H 3M (tr @:Al(tr H 0eer 2L(G'la + smith @:A Metal Smith @:A S3 ,e h Musi ians Coo+ @:A Coo+ Spl Coo+ Mess Mastil hi Safaiwala 'ar!er <asherman Mess <aiter 5'5 5'5 5E05 5E05 5E05 5E05 5E5 505 5E5 505 505 5E5 5E5 5E5 5E5 5E5 5E5 ;"6 %#6 1% 10 *#6 *"% 11"6 11 / 11 1/ / /"6 10 1; 1;"% . ; 1"6 11"6 10 6"6 11 8 & * 1%"6 &"6 %"6 * 10"6 10 . ;"8 1"* -"; 8"& 8"1 1&"6 6"1 6"/ 6"&"11 &"11 *"; &"10 6"& 6"10 8"/ /"8

In some trades# su h as ,e4tile Bepaiter (rinter @:nitA and <aiter Mess# there was no improvement" In the ase of some trades# uriously# su h as 0river @M3A and 'ugler" the servi e period for promotion in reased slightly" 1ppendi4 I gives a omparative ta!le of promotion prospe ts for all ran+s !etween Septem!er 1*-1 and Iune 1*-/"

MODERNISATION MEAS4RES
Ratio"ali atio" o! Ord"a"#e (*"#tio"i"+ 1 high level st"udy group was appointed in 1*-/ to rationalise the fun tioning of 2rdnan e 0epots" ,he study group was tas+ed to over a host of 2rdnan e aspe ts from the relevan y of Ca0s in the present onte4t to ma+ing depots more responsive to futuristi re$uirements# as well as to identify those areas where there has !een a drift in the wor+ing ulture and to identify !ottlene +s and improve effi ien y and assuran e levels" ,he study group visited C19J0 Fir+ee# ,ELC2 (une# C20 Chheo+i and C20 0elhi Cantt in Septem!er 1*-/ and then de ided to restri t its deli!erations to the following aspe ts only ? @aA @!A Belevan y of the C20 system and reorgani6ation restru turing as ne essary" re ommending

E4pendia!le stores whi h ould !e dire tly made the responsi!ility of units and individuals to pur hase thus !ringing a!out greater user satisfa tion as also redu tion of inventory" Effi ient appli ation of the transportation model) identifi ation of items that ould !e delivered dire tly !y main suppliers to 20sG920s" " Improvements in mustering in te hni$ues" 0evise methods to relate overtimeGprodu tivity lin+ed !onus to pun tuality and produ tivity" E4plore the feasi!ility of separating disposal fun tions from C20s" Streamline a ounting systems and pro edures" @hA Bedu e inventory" @iA Ma+e re ommendations on life.time !uys and dis ard poli y of army vehi les and weapons"

@ A

@dA @eA @fA @gA

,he ne4t de ade should see some major reforms as a result of the

re ommendations made !y this study group" 1 high level team onsisting of Lt Gen B Sarin# 0G as) Maj Gen B( 1garwal JSM @now Lt Gen B( 1garwal# (JSM# JSM# 0G2SA# 1ddl 0G 2S @CJA# Shri Ba+esh# 0ire tor @>A) Shri 1F Ghosh# 1ddl @91 @GA and 'rig autam Mitra# JSM# 00 as % Corps# visited the Indian Institute of Management @IlMA 1hmeda!ad in Mar h 7*-6 and after deli!erations re$uested 11M 1hmeda!ad to ondu t a study on 2rdnan e systems with a view to identify the steps to ut down inventory levels and redu e ost of distri!ution" ,he study team omprised the following mem!ers ? @aA @!A @ A (rofessor 1marlal 3 Falro (rofessor Iayant F Satia (rofessor 1ra!inda ,ripathy

,he team was assisted !y Maj Gen B( 1garwal# JSM @now Lt Gen B( 1garwal# (JSM# JSMA and Lt Col JIP Sa4ena in advisory apa ity" ,he 11M study team after visiting depots gave their presentation on ;8 Septem!er 1*-6" ,he gist of their re ommendations is summarised !elow ? @aA @!A @ A @dA @eA Pro$i io"9 ,he (rovisioning pro edure needs to !e suita!ly modified" Pro#*reme"t9 ,his should !e de entralised to the lowest level possi!le for sele ted ivil end use items" Stora+e9 (roper storage fa i1ities and modern material handling e$uipment were re ommended" Di %o al" 0isposalGsalvage operations need to !e !oth rationalised and de entra1ised" Tra" %ortatio"* Boad transport to !e used where possi!le"

,o implement re ommendations# the team suggested the following ourse of a tion ? @aA @!A @ A 0e entralised# omputer !ased5information systems" 'asi hanges in organisational stru ture" Badi al improvement in wor+ systems and ulture"

,he study team suggested the following areas for further detailed studies ? @aA Bedu tion of lead time for pur hases"

@!A @eA @dA @eA @fA

In reasing dependen e on trade hannel"s of distri!ution" 2ff.loading some tas+s on ivilian systems" S ope for privatisation" Materials Management 2rganisation at 3ead$uarters Bationalisation of C20 system"

In a ordan e with the suggestion of the 0G 2S a high power implementation ell to ta+e further a tion and monitor the implementation of the re ommendations of the 11M Study ,eam is e4pe ted to !e formed shortly in the Ministry of 0efen e" Conse$uent upon su!mission of the report !y the E4perts Committee in the year 1**0# a spe ial Su! ommittee under the Chairmanship of Gen Jijay Singh# (JSM# G2C.in.C Central Command# with Lt Gen 0J Falra# 1 JSM# Commandant College of Materials Management# was formed" ,his spe ial Committee was re$uired to arry out validation of issues overed !y the E4pert Committee in the Jol IJ of their report# in onju tion with 5Beview of Com!at E helins arried out !y the Spe ial Committee under the Chairmanship of=Lt Gen 'C Ioshi# (JSM# 1 JSM# G2C.in.C Southern Command" 1 presentatioJ on the su!je t was given !y the spe ial Su! ommittee in the 1rmy Commanders Conferen e on ;; 2 to!er 1**1" ,he re ommendations have wide ranging organisational and fun tional impli ations whi h shall !e supplemented in the near future" Com%o ite Sy tem De%ot ,he Government has san tioned the esta!lishment of two omposite systems depots at 'hopal and 0ehu Boad" 1 third depot has !een san tioned at Meerut" :ltimately# all te hni al C20s would swit h over to the systems on ept" ,he systems depot is a new on ept wherein all the fa ilities for a parti ular weapon system# say a parti ular type of tan+# will !e lo ated together# as are now availa!le in separate fa tors in the 2rdnan e 0epot# the 'ase <or+shop# 13S( elements# L12 et " ,his is a radi al departure from the urrent pra ti e wherein only omponents of a system are handled !y a C20" ,he pra ti al trial and manifestation of this on ept may !e tra ed to the systems !ased su! depot for 1;; mm guns set up in C20 Ia!alpur in 1*-&" A*tomated Data Pro#e i"+ Sy tem 9or a more a urate provisioning and pro urement system resulting in !etter onsumer servi e# automation ofinventory management was

on eived in 1*6;" 1 (un h Card Ma hine System was proposed for C20# 0elhi Cantt" 3owever# this proposal never materialised as in the meantime Ele troni 0ata (ro essing Systems was planned for the 2rdnan e" 1 6.mem!er 1ll 1rms 9easi!ility Study ,eam @ ontaining one 2rdnan e 2ffi erA was appointed in 2 to!er 1*68 to identify and re ommend areas for automation at 1rmy 3ead$uarters" 1s a result of the report of this team# an Ele troni 0ata (ro essing @E0(A Centre was esta!lished at the 1rmy 3ead$uarters" ,he 2rdnan e 2ffi er ondu ted the study at 2rdnan e 0ire torate" 1n E0( (ilot (roje t was esta!lished in C20 0elhi Cantt in Iune 1*6-# with the mandate to ondu t the feasi!ility study for !ringing %#000 items of Cissan spares on the E0( system" ,his team developed the software for the re eipt# issue and provision systems" 3owever# !efore these systems ould !e tested# the team was dis!anded in 1*8;" In 1*8&# an Implementation ,eam was san tioned to implement these systems" ,his team got into position in 1*8/ and developed# tested and proved all the five !asi systems of issue# re eipt# provision# dues.in and a ounts and ondu ted parallel runs on /#000 items of Cissan spares in 1*88" 9or re.writing these developed systems into the E0( !ased pro edures# an E0( (ro edures ,eam was appointed in 1*86" In Iuly.1*8* a full fledged E0( 'ran h at C20 0elhi Cantt" omprising ;; offi ers and a staff of ;&* personnel was san tioned" ,he team was to 7nderta+e development of the remaining systems and !ring the entire InJentory of C20 0elhi Cantt under automation" ,he team has automated re eipt# issue# provision# a ounts# dues.in# dues.out# indent validation# sto + ta+ing and (CH( fun tions overing over &%#000 items @e4 luding dead and o!solete itemsA" ,he rest is planned for automation in 1*-6.-8 when a suita!le hardware enhan ement @under pro urementA is"provided at the E0( 'ran h# C20 0elhi Cantt for handling the additional data" 1 plan was prepared !y the General Staff at 1rmy 3ead$uarters for omputerisation in the whole 1rmy overing all 2rdnan e depots so that in the not too distant future# we will see omputers operating in various 2rdnan e depots holding vital inventory" ,o spread omputer litera y in the 12C and to generate E0( trained manpower for underta+ing automation wor+ in various depots# a Mini Computer for the CMM Ia!alpur has !een pro ured installed the CMM is urrently ondu ting 'asi 10( ourses for all personnel of 12C to meet the trained manpower re$uirements"

Palleti atio" 2ne of the far.rea hing de isions ta+en to modernise 2rdnan e depots was to introdu e the on ept of palletisation# whi h proposed that materials !e handled in lots instead of one at a time" 1dvan ed ountries and armies li+e the :S 1rmy and the B12C have laimed that the greatest single gain in industrial handling effi ien y has !een a hieved through palletisation" 1 well planned and meti ulously e4e uted palletisation programme has the following advantages ? @iA In reased storage apa ity in the same area through effi ient use offloor spa e and in reasing the sta + height @or# e4ploitation ofthe third dimension# as they say it in the management jargonA" Bedu tion in handling osts" Shortening of loading and unloading time" Elimination of ina ura ies in a ounting of stores and simplifi ation of inventory ontrol" Elimination of damage to goods" Minimum han es of pilferage in storage and transit"

@iiA @iiiA @ivA @vA @viA

@viiA Elimination of e4pensive onveyor system" @viiiA Less interruptions and !ottlene +s" @i4A @4A Less a stores" idents and greater safety in handling heavy

:niform and even pla ement of sta +s"

(alletisation of small arms ammunition was tried in C10 (ulgaon# 10 0ehu Boad# 18 910 and 10 'haratpur in 9e!ruary 1*-&" (alletisation an only !e !rought a!out if the proper material handling e$uipments are availa!le" 9or this purpose#5 an amount of Bs" two rores was !udgeted for the period 1*-0.-/ towards 5Modernisation of 2rdnan e 0epots"5 2ne.third of the amount was intended for the 0G29 forpalletisation of sele ted ammunition items while the rest of the amount was for pro uring the material handling e$uipments" ,he money was released !y the Government in 9e!ruary 1*-&# and the material handling e$uipment was pro ured and distri!uted to ammunition depots in 1ugust 1*-/"

,he railways are designing a suita!le wagon design for pallets# whereafter a design for pallets would !e finalised and manufa ture started" Store .o* e Most of the sheds and overed a ommodation in depots are of <orld <ar II vintage and !uilt to temporary spe ifi ations" Many of them have outlived their life and have !een re ommended for demolition" ,o repla e these o!soleted stru tures# the 0G2S has !een planning store houses of uniform modern design for 2rdnan e depots" ,he 0G2S has laid down the following guide.lines for this purpose ? @aA <hen an ammunition depot is san tioned in field or pea e area# permanent a ommodation for it should !e immediately onstru ted" It should !e !last.resistant# igloo.type storage# su h as is ondu ive to the temperature onditions in the area" In the ro +y areas# ro +s should !e tunneled in for storage" Constru tion should !e !a + to !a + with interfa ing travarses in !etween without rela4ing safety re$uirements" 'uild traverses to reate more lo ations"

@!A @eA @dA @eA

Tra" %ortatio" Model ,he 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps in urs very heavy amounts every year to maintain its inventory of a!out %"- la+h items" Sin e the s ope of further redu ing this inventory is limited# the 2rdnan e onstantly strives to redu e osts elsewhere# one su h area !eing the transportation osts" 1t present all the stores are hannelled through C20s to regional depots and lower e helons involving avoida!le movement and dou!le handling# there!y also in reasing the lead time and redu ing assuran e levels" ,he 2rdnan e 0ire torate General onsidered if transportation osts ould !e ut !y applying the lassi transportation model !ut on luded that it !eing mathemati al# ould not !e easily applied to multifarious and diverse supply lines of the 2rdnan e" ,he 2rdnan e# therefore# too+ a few autious measures whi h in luded de laring regional depots as 002s for 0GSH0 items o!taina!le on rate ontra t and letting the firms deliver these stores at the nearest 2rdnan e depot instead of the C20# et " 2!viously these few measures were not enough to redu e osts and

lead iime and avoid dou!le handling" ,o find an effe tive solution# a study team was appointed in 1*-6" ,he study team !roadly ategorised the stores into four types ? as those whi h lent themselves to?. @aA ,he lassi al transportation model# @!A ,he onsignment model# @ A ,he traditional model @multi.e helon supply systemA @dA Co form of transportation model" ,his ategorisation sorted out the pro!lem and the study team then made useful re ommendations" Sin e these re ommendations involve several agen ies and re$uire high.te h infra.stru ture# their implementation would ta+e time" ,he study team has therefore identified su h measures as an !e implemented !y the 2rdnan e on its own# without mu h delay" More studies are however re$uired into the other aspe ts of the matter" Li!e Cy#le Co"#e%t !or 4"i!orm In 1*-% the 1rmy made an important hange !y issuing new uniforms as well as starting a new system of their repla ement on the life y le on ept" ,he new uniforms have two sets now# i"e" one for om!at usage and the other for non. om!at usage" ,hese uniforms have !een designed to !e more fun tional and more e onomi al for the ountry in the long run" ,he earlier system of repla ement of lothing in the !asis of ondemnation has now !een hanged to reissue of the items after a period of time fi4ed on the !asis of their average life" ,he life of an item has !een fi4ed on the !asis of its average wear and wastage# intensity of usage in different areas# its intrinsi dura!ility# authorisation s ale# views of formation ommanders and its availa!ility and attra tiveness" 1fter the end of this fi4ed life of an item# the re ipient in um!ent automati ally !e omes eligi!le for the reissue of the item" ,he life y le system assures ontrol over onsumption whi h provides a sound rationale to !ase fore asts whi h ould not !e done ade$uately for the system of ondemnation" Sele#ti$e I"$e"tory Co"trol In 1pril 1*-&# the 2rdnan e 0ire torate issued instru tions to implement on an e4perimental !asis# provisioning# pro urement and sto +ing of stores pertaining to Catalogue Se tions C%# G;# 3I# <ll and 9l at C20 Chheo+i on the !asis of sele tive inventory ontrol" ,he inventory was to !e5 lassified with the help of 1'C analysis" 1fter wor+ing out the annual usage ost# the inventory items on the top ten per ent to !e

lassified as 1 items# the ne4t ;0 per ent as ' and the remainder as C items" ,he trials was to last for si4 years with a mid term review after three years" ,he levels of supervision in luded progressing of dues in# judi ious 1earen e of dues out# sto + ta+ing and its onne ted a tions and determination of repair priority in BSS0" ,he fre$uen y of review was fi4ed as on e a year for 1 items# on e in two years for ' items and on e in three years for C items and the M( refi4ed a ordingly" 1ll (B9s# dues in ards# a ounts ards and dues out ards were to !e prominently enfa ed with the letter 1# ' or C as appli a!le in red" 0etailed instru tions for the system of review and phasing of deliveries were issued" Sele tive inventory ontrol when applied throughout# an only add to the effi ien y of the Corps" Carto">Corr*+ated BoB Pa#-i"+ ? ,o e onomi in the seast of pa +ing# the 2rdnan e 0ire torate re$uested the 001 to introdu e artonsG orrugated !o4es instead of the wooden !o4es for pa +ing of ordnan e stores" 'y 0e em!er 1*-%# the 0B02 had designed pa +ages for (i) Soap Industry# (ii) Mugs ename11ed# (iii) Lanterns hurri ane# (i)) 'oot an+le# ()) Shoes anvas# and ()i) 'oot ru!!er +nee" <hen introdu ed# the measure is e4pe ted to result in appre ia!le savings in terms of tim!er as we11 as money" Bradma Data 8riti"+ Sy tem? ,he 'radma data writing ma hines are used for the me hani al printing of pay !illsG he +s ro11s for industrial and non industrial wor+ers of 2rdnan e .depots" 'radma data writing system was first introdu ed in C20 0elhi Cantt# C20 Fanpur and 20 Sha+ur!asti" 'y 1*-0# this system had also !een introdu ed and installed in five other 2rdnan e 0epots# C20s# 0ehu Boad# 1gra# Chheo+i# Ia!alpur and 'om!ay" Su!se$uently# the ma hines were also installed in C19J0 Fir+ee# C10 (ulgaon# ;;; 1'20 and 20 1llaha!ad" ,ele4 Ma hines? 'etween 1*6- and 1*8/ tele4 ma hines were installed in depots lo ated at Fanpur# Chheo+i# Ia!alpur# 1gra# 'om!ay# 0ehu Boad# Fir+ee# 1vadi and (ulgaon# as also in C( Cell at 1rmy 3ead$uarters" In 0e em!er 1*-/ a tele4 ma hine was also san tioned for the 2S 0ire torate" 'etween 1*-/ and 1**0# tele4 ma hines were san tioned for twenty more 2rdnan e installations in luding a large num!er of 920s#

910s# and others" In view of the errati power supply.1rmy 3ead$uarter is also onsidering to provide stand !y power supply e$uipment for these ma hines in lo ations where the pro!lem is more a ute" D)O( B*d+eti"+< Commen ing from the finan ial year 1*-8.-- the Government has de ided to delin+ the 0G29 'udget from the 1rmy" <ith the hange in pro edure# the !udgetary re$uirement of 12C is e4pe ted to in rease from"Bs" /00 rores to around Bs" ;000 rores per annum" (aB Ma#hi"e < In the year 1**0.*1# the Government has a orded the san tion for the installation of * 9a4 ma hines# whi h will greatly enhan e the transfer of data and in rease ommuni ation fa ility" Di %o al ,he last few years saw a dawning realisation of the need to dis ard e4 essive inventory and e4peditiously dispose of surplus and unservi ea!le inventory at the highest pri es" 1 ommitment !y the Government of India that the pro eeds of su h disposal would no longer !e merged into the onsolidated fund !ut would instead !e availa!le to the 12C for modernisation gave further impetus to the visions of 12C as a ompa t# modern and e4tremely effi ient logisti organisation ame loser to !eing a reality with the Corps on entrating on its major roll only" Sal$a+e Store 1 new on ept of disposal of salvage stores too+ shape in the !eginning of the nineties" ,he 0GSH0# whi h had so long !een the agen y for disposal# was left out and the Metal S rap ,rading Corporation @MS,CA# a government agen y# was made responsi!le on a marginal ommission !asis for disposal through an open tender system" 1nother e4periment in disposal of salvage stores was tried out at one of the depots wherein a modified salvage pro edure was adopted" 'esides other measures# the si6e oflots was greatly enhan ed to ma+e the lots more attra tive" ,he su ess of the e4periment was stupendous? in the alendar year 1**0# an unparalleled value of rupees 8& rores was realised through sales" ,his modified pro edure was then e4tended to si4 more major depots" S*r%l* Store ,he e4tremely large $uantities and value of surplus servi ea!le stores held !y the 12C was hampering the performan e of the Corps" ,hese stores were distra ting materials managers from their main duties"

'esides# rores of rupees worth inventory was lo +ed up and was depre iating gradually" 1s a one.time measure to dispose of this unwanted inventory# the Government ofIndia san tioned the formation of the Spe ial Surplus Stores 0isposal Committee @SSS0CA" ,he Committee was given a life span of one year from the date of its omposition" Composed in Iuly 1**1# the SSS0C has !een a!le to identify over %8#000 tons of surplus stores of an estimated value of rupees /8 rores# lying with different depots" ,he formation of the SSS0C also !e ame the ause for another landmar+" <ith Lt Gen FB Cath nominated as its hairman# it was the first time that the 12C had three serving Lt Generals at the same time" A$iatio" 1ir support to the 1rmy had always !een under the ontrol of the 1ir 9or e" Even the 1ir 2peration S$uadrons# over whi h the 1rmy has limited fun tional and operational ontrol# were dependent on the 1ir 9or e for5 main support" ,he need of an 1rmy 1viation Corps was a epted in the mid. eighties" Integration of heli opters with the army was approved !y the Government in 1*-/" 1 ordingly# joint implementation instru tions for the transfer of the aviation assets from the 1ir 9or e to the 1rmy wer6 formulated in Septem!er 1*-6" 9inally# 1rmy 1viation !e ame a reality in Covem!er 1*-6" ,a ti ally# a very a epta!le on ept# its implementation from the angle of logisti support was a hallenge# 1viation assets in terms of CheetahGCheta+ heli opters# 1ero.engines# rota!les and related aviation spares were transferred to the 1rmy" 3owever# the range and depth of the stores transferred were woefully inade$uate to sustain the aviation fleet and a va uum was therefore reated !etween the demand and the supply of spares and rota!les" Maintenan e and logisti responsi!ility of heli opters was initially assigned to the EME" 3owever# later# in 9e!ruary 1**0# on the !asis of the re ommendations of study groups# the logisti responsi!ility of materials management was transferred to the 12C" 1 se tion of the 2S 0te @2S.%A waS reated for entral provisioning and pro urement of aviation spares as also to monitor the fun tioning of other logisti installation for aviation spares"

,he Central 1viation 0epot was reated in CJ0 0elhi Cantt in 9e!ruary 1**0 for managing inventory fun tions" Begional 1viation 0epots @B10sA at 1 920 and % 920 along with four 1rmy 1viation Liaison Cells @11LCsA at 'arra +pore# 'angalore# 3ydera!ad and Lu +now were also reated from within the Corps resour es" Initial training for sele ted offi ers and men was organised at the 1ir 9or e a ademy and 1ir 9or e Station 'elgaum" Su!se$uently# CMM Ia!alpur too+ on the responsi!ility" ,wo ourses of 1viation Engineering Spares Management @1ESMA were ondu ted" ,hereafter the su!je t has !een merged in the sylla!us of the 1MM @,SA Course" Inventory of aviation spares at present is of a range of appro4imately 1;#000 items" ,he value of spares and the effe t of non.availa!ility on the operational effi ien y of the 1rmy has posed a hallenge" 12C is gearing up to meet this hallenge"

PRESENT COLONEL COMMANDANTS

PEACE ESTABLIS.MENTS
Ce"tral Ord"a"#e De%ot, A+ra Sin e long !efore <orld <ar II# a small 2rdnan e 0epot e4isted inside 1gra 9ort" 0uring the <ar more !uildings inside the 9ort swere appropriated for storage of M, vehi les and !ul+ storage of general stores and lothing" 1lso in 1*&0# a temporary group sto +ing (ost and ,elegraph stores was added" ,he anti.gas lothing group was also entralised here for the whole of India" In 1*&1# it was de ided to !uild a Central 2rdnan e 0epot at 1gra for the entire range of s ientifi stores of Jo a! Se tions J; to Q%" 9or the C20# ;81 a res of land were re$uisKtioned and onstru tion started immediately and !y 1pril 1*&; the depot started fun tioning at the new site" Sin e the ammunition holdings in the ountry at that time were in reasing at H rapid rate# two 2rdnan e Su! depots one at 9atehpur Si+iri and the other at the Ihansi 9ort were also formed and were pla ed under the Command of C20 1gra" In addition# ame shiploads of frustra ted argo from Malaya and Singapore" ,hus the depot was flooded with a diverse variety of stores while wor+ing under severe handi aps ofinsuffi ient !uildings# roads# staff and handling e$uipment" 'y mid 1*&& the 9atehpur Si+ri Su! 0epot was handed over to the BISe as well as the Su! depot at Ihansi was separated" Cow the 0epot assumed its real role of !eing the Central 2rdnan e 0epot for highly sophisti ated ele troni and s ientifi stores" In Septem!er 1*//# C20 1gra was a epted as a Fey Lo ation (lan @FL(A 0epot and sin e then onsidera!le modernisation has !een effe ted" In 1*/6# a preservation plant was onstru ted" In 1*/8# an air onditioned shed of %0#000 s$" ft" was provided for storage of ru!!erised a!les and other similar items" 1fter the Chinese aggression in 1*6;# the fa ilities of repair modifi ation and fa!ri ation of a large num!er of ele troni spares <as in reased" In 1*6%.6&# the Beturned Stores5.Su! depot <or+shop was augmented on a fairly e4tensive s ale" ,he 0epot provides dry !atteries to the 1nny" ,o e4tend the limited shelf life of !atteries !y storing them in su! 6ero temperature a deep free6e shed was onstru ted here in 9e!ruary 1*6*" ,his fulfilled a vital re$uirement of the 1rmy" 'ut sin e then the e$uipment has aged and an hardly maintain su! 6ero temperature" ,he shed is therefore !eing onverted into air onditioned storage" ,oday si4

types of fast moving !atteries are onveyed dire tly !y the firms to the forward sto +ing e helons" Several minor deta hments have started fun tioning in the C20 sin e its raising as per the dates given against ea h" L12 . 1/ 2 to!er 1*/%) ClI.1 9e!ruary 1*61) CIL.;% 9e!ruary 1*68) Signal Liaison Cell 1 Iuly 1*68) ,G 1&.;; Septem!er 1*8;) 'EL Liaison Cell.1 Mar h 1*8& and M1G 1*.%0 Mar h 1*-K" In 1*68# outlying su! depots e4 ept one in 1gra 9ort# were losed down" 2ver years store houses of various sto + group got mi4ed up" ,o sort out this mess up a vast reorganisation plan was put into a tion in Ianuary 1*-6" Storage a ommodation was reallo ated and reorganisation started" Be ently the unit mandir has !een shifted to an impressive new !uilding" ,he depot5s Main Gau# has also !een spru ed up" <ith modernisation and advan ement in the 1*-0s a variety of new e$uipments were introdu ed into servi e" ,his has in reased the inventory of C20 1gra from 6-#000 items in 1*-1 to 1#%&#000 items" 1s a result a 1G0 is holding 1#11#000 tonnes of stores# osting over Bs"# %#6/0 rores" In 1*8*# C20 1gra had a!out 1#10#000 items on its hargem# whi h is now redu ed to an inventory of nearly &0#000 items" 3istory of this C20 will remain in omplete without a word a!out the depot5s 8; year old veteran Mess <aiter 0il 'ahadur# popularly alled 'awa? 3e has ompleted %8 years servi e in the 2ffi ers5 Mess" ,his $uiet and respe tful soul ta+es pleasure in serving Senior 2ffi ers whom he saw as youngsters over three de ades ago" Ce"tral Ord"a"#e De%ot, Bom&ay ,his depot is the dire t des endent of the Grand 1rsenal of 'om!ay (residen y whi h was at one time the pivot of the East India Company5s military strength" ,he 'om!ay Castle ommonly +nown as 5Fala >uila was the seat of 2rdnan e a tivities even !efore the ommen ement of the offi ial history of the 2rdnan e Corps" It was lo asted in the 7rea" !ehind the present ,own 3all of 'om!ay o upied today partly !y" Indian Caval 'arra +s and partly !y Caval 1rmament 0epot <or+shop and Caval"Gun mounting 0epartment" Starting from a small !eginning it grew into the Grand 1rsenal for 'om!ay (residen y" ,he 2rdnan e authorities wert? then in omplete ontrol of the entire Castle area# e4 ept the Mint 'uilding near the main gate" 0uring 1*0-.1*10 it was reorganised and !rought down to the status of a depot" ,he 'om!ay depot ontinued to !eing responsi!le for ontinued !eing responsi!le for ammunition" ,he small arms ammunition was stored

in the maga6ines of the main depot while the other ammunition and e4plosives were stored on the 5'ut her5s Island a!out si4 miles from it" ,his site was eventually handed over to the Cavy" Similarly# there were some 18 miles from 'om!ay" ,his site fun tioned as a su! depot of 2rdnan e 0epot" 'om!ay# right through <orld <ar II and was eventualy handed over to Cavy in 1*/;" ,hereafter# this depot eased to hold any ammunition" 0uring <orld <ar II# 'om!ay was the most important lin+ !etween the supplying !ase# Le"# the :F and the Eastern Group of ountries for whi h India was a ting as the !ase" 0ue to the in reased ommitments of <orld <ar II# 'om!ay Castle was totally inade$uate for the re$uired e4pansion" ,he depot was therefore# shifted to Sewri in 1*&0 and a vehi le distri!ution depot already at Cola!a was amalgamated with it" 2ther vehi le su! depots were opened at 'orivili# Foliwada and (awai" ,hese su!depots re eived hasis from the trade and sent these to !ody.!uilders at Lahore and 0elhi" In 1*&6# the depot too+ over the returned stores responsi!ility and later# the entire fun tioning of the Cinematographi stores for the 1rmy" ,he C20 responsi!ilities of Cinematographi stores and pro essed films were given to the depot in 1*&8 and ontinue with it sin e then" In 1*&*# the Coast 0efen e Su! depot was also transferred to this 0epot" 'om!ay depot played a very important role as the main transit depot during all the wars and periods of onfli t" <ith the a ommodation !e oming e4tremely e4pensive in the post independen e 'om!ay the depot had to !e shifted to FandivliGMalad area" ,he shifting started in 1*6* and was ompleted in 1*86" Ce"tral Ord"a"#e De%ot, Malad ,his depot was esta!lished in 1*&; as an 2rdnan e Import ,ransit 0epot !ut had additional responsi!ilities for sto +ing of water proofing material# oastal defen e e$uipments# te4tile goods and M, tyres and tu!es and su h other produ ts as were o!tained e4 trade in 'om!ay" 9rom 1ugust 1*&/ the depot was made a Central 2rdnan e 0epot with the provisioning and sto +ing responsi!iIities mainly for M, tyres and tu!es and other ru!!er items li+e fan !elts sto +ed under 2rdnan e Catalogue LJ 0&1% 6# as most of these stores ame from the industries around 'om!ay as well as !e ause the pla e has an ideal limate for storing of ru!!er goods" Cow C20 'om!ay is lo ated at two lo ations# i"e"# Main 0epot at Fandivli @EastA and M, Su! 0epot at Malad" ,he Fandivli lo ation was earlier o upied !y erstwhile ES0 Fandivli whi h was dis!anded" In 1*88

the 20 'om!ay @SewriA was also shifted to this lo ation as C20 'om!ay @SewnA" Sin e there were now two major 2rdnan e Installations in one Station within a distan e of only %.& +ilometres e4pedien y di tated their merger" So the two depots# i"e"# C20 Malad and 20 'om!ay @SewriA were amalgamated and redesignated as C20 'om!ay on 01 1pril 1*88" C20 'om!ay is responsi!le for provisioning of tyres# ,u!es# 9+aps# Busts# Bim <heels et " @CM,S Se tion LJ61M,6 and M,.1&A# Cinematographi Stores li+e (roje tors# Epidias opes and (hotographi Chemi als @C2S Se tion I%I&A" Sin e 1*-; Chemi als and La!oratory E$uipments @ as Se tions 36G38A items have also !een transfeI,ed to this C20" C20 'om!ay also a ts as a holding depot for C20 Chheo+i in respe t of oils Elnd lu!ri ants pro ured !y C30 from 'om!ay firms" 'om!ay 0epot has also !een entrusted with the responsi!ility of pro urement of entertainment films whi h are s reened in forward areas !y Mo!ile Cinema Se tions of the Corps" Ce"tral Ord"a"#e De%ot, Chheo-i 1llaha!ad has always had an arsenal lo ated inside the 1llaha!ad 9ort" C20 Chheo+i was !uilt in 1*&;# at a distan e of 1% +ms from 1llaha!ad Bailway Station and 1"6 Frns from Caini Bailway Station" In the initial stages this 0epot fun tioned as a dispersal depot for Fanpur# Ia!alpur and 0elhi Ca0s" 'y 2 to!er 1*&%# general stores se tions of (ersonnel and Material Groups were on entrated here and the depot assumed the Central 0epot role for these stores" In 1*&/# a vehi le Su! 0epot was added to its responsi!ilities" It also dis harged the fun tions of a Command 0epot for the Eastern Command till the lose of 1*60" ,o reorganise the huge sto +s re eived from <orld <ar II the 0epot undertoo+ a reorganisation s heme in 1*&*" In 1*/0# the 0epot opened a tim!er Su! 0epot at 'areilly whi h was later losed down in 1*/%" <ith the entralisation of the provision responsi!ility for general stores and lothing at 1rmy 3ead$uarters# the depot tra7lsferred its (rovision 'ran h to 1rmy 3ead$uarters" 1 tim!er seasoning +iln was ommissioned in Ianuary 1*66" In Ianuary 1*66# onse$uent upon shedding of the BSS0 role to a0 1llaha!ad# the erstwhile BSS0 was re.designated as Mis Su! 0epot" It has the role of fun tioning as the sto +ing e helon for e4pendi!le stores re$uired !y Su! 0epots and also as the 0epot <or+shop" ,his depot had to shoulder the heaviest load in 1*81 when 1%#;%6 metri tons of stores amounting to 1;*& wagons were issued just prior to the ommen ement of operations"

Ce"tral Ord"a"#e De%ot, Deh* Road ,his 0epot was raised in 1ugust 1*&; primarily to re eive returned stores from 'urma" 3owever# later in 1*&%# it was onverted into a Central 2rdnan e 0epot for M, spares of vehi les of Corth 1meri an origin" 'e auK?5e of its pro4imity to port 'om!ay# it was ideally lo ated to re eive large onsignments of spares a under the automati Maintenan e (a + system" 0uring <orld <ar II# this depot was also !urdened with very heavy re eipts without proper fa ilities for storage" 2nly !y Mar h 1*&% S>me temporary sheds# roads and the perimeter fen ing ould !e !uilt up" In 9e!ruary 1*&& the railways started a shuttle servi e from (une to this depot for its employees ommuting from many surrounding pla es" ,he Su! 0epot holding major assem!lies# was lo ated adja ent to 2rdnan e 0epot# ,alegaon 0a!hade# so as to provide onvenient handling of these heavy items" In 1*&/# the Central 1rmoured 9ighting Jehi le 0epot at Fir+ee was made a Su! depot of this C20" 3owever# in 1*&- it was again deta hed and made an independent esta!lishment" ,he spe ialist ,raining Cell of the 12C S hool for the vehi le spares was also lo ated in this depot to impart spe ialised training to offi ers and other ran+s" 'y 1*/-# most of the sheds in the major assem!lies Su! depot were dangerous for retention" 1lternative a ommodation was found for them in one of the su!.depots of 2rdnan e 0epot ,alegaon 0a!hade" In pursuan e of the 50is ard5 poli y for vehi les of older vintage# large sto +s of spares and major assem!lies held in this 0epot had to !e de lared for disposal during the si4ties" 1n M,5'5 Spe ialist ,raining Cell was in e4isten e in this 0epot from 1*&%# In 1*&/ when Central 1rmoured 9ighting Jehi le 0epot in Fir+ee was made a Su! 0epot of this C20# this Cell was amalgmated with the Jehi les ,raining Cell and transferred to Fir+ee# ,owards the end of 1*&-# the 1 Jehi les Su! 0epot at Ijr+ee was given independent status of a Central 0epot" R Ce"tral Ord"a"#e De%ot Delhi Ca"tt9 ,he Central Chatfield Committee had re ommended the esta!lishment of a Jehi le a??o M, Stores 0epot at 0elhi in 1*%-" ,he present Central 2rdnan e 0epot was a ordingly planned on a part of a large plot of land lying va ant in 0elhi Cantt" 1t the ommen ement of <orld <ar 11# large onsignments of M, spares started arriving in India to

store these and other su h onsignments# fifteen !lo +s of temporary sheds and two !lo +s ofparmanent sheds in luding one air. ooled shed omprising an area of ;6# /1/ s$ ft for storing ru!!er items were onstru ted !y Septem!er 1*&1" 'y this time# the administrative staff of the depot had already gathered and G3> had issued orders to move all M, spares pertaining to vehi les of 'ritish origin from Cha+lala to this 0epot# ,his was the start of the 0elhi 0epot" Some general stores and lothing from depots li+e 1llaha!ad# Bawalpindi# Lahore and Shahjahanpur had to !e diverted to this infant depot just to relieve ongestion in those depots" 'y the !eginning of 1*&; appro4imately /#%60 tons of stores had !een re eived in this depot and !y Mar h 1*&; there was further heavy influ4 of frustrated argoes diverted from Singapore# Malaya and 'urma" 1t this stage it !e ame a!solutely ne essary to relieve this depot of general stores and lothing" 1 ordingly# another depot was reated at Sha+ur!asti and all general stores and lothing held in C20 0elhi Cantt# were transferred to Sha+ur!asti" 1lso# the Jehi le Be eipt Group of the depot was moved to an adja ent area +nown as 5the 2val5" Cow the depot performed entral depot responsi!ility for spares pertaining to all vehi les of 'ritish origin @LJ .8 'ritish Se tion of vo a!ulary of 2rdnan e StoresA and all ommon user items of M, falling in LJ6 M, Se tion" It also had ommand and holding responsi!i3ties for an M, Se tions of Corth5 1meri an origin for whi h the entral responsi!ility rested with C20 0ehu" It also !e ame the Central 0epot for the entire ma hinery of the Indian 1rmy !elonging to <% Jo a! Se tion" ,he depot undertoo+ a reorganisation s heme at the end of 1*&%" ,his entaile ? onsidera!le movement of stores" More spa e was thus reated in the depot to a ommodate fresh re eipts" In 1*&/# the depot undertoo+ the s hemE ,opa65 for the ope6?ational plK" +ing of M, spares for operations in ':,mH and other theatres of South.East 1sia Command" 1fter <orld <ar II in 1*&6.&8# the depot too+ over the administrative load of !oth the Jehi le 0epot# 0elhi Cantt and 2rdnaru)e 0epot# Sha+ur!asti# !oth of whi h now !e ame its su! depots" Later a Salvage su!depot was also added" 0uring 1*&8.&* the depot handled a heavy influ4 of re eipts from dis!anded units of !oth the army and the BI19 as well as depots and wor+shops that were wound up" Simultaneously it ontinued with heavy s aling and issues to depots and units for the operations in Iammu and Fashmir"

,here was a sharp rise in the 0epot holdings of vehi les from !a +loadings after <orld <ar II# as wen as that of fit vehi les for operations in Iammu and Fashmir and the !order tension with (a+istan in 1*/1./;" 9rom 1 1ugust 1*/8# the Jehi le Su!.depot was made a Jehi le I+pot and later it was onverted to Central Jehi le 0epot# 0elhi Cantt" 2wing to indigenisation of M, spares# the spares of vehi les li+e ,ataMer edes 'en6# Sha+timan# Cissan and 3industan are sto +ed in this depot" ,he only e4 eption is the Ieep# for whi h the spares are held at C20 0ehu" 1n Ele troni 0ata (ro essing @E0(A pilot proje t was esta!lished for this depot in 1*6-" ,his Cen has !een designed for effe tive utilisation of resour es for system design and software development and their su!se$uent implementation to automate various inventory ontrol and material management fun tions in C20 0elhi Cantt" ,he E0( ell was !rought on regular esta!lishment in Septem!er 1*8& to adopt omputeri. 6ation in 2rdnan e 0epots" C20 0elhi Cantt had !een fun tioning !oth in entral and ommand roles# ausing heavy wor+load and diffi ulties in its smooth fun tioning" 2rders have therefore !eer" issued for the transfer of the ommand role" ,he transfer of ommand role is !eing ompleted in phases" Ce"tral Ord"a"#e De%ot, Ea&al%*r C20 Ia!alpur has the uni$ue distin tion of !eing the only Central 2rdnan e 0epot whi h has an ammunition Su! 0epot atta hed to it" In fa t# the ammunition su! depot ame into e4isten e earlier than the main depot" ,he Su! depot was onstru ted here during the early days of <orld 8ar II in a ordan e with the re ommendations of the Chatfield Committee of 1*%-" ,wenty seven maga6ines were onstru ted into the sides ofhins in su h a manner that the hills provide natural traverses to the maga6ines on three sides" ,he mag6ines have automati sprin+lers for fire prevention" It is one of the few depots in India whi h has an 2rdnan e estate of dou!le storeyed !ungalows for married offi ers @now !een given to senior offi ersA and other $uarters !uilt for married <arrant 2ffi ers @now given to the junior 2ffi ersA" ",wenty three !lo +s of !arra +s were also !uilt for single 2B $uartters and other regimental institutes" ,he 0epot formally ame into e4isten e on 1 Septem!er 1*&0" 2riginal1y on eived as a Beserve 'ase 1mmunition 0epot# it was finally designated as Ia!alpur 1rsenal meant to fun tion as a Central 1mmunition 0epot for ammunition and e4plosives in luding 1ir 9or e ammunition"

D*ri"+ 8orld 8ar II, other ammunition depots were set up at Caushera# Fala# Fasu!egu# 1rnla# 0ehu# (anagarh and Gummudipundi with a CentML1inmunition 0epot at (ulgaon" 9rom then on# this depot is feeding the units in Madhya (radesh and :ttar (radesh only" ,o meet war time re$uirements a Central 2rdnan e 0epot for small arms# artillery and transportation stores was onstru ted here" ,he C20 was also to fun tion as a ommand depot for lothing and general stores as well as for anti.gas stores# tim!er and pa +ing ases" Similarly harness and saddlery# tentage and !arra + stores were ta+en on !y this depot pending the esta!lishment of C20 Fanpur" <ith the a!ove role it started fun tioning from 1 Covem!er 1*&1 and ultimately on 1 Iuly 1*&% it was designated as Central 2rdnan e 0epot Ia!alpur" 9rom 1 May 1*&6 Ia!alpur 1rsenal ame under the ontrol of the Commandant# Central 2rdnan e 0epot# Ia!alpur as the 1mmunition Su! depot" ,he e4plosive Su!"depot at Fhamaria# whi h was part of the Ia!alpur 1rsenal# was handed over to the 0G29 as part of the 2rdnan e 9a tory at Fhamaria" ,he <or+shop of the Central 2rdnan e 0epot was transferred to the newly reated Corps of the IEME" 2n the setting up of C20s Chheo+i and Fanpur all the general stores and lothing se tions were transferred to those depots and C20 Ia!alpur !e ame the entral depot for the armament range" ,he 1ir 9or e ammunition was shifted to 1mla" ,he depot also had a demolition ground near Fatni whi h was given up in 1*/0# and in its pla e# 1;/ a res ofland near Msndla was a $uired for the purpoee" 2n 1 Iuly 1*/*# a Jehi le ,ransit (ar+ was added to C20 Ia!alpur to handle Sha+timan and Cissen Jehi les !eing manufa tured at the Jehi le 9a tory# Ia!alpur" ,his gave the depot the distin tion of !eing the only C20 that is on urrently responsi!le !oth for ammunition and vehi les in addition to its own range of stores" 9rom 1 Mary 1*/-# Central 0epot responsi!ility for Con E4plosive stores was transferred from I20 to C1 (ulgaon" C20 Ia!alpur deserves spe ial mention with regard to its sterling effort in disposal of o!solete e$uipment" 1 large num!er of imported small arms and artillery e$uipment as also their spares had !e ome o!solete" C20 Ia!alpur was a!le to despat h two train loads full of these o!solete armaments and spares dire tly for smelting !y fa tories of the (u!li Se tor :nderta+ings"

2n the setting up of a Command 0epot at 1llaha!ad# the Command depot fun tions of I20 @in respe t of Eastern CommandA were transferred to 1L0 with effe t from 1 Iuly 1*60" 1mmunition Su!.0epot of the C20 has !een given additional responsi!ility of storagelinspe tion of missiles" Some maga6ines of 1mmunition Su!.0epot have !een air onditioned for a ommodating missiles" 1 system Su! 0epot has !een set up in I20 for the 1// mm gun to ena!le issue of orre t items along with the main e$uipment for easy identifi ation and lo ation" Ce"tral Ord"a"#e De%ot, 5a"%*r 1s a se$uel to the poli y de ision ta+en during <orld" <ar II# it was de ided to have a C20 for lothing and ertain se tions of general stores at Fanpur# for Fanpur not only was a safe pla e in the heart of the ountry !ut also had easy transportation fa ilities for movement of stores" 1lso# Fanpur had the on entration of a large num!er of produ tion units on whi h the 1rmy was dependent for lothing material# tentage and leather items" ,he 0ep2t was inaugurated towards the end of 1*&1" Initially 1;0 store sheds were !uilt !ut soon another 1;1 shedshad to !e added" <henever this a ommodation did not suffi e# another fifty Lahore sheds were added" ,he wor+load was so heavy that during 1*&&.&/# ;0#000 e4tra daily paid wor+ers were engaged to ope with it" ,he end of <orld <ar II resulted in further heavy re eipts" In 1*/0# the 0epot started to reorganise its sto +s and too+ five years to omplete it" In Septem!er 1*/1# a Salvage Su! depot was added to the depot" In 1*61# the ommand depot responsi!ility of this depot was shifted to 2rdnan e 0epot 1llaha!ad" Every 1rmy operation has an immediate impa t on this depot" 0uring the Chinese aggression of 1*6; and the onfli ts with (a+istan during 1*6/ and 1*81# the 0epot had to handle three to five thousand tons of issues per month and even heavier re eipts" ,he holdings of the 0epot tou hed a pea+ figure of 100#000 tons in 1pril 1*6/" ,he depot has early moderni. sation plans and has already added a ham!er for drying and airing of para hutes" 0ue to hange in poli y regarding personal lothing the depot has had to issue onventional uniforms as also the newly introdu ed polyester uniform# om!at dress# oat om!at et " 1s a result of this dual responsi!ility the pea+ holding load of the depot has already tou hed 1#08#06* tonnes during 2 to!er 1*-/"

Ce"tral Amm*"itio" De%ot, P*l+ao" Central 1mmunition 0epot (ulgaon was esta!lished to hold large onsignments of ammunition from the :F and :S1" It was lo ated at the !ase of the 0e an (eninsula whi h !eing entral to the entire ountry" ,he area had hard soil# good rail ommuni ations and ade$uate water resour es" ,he 0epot started fun tioning on 16 May 1*&;" ,he depot was on eived as an Inter.Servi e proje t for storage of e4plosive" ,hus# !oth the Cavy and the 1ir 9or e had their deta hments with this depot till 1*&8 and 1*81 respe tively whereafter the depot !e ame a singl e servi e =en tity" In 1*&&G&/ the depot played a very important role in supplying ammunition to the South East 1sia Command for the offensive against Iapan" 1t the end of the war the depot fa ed a giganti pro!lem of disposal of unwanted surplus ammunition through !rea+down# demolition or dumping in the deep sea" 0uring this phase on 1& 1pril 1*&6 the depot had a major e4plosion involving 6/% tons of ammunition" It too+ nearly two years to lear at the !linds from the area" ,o provide permanent a ommodation here onstru tion of%/ e4plosives storehouses and 1% maga6ines was underta+en in 1*6%" Constru tion of more maga6ines# ammunition la!oratories# wor+ers# anteens and living a ommodation was underta+en during 1*66 to 1*81" Sin e Independen e the depot has played a vital role during the various onfli ts" 0uring the Chinese aggression in 2 to!erlCovem!er 1*6;# the depot issued as mu h as 1*#000 tons of ammunition in less than two months" ,his amounted to loading 1;/0 wagons and running of ;1 spe ial trains" 0uring the (a+ aggression in Septem!er 1*6/# the depot wor+ed round the lo + and issued appro4imately 1*#000 tons of ammunition in one month in all time re ord" In Covem!erG0e em!er 1*81 the depot supplied appro4imately 1-#000 tons of ammunition in two months" 1t the end of 1*81 operations# this depot re eived more than 1000 tons aptured ammunitions# this depot re eived more than 100N inspe tion and very areful handling" ,he depot saw another major a ident on / May 1*8; whi h too+ pla e when !o4es ontaining grenades 3E %6 M were !eing loaded into a lorry" ,he e4plosion aused detonation of the other ammunition lying on the platform and appro4imately.1I6 tons of aptured ammunition and 6- tons of other ammunition was destroyed" ,hree wor+ers were +illed on the spot and another three were injured" 2ne three.ton lorry and two railway

wagons were ompletely destroyed" 1 fire also !ro+e out in the 0epot on 1& 1pril 1*-% and raged the whole day engulfing over ;00 a res" ,he em!ers smouldered for % day" 1 heroi fire fighting effort was put up !y military and ivilian personnel whi h ensured that neither any property nor ammunition was destroyed" 9rom 1/ Iuly 1*/- the depot also too+ over the all India provisioning of non.e4plosive stores from C20 Ia!alpur" In 1*/* an Italian firm was given the ontra t to arry out the !rea+ down and !oiling out of ammunition" 'y adopting this new method# valua!le metal worth rores of rupees was saved" Later the ma hinery used !y this firm was pur hased from it and the *& depot esta!lished itS own Central 'rea+down :nit whi h has !een fun tioning smoothly eversin e and thousands of tons of ammunition has !een !ro+en down and !oiled out" ,o provide edu ational fa ilities for the employees5 hildren the 0epot has a Central S hool and a La!our Camp 3igh S hool and Iunior College" Ce"tral Loadi"+ Plat!orm ' Central Loading (latforms are under onstru tion in the depot to ena!le entire spe ial trains to !e loaded or unloaded at the same time" )ol! Co*r e9 'y the main artery of the amp a si4 hole Golf Course @playa!le 1- holesA has !een arved out" ,he layout is so good that the "ourse has !een re ognised !y the Indian Golf :nion in 1*-/" Ce"tral Armo*red (i+hti"+'/ehi#la De%ot, 5ir-ee ,he onstru tion of Fir+ee 1rsenal was started in 1*0/ and ompleted in 1*08" 0uring <orld <ar II# 1nnoured 9ighting Jehi les @19JsA were introdu ed in our servi e" Conse$uently small se tion +nown as 19J Spares Group was reated in the Fir+ee 1rsenal in early 1*&; for providing spares !a +ing to regiments of the South East 1sia Command" Intially# the role was rather small# !ut it !e ame ne essary to enlarge its fun tion" :nder the orders of the then General 3ead$uarters# India# Central 19J 0epot was ordered for raising" ,he 0epot was lo ated in two pla es# vi6# the Jehi le Su! 0epot @JS0A near Fir+ee Bailway Station and the Stores Su! 0epot @SS0A adja ent to the histori al !attle ground of Fhand+i" In Iune 1*&&# the fun tions of vehi les and the spares were separated and the Su! 0epot dealing with spares was named M, Stores Su! 0epot @M,SS0A and was amalgamated with the Central 2rdnan e 0epot 0ehu Boad" ,he Su! 0epot dealing with 51=vehi les was merged with Jehi le .0epot#. 0ehu" 'ut the ensuing administrative diffi ulties reversed this dedsion and on 1 1pril 1*&* C19J0 on e again ame into

!eing" 2n dis!andment of 2rdnan e 0epot# Fir+ee on 1/ Iuly 1*/%# C19J0 o upied its real estate" ,oday# the C19J0 an !e alled the 53ome of East European5 515 Jehi les" In 1*-&# a System 'ased Su! 0epot was reated from within e4isting resour e of the depot for providing total support for om!at vehi les of. the 1rmy" 2n;1 .C>vem!er 1*-6# the found7tion Stone for a system !ased su!depot was laid" ,he depot now em!ar+ed on a major modernisation (lan and pro ured a variety of Material 3andling E$uipment" ,he 3istory of C19J0 would !e in omplete without referen e to the 2ffi ers5 Mess" ,he !uilding is more than 100 years old" It on e !elonged to the Boyal 1rtillery" It has a olle tion of pri eless anti$ues# li+e a !eautiful jade pla$ue and intri ately arved wooden s reen reputedly !rought from (e+ing during the 5'o4er Be!ellion5" It was in the fitness of things# therefore# that the C19J0 2ffi ers Mess was de lared a Corps Mess in 1*8-" Shri 05Cru6# the !ar tender who is nearing *0 now# has !een with C19J0 sin e 1*%8" Ce"tral 7ehi#le De%ot, A$adi ,hough initially Co"& Beserve 'ase at 1vadi was to have no vehi le element# !ut su!se$uently a large holding depot for 515 and 5'5 vehi les adja ent to the other reserve !ase installation had to !e esta!lished at 1lamade north of 1vadi Bailway Station" ,he depot was originally planned to h01d 1;#1/0 vehi les !ut !y 9e!ruary 1*&6 within 1/ months of its raising# the holding tou hed the figure 1-#000" In 1*66 the head$uarters of the depot was shifted and lo ated within the erstwhiie ;06 '20 perimeter" CJ0 1vadi is !asi ally a Jehi le 0epot for the Southern Command !ut sin e this is the only installation the 2rdnan e Corps is now left with in the South# and also !e ause of its pro4imity to some vital produ tion entres# ertain additional roles have !een given to it" 9or mounting of spe ialist e$uipments on the vehi les# the depot has two outlying deta hments" Ce"tral 7ehi#le De%ot, Delhi Ca"tt ,he Chatifield Committee had on eived a large depot at 0elhi Cantt for Jehi les and M, spares" Later with the a eptan e of the on ept of C20s# the depot was onverted into a C20 for the spares pertaining to vehi les of 'ritish origin" 1 Jehi le Group with apro4imate holdings of /00 vehi les ame into !eing as a part of the C20 in 9e!ruary 1*&1" ,hese vehi les were held in an open area adja ent to C20 0elhi Cantt" ,his

Jehi le Group was later designated as Jehi le Su! 0epot of C20 0elhi Cantt and with wartime e4pansion its holdings rea hed 8#000 vehi les !y 1*&&" ,he need for a proper Command Jehi le 0epot at 0elhi Cantt was a epted !y t"he Government in 1*&-" In Iuly 1*/; when only 10 sheds out of the &0 proposed had yet !een onstru ted# the holdings targets of the depot were drasti ally s aled down to &00 515 vehi les# /000 5'5 vehi les# 1/00 motor y les and 1;00 trailers" In 1*/& the proposed holdings were again revised down to a total holding of 6#;%0 vehi les of all types" ,he depot eased to !e Jehi le Su! 0epot of C20 0elhi Cantt from 1 1ugust 1*/8 and was given the independent status of Jehi le 0epot for <estern Command and raised in the 5oval5 adja ent to C20 0elhi Cantt" 9rom 1 0e em!er 1*60 it !e ame a Central Jehi le 0epot serving not only <estern Command !ut also the Corthern and Central Commands and a portion of the Southern Command" ,he depot also has a Jehi le 0epot <or+shop providing EME over to the depot and a deta hment of the Central Inspe torate responsi!le for inspe tion and lassifi ation of all vehi les on re eipt or under issue" ,he depot has a vehi le su! depot at Meerut whi h was esta!lished during <orld <ar II" It was then +nown as :nfit Jehi le (ar+# primarily a ting as a feeding agen y for /10 1rrr?5 'ase <or+shop EME# Meerut" It also olle ted the overhauled vehi les from the <or+shop and despat hed the same to the parent depot at 0elhi Cantt" 9rom 1pril 1*/*# the su! depot was assigned the role of ma+ing dire t *6 issues of fit vehi les to the units" ,he su! depot now has an engine holding se tion also for feeding vehi les engines to the 1rmy 'ase <or+shops" It has also !een given the role of re eiving ,M' hassis dire tly from the manufa turers and feeding the same for !ody !uilding" ,hough under the te hni al ontrol of MG 12C <estern Command# CJ0 0elhi Cantt issues 515 and 5'5 vehi les to all Commands of the Indian 1rmy" Conse$uent upon the dis!andment of 2rdnan e 0epot Mathura in 1ugust 1*8*# the responsi!ility of holding# maintenan e and issue of 'ridging vehi lesGe$uipment and other imported vehi lesGe$uipment has ome over to this depot" In addition# CJ0 0elhi Cantt has !een re eiving and issuing imported vehi les li+e Fra6# ,atra# Qi1 and mo!ile simulators" Ce"tral 7ehi#le De%ot, Pa"a+arh ,he depot originated in 1*&% as a Jehi le Beserve Group under the administrative ontrol of ;0/ '20 (anagarh whi h was part of Co"% Beserve 'ase formed to support the operations under the South East 1sia

Command" 1fter the hostilities in 1*&/# the Jehi le Beserve Group e4perien ed a heavy influ4 of vehi les# whi h it ould not handle with the availa!le resour es" So an outlying Jehi le (ar+ had to !e esta!lished at 2ndal# %- Fms away" So heavy were the re eipts that this Jehi le (ar+ had to have su! depots at Cirsa @*6 FmsA 0han!ad @1;- FmsA and 'ar+a+hana @;8% FmsA" ,he holding of these su! depots in reased very rapidly and !y 1*&8 the total holdings at different stations e4 eeded ;/#000 vehi les with 2ndal heading the list with more than 11#000" It was then onsidered prudent to transfer the administrative ontrol to 2ndal and the Jehi le Beserve Group (anagarh !e ame Jehi le 0epot# 2ndal on 1 1pril 1*&8" 0ue to several administrative hanges at (anagarh 'ase# onsidera!ly overed a ommodation was released at (anagarh" So on 1 1pril 1*&-# (anagarha was re ommended as the lo ation for the Jehi le 0epot 2ndal as wen as the IEME <or+shop there" ,he return to (anagarh was ompleted !y 1pril 1*&*" Graduany# due to reasons of e onomy and administrative onvenien e# all the outlying su!.depots and par+s were losed down and the depot was on entrated at (anagarh" In Mar h 1*6% the status of the depot was raised and it has !een redesignated as a Central Jehi le 0epot with a apa ity to hold appro4imately 1;#600 vehi les in luding dis arded vehi les for disposal" ,he depot now servi es the whole of the Eastern Command" In Iuly 1*81 a Salvage Su! 0epot was added to this depot" ,he 1llaha!ad fort ame into the hands of the 'ritish in 18*& and almost from the first day of the 'ritish o upation# it housed an arsenal for the 'engal (residen y 1rmy of the East India Company" It ontinued as an arsenal up to 1*0/ when it was redesignated as an 2rdnan e 0epot and 1rsenal" 0uring <orld <ar II the 0epot was organised into a Command 0epot whi h atered for general stores and lothing# artillery# ammunition and s ientifi ) stores" It also served as the training entre for the newly reated adre of Civilian Ga6etted 2ffi ers on their re ruitment into the 2rdnan e Servi es" In 1*&& and 1*/8# the a tivities of the depot shran+ and at one stage it only had a returned stores su!.depot and a salvage se tion" In 1*/8# it was resurre ted as a Command 0epot for the Eastern Command" ,he histori site of this depot has an almost un!ro+en lin+ with the 2rdnan e Servi es of various regimes almost sin e 1/8%# i"e" the days of 1+!ar the Great" In the period 1*60 to 1*6;# the depot progressively too+ over the responsi!ilities of general stores and lothing# armaments# engineering and signal stores and M, spare=" 1llaha!ad 9ort an also

laim with pride its asso iation with ontemporary history" ,he first (resident ofIndia# 0r" Bajendra (rasad stayed in 2rdnan e 0epot 1llaha!ad in 9e!ruary 1*/& to parti ipate in the Fum!h Mela" 3e used the Commandant5s offi e as his residen e and the adjoining terra e as a view point" ,he terra e is now popularly +nown as 5(resident5s (oint"5 Ord"a"#e De%ot, Cal#*tta ,his depot is the dire t des endant of the Grand 1rsenal of 9ort <illiam of the East India Company days" ,he origin of 20 Cal utta dates !a + to 1*%; when it was +nown as the 9ort <illiam 1rsenal) later on the 1rmoury was re onstru ted !y Lord <arren 3astings" In 1*;& the arsenal was redesignated as 2rdnan e 0epot# 9ort <illiam" in the role of a Command 0epot" 0uring <orld <ar II# G3> 2rdnan e 0epot# Cal utta# 2rdnan e ,ransit 0epot# 1lipore# Jehi le 0epot# Cal utta and a Beturned Stores Su! depot# Fan hrapara were added to it" Kfhroughout the war# the depot handled heavy re eipts and e$ually heavy issues to units in the Eastern ,heatre" In 1*&8 this depot was losed down and in its pla e 2rdnan e 0epot# 1lipore Cal utta was retained as an amalgam of all its major elements" ,he depot had a vital holding role in ta+ing over some important ommodities from the trade fo further distri!ution" In addition# it had the Command depot role for a portion of the Eastern Command" 1n 2rdnan e Sample Boom was added to it in 1*6/ to gear up the indigenisation of imported stores" 1lso due to its vantage lo ation# many other 2rdnan e installations o!tained their essential re$uirements of lo al pur hase through this installation" 1n E4pert Committee# set up in 1*8/# re ommended the losure of 20 Cal utta and redistri!ution of the responsi!ilities to other 2rdnan e installations" ,he 1SEC had also re ommended in Covem!er 1*8- that 20 Cal utta should !e losed down and its responsi!ility transferred to another 2rdnan e 0epot 1llaha!ad or 20 Cal utta !e shifted to (anagarh" 3owever the MG 12C 3ead$uarters Eastern Command and the 2rdnan e 0ire torate <ere of the firm view that 20 Fal utta should neither !e dis!anded nor shifted to (anagarh for that would m7S 0rdl5Ran e over to hundreds of 1rmy and para military units lo ated in <est 'engal# 'ihar# 2r a and offshore island# rather diffi ult"

'ut the Government a epted the re ommendations of the E4pert Committee and issued orders on * Septem!er 1*-0 for the dis!andment of 20 Cal utta !y %1 Ianuar"y 1*-1 and transfer of spe ified num!er of staff to 20 1llaha!ad and C20 'om!ay" 0ue to large s ale representations from the ivilian wor+ers of the depot as well as other elements with politi al overtones# the de ision remained pending onsideration at the Ministerial level till Ianuary 1*-% when the Government issued orders that there would no retren hment and alternative employment would !e provided to lo ally ontrolled employees of the 20 Cal utta" 1 ording to the revised orders issued on 6 Ianuary 1*-%# 20 Cal utta was now to !e dis!anded !y %0 Iun 1*-%" ,he ivilian wor+ers of the depot filed a writ petition in the Cal utta 3igh" Court against the proposed dis!andment" In the mean time# the Eastern Command units whi h were dependent on 20 Cal utta e4perien ed great diffi ulties" So the 1rmy 3ead$uarters realised the need for retaining the depot" 1 ordingly the government ofIndia too+ the de ision not to lose down the depot" 2rdnan e 0epot Cal utta# now stands rea tivated" 2ne of our oldest 2rdnan e esta!lishments has displayed its staying power and has survived against heavy odds" Ord"a"#e De%ot, Math*ra 2rdnan e 0epot# Mathura was raised in Septem!er 1*&%=!y Maj 13M Edwards# B12C# for holding the ever in reasing tonnage of general stores and lothing re eived from the near!y 2rdnan e Clothing 9a tory at 1gra and from trade through the 2rdnan e Inspe tion 0epots at 0elhi# Morada!ad and 1Iigarh" 1fter <orld <ar II and upto 1pril 1*&8# the depot fun tioned as a Beturned Stores Su! 0epot to ope with the !a +loading of stores from dis!anding units and depots" 'y 1pril 1*&8 the responsi!ility for returned general stores and lothing was transferred to the BSS0 at 1llaha!ad !ut the returned te hni al stores stayed on with the depot" Eventually this too was shifted to C20 1gra in 1*/0./1" ,hus the depot was onverted as a Su! depot of C20 1gra to hold the heavy.lift items of !oth (H, and Engineering range" K n 1*/-# it was given an independent status and made a omposite holding d7rot for C20s 1gra# Fanpur and Chheo+i" ,his was of onsidera!le help to these C2PTs in easing their storage pro!lems" ,hus the depot too+ are of 1mty 3ead$uarters some important !ut very !ul+y reserves# whi h have limited turnover during pea e time"

In a ordan e with the re ommendation of the Frishna Bao Committee# this 0epot was losed on %1 0e em!er 1*8*" Ord"a"#e De%ot, Sha-*r&a ti ,his depot started life in 2 to!erGCovem!er 1*&; as a holding su! depot of C20 0elhi Cantt whi h at that time had a se tion for general stores and was getting heavy re eipts offrustrated argoes from Singapore" Later# when C20 0elhi Cantt assumed its proper role of C20 spares of5'5 vehi Ies of 'ritish origin# the general stores se tion was shifted to Sha+ur!asti" In Iune 1*&% this small stores se tion of 0elhi Cantt was reorganised as a holding depot for general stores and Iothing on !ehalf of C20s Fanpur and Chheo+i" ,he depot e4panded further during 1*&& and 18 more sheds were added" 'y this time it had also assumed another very important responsi!ility of t5he re eipt# storage and pa +ing of 'ea h Maintenan e (a +s and Landing Beserves re$uired for amphi!ian operations ontemplated in the South East 1sia Command" 1t the end of <orld <ar II heavy !a +loading of stores from forward areas +ept the depot alive7 <ith the advent of Independen e and ensuing operations in Iammu and Fashmir# this depot 5assumed un$uestiona!le importan e for <estern Command and therefore it was progressively !uilt into a proper Command 0epot with the e4 eption of responsi!ility for M, spares whi h was finally assigned to it on 1 Ianuary 1*-%" 1n BSS0 and Salvage Se tion were su!se$uently added to it" 'y virtue of its lo ation# it serves ertain peripheral areas of Central and Southern Commands# in addition to !eing !asi ally a Command 0epot for <estern Command" ,he 0epot was made responsi!le for organising 9a!ri ation of Shirts 10 and ,rouser '0 Serge for supply to <estern Command as also of re eiving stores on !ehalf of C20s dire tly supplied !y the near!y firms" Ord"a"#e De%ot, Tale+ao" Da&hade 0uring <orld <ar II a !ran h of the :F Central (rovision 2rganisation @C(2A was esta!lished in India" 9or e4 lusively holding C(2 sto +s of general stores and lothirtg range# it was de ided to esta!lish a depot at ,alegaon 0a!hade in the 0ehu Boad omple4 near (oona" ,he depot was named as the Central there was overed a sto +s ould not !e made fun tion from 1% 1ugust 1*&1 and it was5 (rovision 0epot" Stores !egan to arrive even !efore ommodation to re eive them" Sin e the entire C(2 a ommodated here# su!stantial $uantities were

diverted to other depots" 'y 1*&& the 0epot had e4panded to its optimum si6e and had three su! depots lo ated at 0ehu# 'egedewadi and Ghorwadi" 1fter <orld <ar II the depot fun tioned as a holding depot for general stores and lothing" 2n the losure of 2rdnan e 0epot# Se undera!ad# this depot was the natural solution to the re$uirement of a Command 2rdnan e depot for Southern Command" 3owever# its role as a holding depot for general stores and lothing ontinued for $uite some time ti11 the large a umulations of C(2 sto +s ould !e onsumed" In order to !e ome a fulfledged Command 0epot it too+ over the fun tions of the Command BsS0 when BSS0 Ghorpuri losed down in 1pril 1*&*" 2n losing down of 2rdnan e 0epot Fir+ee in 1*/;"/%# the responsi!ility for supplying engineering# signals# small arms and artillery e$uipment and their spares was also ta+en over !y the 0epot" 3owever the artillery# armament and smaUA arms and their spares physi aUUy ontinued to remain in thE5 old Fir+ee 1rsenal site in whi h a portion was dE5mar ated and redE5si!,2atE5d a#?) 1rmament Stores Su! depot of 2rdnan e 0epot# ,alegaon 0a!hade" In its new role5 the depot did not re$uire all the spa e and a ommodatior it had during <orld <ar II" ,he outlying su! depots have therefore !een losed down and spa e has !E.en utilisCK for various other purpose" ,alegaon 0a!hade has sin e !E5en approved as the5 permanent lo ation of the depot" Its present site is lose to the hill atop whi h the famous Maharashtrian saint# ,u+aram used to meditate in the 18 th Century" Amm*"itio" De%ot9 Bharat%*r In 1ugust 1*&-# the 1mmunition 0epot# Fasu!egu# was losed down and as an interim measure# an ammunition depot was esta!lished at Gurgaon" In due5 ourse# 'haratpur was sele ted as the most suita!le site for a Command 1mmunition 0epot and its foundation stone was laid on 1/ 9e!ruary 1*/8" It !e ame fun tional in Septem!er 1*6/" Soon after its !E5 oming fun tional the depot handled three spe ial trains meant for 1*6/ operations" 0uring the 1*81 operations thE5 depot rendE5red yeoman SE5rvi e for thE5 troops in Bajasthan se tor" <ithin a pE5riod of 1; days# it issued *000 tons of ammunition dE5spat hing four spe ial trains" 'eing the5 only army unit in 'haratpur the depot has# from time5 to

time5# helped the5 ivil authorities for ontrol of flood= to whi h this area is parti ularly prone" ,hus in 1*68# 1*6*# 1*80 and 1*8/ the dppot undertoo+ life saving missions during heavy floods" 2ther great jo!s done !y this 0epot was when it helped in E4tinguishing two fire5s in the5 Feoladeo Cational (ar+# a !ird san tuary near!y# in 1*-/" <ithin months of ea h other and prevented hundreds of !irds and their ha!it from !eing destroyed" Several modernisation measures were underta+en !y the depot in the last few years" 1 num!er of sheds were air onditioned for the storage of missiles" 1 spe ial la!oratory for testing and repairs of anti tan+ missiles was also added" ,he depot !asi ally has major responsi!ilities towards the Southern Command !ut it also feeds many stations of Central and <estern Commands" Amm*"itio" De%ot9 Bhati"da 1t the end of the Indo.(a+ <ar of 1*81# it was de ided to have an 1mmunition 0epot at 3issar" 'ut !efore the personnel ould move to 3issar# the lo ation of the depot was hanged to 'hatinda to provide relief to the overstret hE5d resour es of an e4isting installation" ,o start with# this was done as a measure of e4pedien y" 'ut late in 1*8%# it was de ided to a!andon 3issnr and let the depot remain at 'hatinda" ,he depot was redesignated as 1mmunition 0epot 'hatindn on 16 Septem!er 1*8/" 1mmunition 0epot 'hatinda in its FL( an today !oast of !eing an ideal 1mmunition 0epot" Amm*"itio" De%ot, Da%%ar ,his depot started raising at Suranuss1 in 1ugust 1*6/" 'ut soon the hostilities against (a+istan !ro+e out and the entire staff was diverted en!lo for raising another unit" ,he raising of the depot was deferred and ommen ed again only in 1*66" It was ompleted !y %1 Mar h 1*6-" In pea e the depot a ts as a Command 1mmunition 0epot for a portion of the <estrern Command" <ith the onstru tion of its own railway siding at 0appar# in 1ugust 1*8*# it eased to !e dependent on Lalru Bailway Station" 1mmunition 0epot# Lairu was a ordingly redesignated as 1mmunition 0epot 0appar with effe t from 16 1ugust 1*8*"

Amm*"itio" De%ot, Deh* ,his was the first depot to !e raised in 0ehu during <orld <ar II" 2riginalIy on eived as an 2rdnan e 0epot# it was esta!lished in May 1*&0 near the 0ehu Bailway Station mainly to ta+e are of the overflow of 2rdnan e stores !eing re eived at the 2rdnan e 0epot Fir+ee" In Septem!er 1*&0 the depot was hanged into an 1mmunition 0epot and heavy re eipts of ammunition from overseas during the initial stages of the <ar whi h had temporanly !een stores at the 'ut her5s Island in 'om!ay were eva uated to this depot" In addition the entire output from the 1mmunition 9a tory IGr+ee started flowing into this depot" ,o ater for the in reased storage re$uirements of an 1mmunition 0epot the depot was divided into two su! depots one at the original site ne4t to the 0ehu Boad Bailway Station and the other lo ated & Fms away on the 'om!ay.(oona road" ,he depot gradualy !e ame a full fledged ammunition 0epot with an 1mmunition ,e hni al 1rea onsisting of three 1mmunition <or+shops# a (roof Mard# a 3eat ,esting Boom and a Maga6ine" It also had a Beturn of 1mmunition Empties area" <ith a holding apa ity of ;;#000 tons spread over 8; sheds @all rail servedA the depot arried tremendous load during the war" ,he !usiest period for this depot ame at the end of the war# when ammunition held !y the dis!anding units and depots throughout Southern Command was !a +loaded to this depot" ,he depot now fun till?5Ks as an ammunition depot for the Southern Command" In the long history of this depot there have !een two major a idents" ,he first one too+ pla e at midnight on 10 Covem!er 1*&; when Shed Co" 8 in 1mmunition 1rea Co"; had a major e4plosion" ,he whole shed was !lown off s attering the splinters and une4ploded shells over a vast area in the depot" ,he learan e operations were very ha6ardous# yet# the areas whi h affe ted the fun tional a tivity of the depot were promptly leared" ,he remaining affe ted area of appro4imately /0 a res was fen ed off for learan e at a later date" ,hough entry into this area was stri tly prohi!ited# yet an a ident o urred in 1*&& when some visiting 2B of another unit strayed into the area and handled some material out of sheer uriosity" 2ne 2B died as a result" 1n effort was made in 1*&/ to lear this area !ut was a!andoned due to e4treme ris+s in it" It was only in 1*/% that a te hni al ommittee undertoo+ the learan e operations" 1 demolition ham!er was onstru ted and an aerial rope way was ere ted to arry out the movem7nK of ammunition undC remote ontrol" ,he operation was finaUUA5 de lare

ompleted only on ;/ 9e!ruary 1*/6" ,he se ond e4plosion too+ pla e on 16 Covem!er 1*i1 aK 1%// hours# in the 1mmunition ,e hni al 1rea where unseni ea!le detonators Co" ;8 were !eing segregated" C1SF and seven ma2doors died on the spot" ,h; first day only three !odies ould !e re overed as the others lay under heavy de!ris with detonators strewn around and remaining !o4es filled with similar detonators s attered all over" 1 wall of empty ammunition !?V4es filled with earth was !uilt all rounI the !uilding" 3eavier de!ris in luding on rete pillar !lo +s and ross !ar were removed !y remote ontrol with the help of a rane" It too+ %/ days of easeless effort to lear the entire area" 1 !efitting monument# in the memory of those eight wor+ers who laid down their lives has !een onstru ted in the depot" In 1*8/# 1mmunition 0epot 0ehu was tas+ed to !rea+down and repla e the E4ploder Safety Lo + @ESLA of all 100 MM 3E1, ammunition held !y the depot# 1CC H S hool 1hmednagar and 1rtillery S hool# 0eolali" ,he depot !orrowed some ma hinery from CI1 Fir+ee and lo ally manufa tured a num!er of +eys and tools and repaired thousands of rounds in re ord time" Amm*"itio" De%ot, Pa"a+arh ,his depot was raised on 1/ 2 to!er 1*&% as part of the Co"% Beserve 'ase" In 1*/1 it was made an independent ammunition depot" It v"itnessed a very serious a idental e4plosion in 1*&/ when a whole shed was !lown up resulting in t!e loss of a num!er of lives" In the post <orld <ar II era till early 1*60s# this depot was the only ammunition installation serving the whole of Eastern Command" It played a very important role !oth during 1*6/ and 1*81 operations" Ord"a"#e Tra" it )ro*%, Patha"-ot 2rdnan e ,ransit Group was initially raised at (athan+ot as Co" 1 2rdnan e Bail 3ead Group for the 1*&8 IHF operations" It re eived 2rdnan e stores and ammunition from rear depots !y rail and handed these over to general transport ompanies for delivery to fighting units or 2rdnan e e helons in forward areas" It also re eived 2rdnan e stores and ammunition from forward depots for !a +loading to !ase depots" In 1*&-# the ammunition element was separated and entrusted to Co"1 Independent 1mmunition (latoon" 2n 1 Iune 1*61# the ammunition element was again merged with this Group" In addition the responsi!ility of handling returned vehi les was transferred to it from Co"1 920" 1 salvage SE5 tion was also raised and added to this unit" In Septem!er 1*6/# it was reorganiSE5d as 2rdnan e ,ransit Group to ope up with the in reased wor+load"

SOME STATIC (IELD DEPOTS

=;;; ABOD 1n Independent Infantry 'rigade Group 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+ was raised on 1/ May 1*/& for maintenan e of tr)A@A(S stationed at Shi110ng and on thp then East (a+istan !order" ,he role of the 29( ontinued to grow rapidly and in Iune 1*/6# it was reorganised into & 920 with the additional responsi!ility of also providing ammunition to its dependent units# In 0e em!er 1*/* orders were issued to reorganise & 920 into ;;% 1dvan e 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot and 1; 1mmunition Company @1& 910A# 1fter one month# the designation of the depot was hanged from ;;% 1'20 to ;;; 1'20" ,he depot was raised in 3appy Ja11ey in ShiIIong# In 1pril 1*61# it was shifted to a new lo ation whi h was more a essi!le !y road and rail" In 1*8;# % Salvage :nit and its deta hment were amalgamated into ;;; 1'20" Conse$uently ;;; 1'20 today has three Salvage Su!.0epots# 2ne with the main depot and two lo ated elsewhere in the Eastern Se tor# 1 herished moment in the history of ;;; 1'20 is when the then 0efen e Minister Shri Iagjivan Bam paid glowing tri!utes to the troops in the 1dvan e 'ase# majority of whom were 2rdnan e personnel of the 1'20# 910 and Jehi le Company# for the e4 e11ent wor+ done !y them in providing maintenan e support during the 'angladesh 2perations of 1*81" ;;% ABOD % 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot was raised at Surana" 5in Septem!er 1*&on the losure of 2rdnan e 0epot# 9ero6epore and 1m5munition 0epot# Fasu!egu after partition" % 920 was redesigned as % 9ield 2rdnan e 0epot in Covem!er 1*//" In 2 to!er 1*81# Co"; Salvage :nit was merged into % 920 and !e ame5its Salvage Su! 0epot" % 920 supported operations in <estern Command in the 1*6/ and 1*81 operations" ,he tremendous wor+load the depot had to arry during the 1*81 war ne essitated its reorganisation into ;;% 1S20 !y merging 60 Corps 2MC into % 920" 1 dry leaning plant was ommissioned in the depot in Iune 1*8&" ;;% 1'20 is one of the regional depots of <estern Commhnd" Its

multifarious fun tions in lude C20 role for ertain missiles" ,o save transportation osts# responsi!ility of !ul+ re eipt and distri!ution of ertain lothing items from Ludhiana and (anipat# on !ehalf of C20 Fanpur# has !een assigned to it"" 1 (OD 1 2rdnan ed 9ield 0epot was ordereed to !e raised in C20 0elhi Cantt# on 1% Ianuary 1*&-# on realisation of the inade$ua y of the ad ho deta hment of I1B 9or e 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+ for sustaining operations against the raiders in the Fashmir Jalley" 1fter raising it was moved to Iammu where it started fun tioning from 1- Ianuary 1*&-" In 1*/8# it was shifted further Corth" 2n 11 1pril 1*/-# it was redesignated as 1 9ield 2rdnan e depot" 1 returned vehi les (ar+ started fun tioning within the premises of 1 290 from ;/ Mar h 1*&*" 2n %1 Mar h 1*// it was shifted to (athan+ot and merged in the 2rdnan e ,ransit Group" 1-0 1mmunition 0eta hment whi h was raised as part of 1 290 was onverted in 1*6% to 1/ 9ield 1mmunition 0epot" 2n the raising of Corthern Command in Iune 1*8;# the te hni al ontrol over the depot was transferred from '12C <est7rn Command to '12C Corthern Command" : (OD Li+e 1 290# ; 2rdnH"n e 9ield 0epot was also raised for providing 2rdnan e support in the Fashmir valley" It was raised in C20 0elhi Cantt in 0e em!er 1*&8 and ordered forward to Fashmir Jalley to repla e a det"=I hment of one offi er and seven other ran+s fun tioning in the valley sin e the first wee+ of Covem!er 1*&8" In 1pril 1*61# ; 290 was redesignatBd as ; 9ield 2rdnan e 0epot" 1 0ivisional Beturned Jehi le (ar+ @BJ(A also lo ated in the Jalley was merged into the 0epot in 2 to!er 1*&*" 2n the raising of &; Jehi le Company the BJ(!e ame a part of that unit !ut remained atta hed to ; 920 for administrative purposes" ,he 1mmunition Su! 0epot of ; 920 <?1S reorganised into ;"1 field 1mmunRtion 0epot in 1*8;" 5 (OD 0uring the Sino.Indian onfli t in Covem!er 1*6;# /; 2rdnan e Maintenan e (latoon was reorganised into /; 2rdnan e Maintenan e Company to support formatio*s fighting in the 3imalayas" /; 2MC at

Slll!,uri was !ifur atBd into two 2MCs in earlyU *6%" ,he 2MC in Corthern 'engal was rt5organised into / 920 in Iune 1*6%" G (OD 61@1A Communi ation Qone Su! 1rea 2M( was raised on ;& 0e em!er 1*6- to providt5 2rdnan e over to formations of Southern Command" ,he 2M( t#"as a omposite unit with an 2rdnan e Stores (latoon" It was reorganised into 6 920# in situ on * Iune 1*8; and new fun tions as one of the Begional 0epots in Southern Command" 0 (OD 1 Corps ,roops 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+ rais7d at 1llaha!ad in 9e!ruary 1*6/ was su essively reorganised as 1 Corps 2rdnan e Maintenan e (ar+ in Septem!er 1*6/ and as 1 Corps 2rdnan e Maintenan e Company E4a tly a year later" In Covem!er 1*8&# the unit was reorganised into * 920" ,he unit was moved thri e" 9irst from 1llaha!ad to an operational lo ation in <estern Command and then !a + to "1llaha!ad (rior to 1*81 operations it again moved to its operational lo ation and is there sin e then" 11 (OD ,he erstwhile 6/ Corps 2rdnan e Maintenan e (latoon in the <estern Se tor formed the nu 1eus of 11 920 whi h was raised in 1ugust 1*8*" ,he raising was ompleted in Mar h 1*-0 and the depot was moved to its permanent lo ation in 1*-1" <ith the addition of a Beturned Stores Su! 0epot and Salvage Su! 0epot in 1ugust# 1*-% the 0epot has ome into its own" 1A (OD 1*/*# the ammunition platoon of & 9a0 atered for all the ammunition re$uirements of the troops deployed in the East" In 0e em!er 1*/*# when & 920 was onverted into an 1'20# the ammunition element was separated and made into 1; 1mmunition Company as an independent unit" ,his Company ame into !eing in Ianuary 1*60 and deployed one platoon to over Cagaland and Eastern 1ssam# and another for Corthern 1ssam and CE91" 'y early 1*6;# the authonsed holdings of the Company whi h were meant to !e apprmomately 6#000 tons had rea hed a figure of 1;#&00 tons" In 2 to!er 1*6;# during the Chinese aggression# 1; 1mmunition Company was upgraded to the status of a 9ield 1mmunition 0epot and given the designation of 1& 910" 1ll of the outlying platoons

were now onverted into su!.depots and the installation did Comen servi e during the period of the Chinese atta +" ,his was the first 910 to !e raised after independen e" 2n ;0 1pril 1*-%# 1& 910 thwarted the attempts of some uns rupulous elements in 1ssam to steal e4plosives from the depot" 15 (AD 0unng the I H F operations in 1*&-# a small deta hment aned 1-0 1mmunition 0eta hment was raised as a part of 1 290 to hold %#000 tens of ammunition" ,he responsi!ilities of the deta hment in reased with time and in 1*6% it !e ame a separate entity as 1/ 9ield 1mmunition 0epot" ,he (rime Minister# Late Shrimati Indira Gandhi# visited 1/ 910 in May 1*-%" 1G (AD /; 2rdnan e Maintenan e (latoon was raised in 1*/-" 0uring the Chinese aggression in 1*6; the unit was upgraded to /; 2rdnan e Maintenan e Company" Later# /; 2MC was !ifur ated into two 2MCs) /; 2MC and /- 2MC" In Iune 1*6% the two 2lRlCs were raised into / 920 H 16 910 respe tiveiy" In Iune 1*6%# the ammunition sto +s of /; and /- 2MCs were transferred to 16 910" 17 (AD 2n 8 Mar h 1*/0# two Independent 1mmunition (latoons started rrosing at 1mmunition 0epot Gurgaon" 2n 1% Mar h 1*/0# Co"1 H ; (latoons were despat hed to 0holewal"CBS 0handari Falan near Ludhiana" Su!se$uently# Co"% Independent (latoon was rrosed at 'eas and Co"& and / Independent (latoons were rrosed at Suranussi in 1*/;" ,hese platoons formed part of erstwhile % 920 Suranussi" In Covem!er 1*/-# these five Independent platoons were formed into 11 1mmunition Company with 3ead$uarters at 0holewal" 11 1mmunition Company was responsi!le for holding large sto +s of ammunition" 1n 1mmunition (latoon of 11 1mmunition Company parti ipated in the Goa operations in 0e em!er 1*61 with distin tion" In Iune 1*6&# 11 1mmunition Company was redesignated as 18 910 with its 3> and 1 1S0 to !e lo ated together at the main lo ation# ; 1S0 lo ated at Suranussi and % 1S0 lo ated at 'eas" 3> and 1 1S0 moved from 0holewal Camp in 1*80" ,wo more 1S0s were opened at Fasu!egu

and Moga in 1*6/ to meet the operational re$uirements" 1S0 Fasu!egu was handed over to a Corps 2MC in Iune 1*6* and 1S0 Moga was handed over to erstwhile 10 3issar in Iuly 1*8%" 1n ammunition deta hment was esta!lished at 1!ohar at a very short noti e !y this depot during 1*81 a tions" ,his deta hment was later moved to 'hatinda and su!se$uently merged with erstwhile 10 3issar in Septem!er 1*8;" ; 1S0 and % 1S0 of 18 910 were reorganised into ;% 910 and ;6-G &/6 1mmunition (latoons !e ame ; 1S0 of this depot from 1/ 0e em!er 1*8*" 0uring the 1*81 war with (a+istan ; 1S0 of 18 910 was !om!ed !y the (a+istan 1ir Force' 18 (AD 1- 910 was raised in the first wee+ of Septem!er 1*6fA at Suranussi and moved to its operational lo ation on 6 Septem!er 1*6/" In Covem!er 1*6/ the depot too+ over the 1mmunition (latoon of 1 Corps 2MC" ,his was redesignated as ; 1S0 @1- 910A" ; 1S0 was handed !a + to 1 Corps 2MC in early 1*6* !ut again ta+en over !y 1- 910 in 1*81" 1n 1mmunition Su! 0epot at 'eas was also part of 1- 910 !etween 1*6* and 1*8%" ,he (a+istan 1ir 9or e tried to !om! the depot during the 1*81 war !ut alI tne !om!s fell outside the perimeter and no damage was done" 10 (AD 1* 910 was# one time Su! 0epot of % 910# reorganised as an 910 in Septem!er 1*81 to provide ammunition over to the Eastern Se tor" ,he depot ompleted its raising at Carangi and in 2 to!er 1*81# it was moved w thf. anti ipated operational area where it esta!lished two su!.depots at ,eIiamurra and :daipur# separated !y a distan e of 1/0 +ms" ,he railhead was also 1/0 +ms away from the nearest su!.depot" 0uring the 1& days of a tual operations# this depot handled appro4imately 1/#000 tons of ammunition# with all issues made only at night" 1fter the su essful ompletion of the operations in 'angladesh the depot !a +loaded all its sto +s to rear depots within two months# whi h Involved handling of 16#000 tonnes" ,hereafter# it moved from the farthest end of Eastern Command to a new lo ation in Southern Command.;&00 +ms aR where it too+ over the ammunition held !y erstwhile 61 2M( @6 920) anti esta!lished five far flung su! depots" / 1S0 was# however#

losed down in Ianuary 3455' :1 (AD ; 920 had an 1mmunition Su! 0epot with it sin e its raising" ,he 1S0 was moved to another lo ation# appro4imately 80 +ms away in 1*/0" ,he 1S0 of ; 920 served as the nu leus for the raising of ;1 9ield 1mmunition 0epot in Iune 1*8;" ,he depot also too+ over all the ammunition from 66& 2MC and ;1 1mmunition Company# units whi h have !een dis!anded" ,he 1S0 was atta +ed !y enemy raiders in the 1*6/ Indo.(a+ <ar" ;1 910 with the help of a ompany of 6 B1I(:, using mortar fire and hand grenades su essfully repulsed the enemy" ,his is an a tion of whi h ;1 910 will always !e justifia!ly proud" :; (AD ;% 9ield 1mmunition 0epot ame int5K e4isten e on 1/ 0e em!er 1*8* from the nu lei of ; 1mmunition Su! 0epot of i 8 9ield 1mmunition 0epot 8 at Suranussi and % 1mmunition Su! 0epot at 'eas" 5,his depot is organi6ed now with its main 3ead$uarters with % Su! 0epot at one lo ation and ; 1mmunition Su! 0epot at another" ,he depot has !een provided with ade$uate infrastru ture for holding and testing of sop1jri6ti" ated munitions" :A (AD ;& 910 and 11 920 werli raised on the assets of 6/ Corps 2M(" ,he raising of;& 910 was ordered !y the Government in 2 to!er 1*8* and was ompleted on 1/ Iune 1*-0" <hen 11 920 shifted to its permanent lo ation in Iuly 1*-1#;& 910 inherited atl the infrastru tuee from 11 920" 1Il its su! depots are on entrated at the main lo ation itself" ,he depot e4perien ed a serious fire on 1- 1pril 1*-/ in whi h stores worth appro4imately Bs" %1"& la+hs were destroyed"

REOR)ANISATION'RAISIN)S
Di$i io"al Ord"a"#e 4"it

,he 0ivisional 2rdnan e :nits were C==eated in 1*-0 !y merging the following ? . 3> C12C . 0ivisional 29(G2MCG2M( . Mo!i1e Cinema Se tion @MCSA . Mo!i1e 1mmunition Bepair Se tion @M1BSA . 0ry Cleaning Se tion @0CSA . 'rigade 2rdnan e 2ffi ers with respe tive 'rigades" 'efore 1*-0 the unitsGelements were independent# having their own esta!3shments e4 ept 'rigade 2rdnan e 2ffi ers who were on the strength of their respe tive 'rigade 3ead$uarters" ,he reation of 0ivisional 2rd"nan e :nits !rought a!out savings in manpower and more important# hannonious# oordinated and purposeful fun tioning of the 2rdnan e servi es in the field formation" ,he Independent 'rigade 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+sG2rdnan e Maintenan e Companies were also redesignated as 'rigade 2rdnan e :nits 2nly /0 :ndepA (ara 'rigade 29( was permitted to retain its old designation for histori al reason" Army Liai o" Cell ,he 1rmy Liaison Ce11 was reated 'angalore on 1/ 2 to!er 1*88" ,he a tivities of the ce33 involve monitoring of produ tion at the (rivate se tor :nits li+e 'harat Ele troni s# Indian ,elephone Industries# 3industan elepnnters# MIC2# MEC# 1MC2 et "# as per the 1nny5s demands" Mai"tai"a&ility Ad$i ory )ro*% 6ith COOS 1* Maint"H""ll1a!i3ty 1dvisory Groups @M1GsA were raised in Covem!er -0" ,he role of an M1G is to?. (a) (b) @ A (d) Monitor maintenan e and repair parameters as laid down in GS>B" Identify re$uirements of SM,s and test e$uipments" (repare EMEBs and other te hni al do uments" (repare s ales "

(e)

Investigate defe ts and wor+ out modifi ations" (f6 1ssess re$uirements of spe ial training ourses"

M1Gs are manned !y EME personnel and are lo ated in the premises of manufa turers# 1s3S(# 'ase <or+shops and Central 2rdnan e 0epots" ,hese groups are affiliated with C20s at 1gra# 0ehu Boad# 0elhi Cantt" and Ia!alpur" Amm*"itio" Deta#hme"t at Sa&i"a In the late severities# an ammunition deta hment was esta!lished at 'a!ina to handle the re$uirements of the annoured fonnations" 1t that time the pra ti e was for 1rmoured Begiments to draw their training ammunition from their overing ammunition depots and then arry it along with them to the firing ranges" In view of the large volume of ammunition involved# it was onsidered more e onomi al to lo ate a small deta hment at 'a!ina# near the 'a!ina tan+ firing ranges" So an 1mmunition 0eta hment was raised at C20 Ia!alpur in 1ugust 1*-0" It was authorised one offi er and ;8 IC2sG2B and designed to handle upto 100 tonnes of ammunition" ,he deta hment started fun tioning from 1/ Ianuary 1*-1" Initially# the deta hment was given the tas+ of holding and issuing training ammunition for main guns of all regiments utilising 'a!ina ranges for field firing less units lo ated in Southern Command" Later# on 8 0e em!er 1*-%# the platoon was given the additional responsi!ility to re eive all types of emptiesGfired ases and pa +ing material relating to main guns as well as se ondary annament of annoured regiments on the on lusion of field firing" ,he deta hment !a +loads it to C20 Ia!alpur" 71 OMP ;- and ;* Infantry 0iv 2rdnan e :nits were raised after 1*-/ and 81 2rdnan e Maintenan e (ar+ @2M(A was raised in 1*-* to provide ordnan e support to 10; Infantry 'rigade at the Sia hen Gla ier" ,his 2M( is providing noteworthy support in adverse logisti onditions" C20 Meerut was also raised in 1**0 on an ad ho !asis" 0esigned to hold Fwadrat missiles and other air defen e systems# the depot is still staffed !y offi ers and personnel @!oth om!atant and iviliansA mil+ed from other depots and units"

COLLE)E O( MATERIALS MANA)EMENT AND AOC CENTRE

Colle+e o! Material Ma"a+eme"t
,he College of Materials Management was instituted as the 12C S hool in 2 to!er 1*;/ on a temporary !asis shape as a permanent esta!lishment only in 1*;8 and was lo ated near the 1mmunition 9a tory at FIr+ee and was lo ated near the 1mmunition 9a tory at Fir+ee and was designated as the l12C S hool of Instru tion" <ith the entrali6ation of the edu ational training of Indian 2ther Ban+s and the responsi!ility for ondu ting of departmental e4aminations for CC2s# its importan e and si6e in reased in 1*%%" Con urrently# the 52rdnan e (ro edures Committee5 was transferred from Bawalpindi to this institution" Same year# the Be ord 2ffi e for the Indian Military <ing of the Corps was also !rought under it" ,hus# the ommandant of the s hool !e ame 2ffi er.in. Charge Be ords and was empowered to arry out re ruitment of Indian 2ther Ban+s" In 1*%-# It also started to train artifi ers" Sin e with an this growth the e4isting a ommodation at Fir+ee !e ame insuffi ient# the S hool was therefore# moved to Bo!ert 'arra +s in Ia!alpur# in 9e!ruary 1*%* and was redesignated as L12C ,raining Centre" 1t this time the responsi!ility for me hani al transport and its repair organi6ation was also transferred to the Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps" ,he Be ord 2ffi e of the Indian Military <ing# 'ritish 2ther Ban+s and permanent ivilian personnel of the Corps were also transferred to Ia!alpur and atta hed to this institution" 9or l12C personnel serving overseas a <ar Be ord 2ffi e was also formed <ith the Centre" 'e ause of the massive e4pansion of the Centre during <orld <ar II another I12C ,raining Centre had to !e opened at Fatni for imparting spe ialist training" ,he entre also opened Spe ialist ,raining Cells in various depots" 2n Iune 1*&8 the l12C ,raining Centre was split into two separate esta!lishment namely the I12C S hool and l12C training Centre" ,he l12C S hool was moved from the Bo!erts 'arra +s to the Bidge in Ia!alpur# <hile the I12C 5training Centre was moved to 9ero6epore where the l12C ,raining 'attalion had already !een formed in 1*&6" <hen India !e ame a Bepu!li in Ianuary 1*/0# the prefi4 =Indian= was dropped and the l12C S hool !e ame the 12C S hool" 'y this time# all the" outlying Spe ialist ,raining Cells with the various depots also losed down e4 ept

the 515 Jehi les Cell at C19J0 Fir+ee# and the 1rmament Su! <ing at C20 Ia!alpur" Su!se$uently# the 515 Jehi les Cell was shifted from Fir+ee to Ia!alpur during early 1*-0" In 1*/0 the S hool ran a series of ourses to onvert offi ers of other arms to ordnan e as well as two ourses . the Senior 2rdnan e 2ffi ers5 Course and the Iunior 2rdnan e 2ffi ers Course . were also e4e uted to impart rash training to offi ers who had re eived sudden promotions to fill up the gap reated !y the large s ale departure of 'ritish 2ffi ers" Later in 2 to!er 1*60# a separate S22 <ing was formed to run the Senior 2rdnan e 2ffi ers Courses" 12C S hool was one of the first in the ountry to in orporate <or+ Study and other management te hni$ues in its urri ulum" ,he Senior 1mmunition ,e hni al 2ffi ers Course was organi6ed for the first time in 1*/%" In 1*8&# a three.tier system of training was introdu ed for junior# middle and senior management levels" Courses identi al in s ope and employment were merged and their sylla!i integrated" In 1*-1# the duration of the ourses was also redu ed" 9or imparting training to all ran+s# the S hool had the following wings organised under the ontrol of S hool 3ead$uarters ?" Senior 2rdnan e 2ffi ers <ing 1rmament and 1mmunition <ing 2rdnan e <ing ,e hni al Stores <ing Be ruits <ing :nder the three tier system# the S hool ran the following ourses ? @aA ,ier 2ne Courses" Moung 2ffi ers Course# ,e hni al Stores Spe ialist Course" 1rmament and 1mmunition ,e hni al 2ffi ers Course# Inventory Control @Spe ial ListA 2ffi ers Course" ,ier ,wo Courses" Materials Management and <or+ Study Course# Materials Management Course and Senior 1rmament 1mmunition ,e hni al 2ffi ers Course" ,ier ,hree Courses" Senior 2rdnan e 2ffi ers Management Course# Senior 2rdnan e 2ffi ers SeminarGSenior 2rdnan e 2ffi ers Study 9ortnight"

@!A

@ A

Separate ourses for dire t entry 2rdnan e 2ffi ers @ ivilianA# 1mmunition ,e hni al 2ffi ers# Material Management# Civilian (ersonnel Management and >uarter Master duties# were also ondu ted" 9or 12C IC2s and 2Bs# the S hool is running ourses for 1mmunition ,e hni ians# Storemen ,e hni al of various spe ialties and Cler+s Store Control and Cler+s Stores (rovision as we1l as spe ial to Corps training for ler+s @General 0utiesA" 'esides# ourses for up gradation from Class II to Class I are also ondu ted" Befresher ourses in provision duties for IC2s and <or+ study Courses for !oth military as well as ivilian personnel of the orps are also ondu ted" Separate ourses are !eing e4 lu%ively ondu ted for the ivilian women store +eepers as well as the leri al adres" In addition# the S hool runs all arms ourses on >uarter Master duties for # !oth IC2s as well as Store+eeper ourses for the 1rmored Corps# 1rtillery# Me hani6ed Infantry# EME and Signals" ,o motivate student offi ers# the 12C S hool introdu ed the 02S ,rophy in 1*6/ @now alled the 0G 2S ,rophyA for the young offi er standing first on the Moung 2ffi er5s 'asi Course" In 1*-0.-1# the CommandantLs Silver and 'ron6e Medals were instituted for student offi ers standing first and se ond on ea h ourse respe tively" ,he S hool was turned into a higher edu ation institute and was renamed as the College of Materials Management in the year 1*-6" ,he College was initially affiliated to the Bani 0urgawati :niversity for the award of post.graduate degrees in Materials Management as also post graduate diplomas in Munitions" Later# however# this College was de lared an autonomous College dire tly under the :niversity Grants Commission" Cow# the College imparts regular training in various onne ted dis iplines to IC2s and 2Bs of the Corps and awards them 0iplomas after su essful ompletion" ,he College of Materials Management is on the threshold of !rea+ing new !arriers in a ademi field"

AOC CENTRE

,he l12C ,raining Centre was split from the l12C S hool in Iune# 1*&8# and moved to 9ero6epore while the S hool stayed on at Ia!alpur" ,he Centre now shouldered the e4 lusive responsi!ility to impart trades and military training to other ran+s" 1 training !attalion had already !een moved to 9ero6epore in 1*&6" Later in 2 to!er 1*&6 a depot !attalion of the l12C was also raised there" ,herefore# to reate a separate l12C Centre# there now only a 3ead$uarters and the administrative element were needWWWWWWWosed on these two !attalions" 1t this stage the I12C Be ord" Iart of the Centre Co"; l12C ,raining 'attalion was later added to the entre" In 1*/0 the prefi4 =Indian= was dropped and it !e ame the 12C Centre" In Ianuary 1*&- the Centre# moved to (oona" ,he 12C Be ords and 12C 0epot !attalions# though !y now integral parts of the Centre# ontinued to stay at Ia!al pur" In Iune 1*/%# the Centre was again moved to its present lo ation at Se undera!ad" In Septem!er of the same year# the 12C Be ords and the 0epot !attalion also joined the Centre at Se undera!ad" ,he 12C Centre is responsi!le for training of re ruits and other ran+s of the Corps on all ourses in luding ertain ourses of te hni al nature" 1part from imparting military training# it overs training in the a?1 illary trades li+e te4tile repair# e$uipment repair# saddlery# arpentry# painting# tailoring and driving training" (ersonnel of other arms# in trades# li+e tailor @:A# e$uipment repairers and saddler @:A are also trained here" ,he Centre has also distinguished itself in the field of sports" ,he 12C Centre possesses some pri eless pie es of histori al signifi an e# i"e"# a !ell# a gong and two mu66le loading guns whi h are +ept in the Centre >uarter guard" !rass !ell' ,he 'ell @'ell 'rass Co"&A was manufa tured on 8 9e!ruary 1-1* and was presented to the 'u++an (latoon !y a lady" It !ears the ins ription in :rdu =Col 0awson Sahi! +i !i!i Sahi!a +i taraf se !a+shish hua 1-1* iswi mah 9e!ruary satwin tari+h"= It was presented to the Centre in 1*/6 !y Col 1" 3ussain and all ran+s of C19J0 Fir+ee" "he +ong* ,he Gong was also presented to 12C Centre !y C19J0 Fir+ee" 3owever# the data and year of presentation of this gong is not availa!le in the re ords" If !ears the ins ription =G"C"9"'" 8 1*0;=" It was perhaps manufa tured !y Gun Carriage 9a tory# 'om!ay in 1*0;# as a GC9 e4isted in 'om!ay during 1*0;"

ORDNANCE IN 8ARS O(

10T. CENT4R/
,he hrst ships of the East India Company landed at Surat in 1608" ,he port of Surat# at that time# was the main European trading entre in India and the (ortuguese ships were already fre$uenting this har!our" 3owever# the 'ritish petitioned at the Moghul ourt for permission to trade with India# whi h was granted to it in 1610" It should !e mentioned here that the mer antile ships in those days were well e>uipped with guns# ammunition et # for their prote tion from the WWWWWWWWWWW val European ountries as well as the pirates" ,he East IndiaWWWWWWWWWtoo arried artillery# mus+ets and ammunition provided !y the WWWWWWWWWWW of 2rdnan e" ,he (ortuguese tried to o!stru t the 'ritish trade at Surat# as a result of whi h there ensured a naval !attle !etween the 'ritish and the (ortuguese near the oast of Surat in 161/" ,he 'ritish gained a de isive vi tory in this !attle and thus a $uired suprema y in this area as well as prestige in the Moghul ourt" Cow the East India Company esta!lished its first Fothi @trading houseA at Surat# "whi h later !e ame the seat of Company5s first (residen y" Sin e then# the Company ontinued to e4pand its trade and esta!lished more and more trading entres# and !uilt fa tories and storage depots" 2f ourse# the Company maintained suffi ient guards and armaments to prote t its esta!lishments from theft or atta +" 3owever# the Company5s armament and e$uipment were essentially +ept in fortified pla es under the harge of the gun rew or on their ships" ,hus the whole of the 18th entury saw the Company multiplying its entres throughout India" In the ne4t a!out 100 years# it had immense e4pansion and gradually hanged over from a trading institution to a politi al organi6ation see+ing territorial possessions" It was in the !a Fgr711nd of this situation in 18&-# that the formation of regular ompanies of artillery and ordnan e servi es was first san tioned" ,his led to the transfer of huge sto +s of hardware from the ships5 gun rooms to the Company5s strongholds ashore" ,hereafter# arsenals# depots) maga6ines# ammunition la!oratories and fa tories grew up $ui +ly a ording to the needs of the time" ,hus it was the superior 'ritish artillery and the prompt availa!ility of armament and ammunition whi h mainly aided the Company5s politi al e4pansion" 2n - 1pril 188/# a 'oard of 2rdnan e was formed in 'engal

(residen y 1rmy" ,his is thus the !irth date of the organised 2rdnan e Servi es in India" ,he ne4t -; years of the East India Company are a period of ontinuous ampaigning !y the (residen y armies to e4pand the 'ritish hold on the ountry" 2rdnan e was involved in all these operations" 9irstly# !e ause in those days an operation was mounted from a stronghold# vi6 forts# whi h invaria!ly ontained an arsenal a depot or a maga6ine" Se ondly# !e ause the 2rdnan e in those days was part of the artillery train# and so it was essentially a party to every artillery !attle" 1nother thing to !e !orne in mind a!out the role of 2rdnan e in those days is that the 2rdnan e did not perform just the store+eeping duties# !ut it also transported guns and ammunition arriages over long distan es of diffi ult terrain" 0ue to spa e limitations# we give here an a ount of only salient ampaigns to highlight the role of 2rdnan e Servi es in them" Sie+e o! Bharat%*r Commander.in.Chief Lord Gerard La+e laid siege to the fort of 'haratpur in early 1-0/# !ut without su ess" 2ne of the reasons for his failure was the inade$uate ordnan e support" 1ll the guns !e ame useless after a few shots as their vents e4panded and the !arrels developed fissures" Se ondly# the 2rdnan e supply line was too long" Instead of esta!lishing an advan e 2rdnan e depot at" the near!y 1gra fort# entire ordnan e supply was !eing dire tly o!tained from the distant 1llaha!ad depot" ,hese mista+es were not repeated when Lord Stapleton Com!er mere laid the se ond siege of 'haratpur on 1- Ianuary 1-;6" 3e led a for e of " %0#/00 men in luding two divisions of infantry supported !y avalry and with ade$uate 2rdnan e !a +.up" ,he huge $uantity of 2rdnan e re$uired for this large for e was o!tained from the maga6ines at 1gra# 0elhi# Famal and Fanpur# while the 1llaha!ad depot was the reserve for emergen y" 1 field ammunition depot was formed at the !oundary of 'haratpur# and +ept under the harge of a Condu tor of 2rdnan e" <ith su h pu a !ando!ust this time the 'haratpur Baja ame to terms" The Ne%al 8ar In the Cepal <ar @1-1&.1-16A# neither the %.pounder guns nor the howit6ers or mortars of 7893: in h !ore.proved of any use# owing to their la + of penetration# short range and un ertain aim" ,he 6.pdr field guns too

were not very effe tive" 2nly 1;.pdr !ron6e guns and the 1-.pdr guns !rought !y the %rd 0ivision were $uite su essful" In fa t# the Malaon fort was !rea hed !y two 1;.pdr !rass guns" ,he transportation of the heavy 1-.pdr gun was um!ersome and slow# some times not more than a mile or two in a day" 1 road had to !e first prepared !y the pioneers on whi h these guns were dragged !y men while the ammunition had to !e arried !y men" ,he Cepal <ar emphasi6ed the need for reating mountain !atteries" The (ir t A!+ha" 8ar ,he first 1fghan <ar @1-%*.1-&;A 1early proved the superiority of 'engal gun arriages for rough and tough wor+" 1t the end of this war# therefore# the government dire ted that the royal !lo + train arriage as also the lim!ers and ammunition wagons of 'engal (residen y design should also !e adopted !y Madras and 'om!ay" The Si-h 8ar 1fter the death of Maharaja Banjit SIngh in 1-%*# (unja! was in a state of anar hy" In 1-&/# the Si+h army tried to ross the Sutlej frontier whi h had !een strengthened !y the 'ritish" 1s the Si+hs rossed the Sutlej# they had their first en ounter with the 'ritish for es at Mud+i on 10e em!er 1-&/" ,he Si+hs lost this !attle" Ce4t ame the !attle of 9ero6shahar on ;1 0e em!er 1-&/" ,he Si+hs then had 100 guns# mostly of large ali!re while the Company armies had only 6/ pie es.all light guns e4 ept two heavy howit6ers" ,here was a protra ted artillery engagement !etween the opponents" ,he 'ritish for es won the !attle only !y a thin edge for they had almost e4hausted their ammunition !y the lose of the !attle" ,he reason for su h a situation was that the s ale of issue of rounds per gun to artillery in India was mu h lower than that of the Boyal 1rmy" ,his aspe t was a little improved in the !attle of So!raon fought and won !y the 'ritish on 10 9e!ruary 1-&6" In the se ond Si+h <ar @1-&-.1-&*A# Si+hs were well prepared and gave a very stiff opposition" ,he !attles of Bamnagar was won on ;; Covem!er 1-&6" 'ut the ne4t !attle of Chillianwala on 1% Ianuary 1-&* was a fier ely fought !attle in whi h the fate ontinued to play see.saw with !oth the parties# and finally left it unde ided" ,he ne4t engagement then ame at Gujrat on ;1 9e!ruary 1-&*# in whi h the Si+hs piled up their entire strength against the English 1rmy" It was the !loodiest of all the earlier !attles" Guns on !oth sides did not ta+e a moment5s respite" 'y the afternoon# the 'ritish for es had started running out of ammunition" 9inding

a gap !etween the 'ritish lines# the Si+hs made a fier e onslaught and the ammunition of some of the 'ritish guns gave out at this riti al moment" 1n artillery offi er# however# diverted fire from other guns on the Si+hs and saved the situation" 9inally the si+hs were routed and the 'ritish won a final vi tory over the Si+hs The )reat Re$olt o! 1857 It was the seething re!ellion in the heart of the Indians whi h finally !urst out as open revolt on the issue of greased artridges to the 3indu Sepoys" 'ehrampur# Meerut# Cawnpore# and !y and !y whole Corth India rose in revolt against the 'ritish" 0uring this revolt# si4 2rdnan e men displayed e4 eptional !ravery in defending the 0elhi maga6ine# for whi h they were awarded Ji toria Cross" ,he maga6ine# we! sto +ed with war ammunition# was lo ated outside the Bed 9ort @near the present.day General (ost 2ffi e# Fashmere GateA 2n 11 May 1-/8# a large rowd atta +ed the maga6ine" Lt George <iIlough!y of the 'engal 1rtillery# Lt George 9orrest# Lt Baynor and Condu tor Iohn 'u +ley# all of the 2rdnan e Commissary 0epartment and five others tried to hold the rowd" <hen they ould resist no longer# <illough!y proposed to !low up the maga6ine so that the arms and ammunition did not fall in the hands of the mutineers" ,his meant ertain death for all the nine# !ut all of them agreed" ,he maga6ine was !lown up as de ided and of the gallant nine# four mira ulously es aped" 1ll these nine gallant soldiers were awarded Ji toria Cross" In another in ident on 1/ 1pril 1-/-# (rivate Samuel Morley and Mi hael Murphy of the Military ,rain @the military train# in these days# was part of the 2rdnan e esta!lishmentA res ued Lt 3amilton# 1djutant of the %rd Si+h Cavalry# when he was wounded# dismounted and surrounded !y Baja Fanwar Singh5s for es at 16imgarh" Murphy ut down several men# and although himself severely wounded# he never left 3amilton5s side until support arrived" Morley also stood !y him all along and !raved the fier e enemy atta +" 'oth these (rivates won Ji toria Cross" Some other 2rdnan e installations also displayed e4 eptional feats of !ravery during the Great Bevolt" 1 few of these are as under ? ,he Fanpur maga6ine ontained guns# ammunition and stores !ut was not well defended !y General <heeler" <hen all hope of saving it was lost# Lt Beilly# the 1ssistant Commissary of 2rdnan e tried to !low it up !ut failed in the attempt and lost his life" ,he Gun Carriage 1gen y at 9atehgarh was in the harge of the

1gent# Major 1 'orertson# three ondu tors and a foreman" 1ll this European staff perished defending 9atehgarh" <hen the 6th Cative Infantry re!elled at 1llaha!ad# and the loyalty of the 9ero6epore Begiment $uartered in the 9ort !e ame suspe t# the arsenal and the maga6ine in the fort were left unguarded" Lt <C Bussell# the Commissary of 2rdnan e laid a train to the maga6ine with a view to !low it up if the re!els tried to apture it" It meant ertain death for Lt Bussel" 9ortunately# aid ame to him and the maga6ine was saved" Energeti and timely measures saved many 2rdnan e depots and maga6ines" 'ritish troops from Iullundur prote ted (hillaur" ,he Lahore fort with its maga6ine was saved !y timely energeti steps" 1 small 'ritish for e drove out the hostile guard at 9ero6epore and then su essfully !eat off numerous atta +s" The Sita"a Cam%ai+"'18G; ,his was a protra ted ampaign" In it# the 'ritish for es re eived serious set.!a +s !efore a hieving su ess" ,he 2rdnan e over for the d aII1progn was as under" 1ll troops in the trans.Indus area were to !e in possession of %00 rounds of small arms ammunition per man# with a reserve in maga6ines of %00 rounds per man and ;00 rounds per gun" Cine la+hs of Enfield rifle ammunition had !een forwarded from 9ero6epur to (eshawar and another 1& La+hs ordered up from the maga6ines in the Corth.<estern (rovin es whi h would !e replenished as early as possi!le from 9ort <illiam" ,here !eing no" 2rdnan e esta!lishment !etween 9ero6epur and (eshawar# a temporary 0epot was esta!lished at 1tto +" 1 depot for ammunition had already !een esta!lished at (ermouli# at a moderate distan e from the s ene of operations" 1 !ridge was onstru ted to ut short the route from Bawalpindi" ,elegraphi instru tions were issued to the Gun Carriage 1gent at 9atehgarh to send to 9ero6epur two platform arriages for - in h mortars# of a pattern used su essfully in China" 1 few - in h mortars were sent into the field" 1; Elephant radles were provided to omplete the e$uipment of the 6.pdr 1rmstrong 'attery on its way to the field" In this e4pedition the 9ero6epur 1rsenal played the leading role in supplying military e$uipment and 2rdnan e to the troops" The Bh*ta" 8ar ' 18GA

9or the 'hutan <ar of 1-6& the 9or e omprised four olumns# two for operations and two to !e in support" ,he atta +ing olumns @left entre olumn and left olumnA were to advan e from Coo h 'ehar and Ialpaigoree# respe tively# and o upy the 'hutan 0uars" ,he supporting olumn# right olumn and right entre olumn were to !e lo ated at Gowhatti and Gowalpara# respe tively" Military e$uipment and 2rdnan e stores to the troops were san tioned as under ) ,he troops were to ta+e into the field ;00 rounds per man and %00 rounds per man were to !e held in reserve in three smal1 ammunition depots formed at @iA Gowhatty for the Bight Column# @iiA Coo h 'ehar for the Left Centre Column# and @iiiA Ialpaigoree for the Left Column" ,he /th and 8th Begiments of 'engal Cavalry were armed with ar!ines and 10 ar!ines per troop were al10wed to the 1&th 'engal Cavalry" Si4 /"/ in h mortars were atta hed to the for e# in addition to the four - in h mortars already ordered" 2n ;% Septem!er# 1-6& the Government of India approved the following steps ). (a) 9or 6.pdr 1rmstrong Mountain 'attery# 100 rounds per gun were to !e with the 'attery in the field and ;00 rounds per pie e in reserve at the depots at Coo h 'ehar and Ialpaigoree" 9or the Mountain ,rain 'attery atta hed to the Eurasian and Cative Christian Company# having two %.pdr guns# two 1;.pdr mountain train howit6ers and two /"/ in h mortars# 160 rounds per gun# 100 rounds per howit6er# and 100 rounds per mortar were to !e with the 'attery in the field" 9or this 'attery there were to !e reserve of ;00 rounds per pie e at the Gowhatty 0epot"

(b)

9or the four -.in h mortars on elephants# -0 rounds of shell per pie e were to !e issued and ;00 rounds per pie e were to !e in reserve in depots at Coo h 'ehar and Ialpaigoree" 9or the four /"/ in h mortars# 100 rounds per mortar were to a ompany the mortars and a reserve per pie e of ;00 rounds were to !e held at the depots at Coo h 'ehar and Ialpaiguree"

(RONTIER OPERATIONS

,hroughout the 'ritish rule in India# the Corth.<est 9rontier had !een a ontinuous trou!le spot" ,he warli+e (athan tri!als inha!iting this mountainous terrain loved their independen e very dearly and !roo+ed no overload ship !y any power# howsoever strong" 1s the 'ritish tried to e4tend their sphere of influen e into this tri!al area# one or the other (athan tri!e onstantly rose in revolt against the 'ritish domination" ,o hastise these tri!es# the 'ritish undertoo+ a num!er of punitive e4peditions to this area# during the period 1---.1-*-" Most of these operations were underta+en against the tri!es of 3asan6ais# 1fridis# Mehsuds# Mohmands# 2ra+6ais# et " .a,ara (ield (or#e'1888 2n * Ianuary 1---# the Fhan Fhels of the 'ritish frontier !order7 +illed two 'ritish su!je ts and also +idnapped two" 3owever# the +idnappe persons were later released" ,hen on 1- Iune# two 'ritish offi ers and men of / GB were +illed on the 1gror 9rontier" 1s a result the 'ritish Government organised the 3a6ara 9ield 9or e and with this for e laun hel a punitive e4pedition into the 'la + Mountains# against the Fhan Fhel tri!als" Co details of the 2rdnan e over to this 9or e an !e tra ed in an do 11ments on re ord now" Dho& (ield (or#e'1802 2n 1 2 to!er 1-*0# the 'ritish Government formed the Qho! 9ield 9or e to open the Gomal (ass and punish the Sherani tri!esmen of tr" Qho! valley# who were o!stru ting the 'ritish pro!ing missions" Qho! 9ore remained in the area for two months during whi h period it mar hed a!out 1-00 miles" .a a",ai a"d A-a,ai EB%editio" 1801 <hen the 3asan6ai and 1+a6ai tri!es o!je ted to 'ritish infiltratie into their area# the 'ritish detailed a olumn on ;* 2 to!er 1-*0 to mar h along the rest of the 'la + Mountains to assert their right to !e there" ,he tri!esmen fired upon the troops" ,he Government then organised the 3a6ara 9ield 9or e at 0ar!and on 1 Mar h 1-*1 5to infli t punishment on the tri!es on erned for the hostility5" ,he 9or e su essfully ompleted its tas+ in a!out three months and so it was dis!anded on 10 Iune 1-*1" To#hi EB%editio" 1807'08 ,o su!due the <a6iri tri!esmen# the 'ritish Government of India had stationed a permanent military for e in the ,o hi Jalley" 'ut the <a6iris ontinued their raids and plunder of the 'ritish loyal su!je ts" In 1-*6# the

<a6ins murdered a 3indu" ,he Madda Fhels @a se tion of the <a6irisA were fined !y the 'ritish as a punishment for this" 2n 10 Iune 1-*8 when the (oliti al 2ffi er# a ompanied !y es ort# visited Mai6ar to dis uss a!out the imposition of fine# they were fired upon and one 'ritish 2ffi er was wounded" ,he es ort party had !rought only 16 rounds per gun# so they ould not =5)thstand the atta + for long and were for ed to retreat with a num!er of wounded" ,his atta + greatly e4 ited all the <a6iris and throughout the <a6iristan there were tri!al gatherings" ,he situation had !e ome $uite e4plosive so the Government de ided to send a for e of two !rigades to punish the 0arwesh Fhel <a6iris on erned with the atta + on the (oliti al 2ffi er5s party" ,his for e alled the ,o hi 9ield 9or e was on entrated at 'annu to operate to the west and south west of 0atta FheI" ,o provide ordnan e support to this for e# an 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+ was formed at Bawalpindi and moved to 'annu on 6 Iuly 1-*8" An ordnan e depot was thereafter esta!lished at 0atta Fhel and then an ammunition depot at Miram Shah" ,he tas+ of the ,o hi for e was ompleted when they finalIy for ed the Madda Fhels to pay the fine" ,he ,o hi 9or e was !ro+en up in Ianuary 1-*- and onse$uently the field par+ was demo!ili6ed on 1& Iuly 1-*-" The Mala-a"d EB%editio" 1807'08 1fter the anne4ation of Chitral in 1-*/# the 'ritish Government of India de ided to +eep an open route !etween Mala+and and Chitral via the (anj+ora route through the territories of Fhans of 0ir and Swat who were friendly to the 'ritish" ,o guard this route# regular troops were positioned as folIows ? (a) Chitral Garrison# (b) 3> at +ila 0rosh# (c) 1 !rigade offour !attalions# a mountain !attery# a s$uadron of avalry and sappers and miners at Mala+and# and (d) 9ortified posts at Mala+and and Cha+ 0arra" In addition# the route from the Indian frontier to Chitral was guarded !y %10 lo alIy raised tri!al levies# along - posts" In Ianuary 1-*8# Fa!ul started arousing Mohammedan fanati ism in 'ajaur# Swat and 0ir against the 'ritish" GradualIy# the situation aggravated and in Iuly atta +s started on the 'ritish positions" Mala+and fort was under regular att 5l" +s !y some 1;#000 tri!esmen" ,o ontrol this alarming situation# a Mala+and field for e was rushed to this area" 9or this for e# an 2rdnan e field par+ was mo!ili6ed at Caushera on ;* Iuly 1-*8" <ith this !ase at Caushera an advan e 2rdnan e depot was then set up at Mala+and" ,his depot issued around 1#;00 tonnes of stores !y the end of the year"

'y the end of 1ugust# the 9or e had moved to ,hana# Mhar and Mala+and"" !ringing the e4pedition to a su essful on lusion" Cow the 9or e turned towards the 'unerwals# !ut with the sudden uprising of tri!als in other 9rontier areas# it pro eeded against the :tman Fhels on the left !an+ of Swat river" ,he :tman Fhels were !rought under ontrol !y ;8 Covem!er" ,hen on ; Ianuary 1-*-# the 'uner 9ield 9or e mar hed out to su!jugate the 'unerwal and Chamlawai tri!esmen# who were holding the ,anga (ass @the mouth of whi h was one mile from the Shangao postA and the (ir6ai (ass" 9or the 'uner 9or e# too# the Caushera 2rdnan e field par+ was utili6ed" 1 smal1 deta hment of the 29( with reserve ammunition was esta!lished at Shangao on 8 Ianuary 1-*- to support the mountain !atteries firing on the ,anga (ass" 'y mid.Ianuary the e4pedition had ompleted its tas+ su essfully# and on 1* Ianuary it returned to India" ,he field part was also dis!anded thereafter" Mohma"d EB%editio" 1807 1s a se$uel to the uprising in the Swat val1ey# the Mohmands were also aught !y the religious fren6y and on 8 1ugust 1-*8# they atta +ed and !urnt down a 3indu vi 11 age Shan+argarh" ,he Mohmands then !esieged the small poli e garrison in the Sha!+adr 9ort" Sha!+adr was relieved with reinfor ements from (eshawar" 'ut Mohmands were not yet $uel1ed" So# on ; Septem!er 1-*8# the lR1ohmand 9ield 9or e was formed for the prote tion of the route to Chitra1 and punishment of the Mohmands" Mala+and 9ield 9or e was also to ooperate in this tas+" 1n 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+ was esta!lished at (eshawar on 6 Septem!er 1-*8" <ith this as the !ase# an advan e ordnan e depot was formed at Sha!+adr" ,his depot was sto +ed with ordnan e5 reserves of ammunition for the for e and a large $uantity of entren hing tools and signalling e$uipment" 1 se ond advan e depot was formed at : hangawar on ;"/ Septem!er and was sto +ed with 5V0 rounds per gun and 100 rounds per rifle and ar!ine" ,hese depots wor+ed $uite satisfa torily and were a!le to meet all the demands made on them" ,he depots were also wound up after the Mohmand 9or e# having ompleted its tas+# was !ro+en up on ;Septem!er 1-*8" Tirah EB%editio" 1807 ,he tri!es !etween (eshawar and Fohat ame in uprising and raised

a ry of 5Iehad5 against the 'ritish" 1 large e4peditionary for e was therefore mounted to ontain this insurgen y" 9or the 2rdnan e over# there already e4isted the !ase depot at (eshawar" Cow another !ase depot was formed In the Fohat 9ort to provide support to the Fhurram 'rigade" ,he first advan e ordnan e depot was formed at Shinawari in 2 to!er 1-*8" It was sto +ed with ammunition at the s ale of 100 rounds per rifle# /0 per ar!ine and 100 rounds per gun and plentiful supply of starshells# signalling e$uipment# entren hing tools# tent omponent and other stores" T.E BOER 8AR ,he 0ut h settlers @'oersA had founded the repu!li s of ,ransvaal# 2range 9ree State and Catal in the 1-%0s" In the latter half of the 1*th entury# the dis overy of diamonds in 2range 9ree State and of gold in ,ransvaal !rought an influ4 of 'ritish prospe tors into these olonies" ,he 'oer Governments# whi h had long resented 'ritish advan es into the South 1fri an territories# denied these prospe tors the iti6enship rights and ta4ed them heavily# ignoring 'ritish protests" 1t this the 'ritish administrator in South 1fri a# Sir Leander S" Iameson# made an unauthorised raid on the 'oer olony of ,ransvaal in 1-*/" ,his aggravated the situation and the 'oers de lared war against the 'ritish on 1; 2 to!er 1-**" 9or the 'ritish this was not une4pe ted? they had already started their war preparations" 1n Indian 2rdnan e field par+ was despat hed from Cal utta on ;0 Septem!er 1-** to ta+e part in these operations# and it landed in the port of 0ur!an on 1% 2 to!er" 0uring this voyage# the field par+ ompleted most of its leri al wor+# wor+ed out sto +ing figures for the !ase and an advan e depot as well as prepared the ledgers for the same" ,he 'oers won initial vi tories and aptured Mafe+ing and !esieged Fim!erley in 2 to!er and Ladysmith in early Covem!er 1-**" 'ut soon they fa ed reverses" Fim!erley was relieved in 9e!ruary and Ladysmith on 1 Mar h 1*00" ,he 'ritish finally anne4ed the 'oer states" ,he !ase depot was opened at Ladysmith on 1- 2 to!er" It met all the re$uirements of the Indian ontingent as well as for several important items# it met the re$uirements of an the troops in Ladysmith @num!ering a!out 1&#000A" 1ll the Commanding 2ffi ers were well satisfied with the fun tioning of the depot" ,he ammunition from India also gave real satisfa tion" ,he fuses were $uite regular and shells were e4 ellent" ,he small arm ammunition also drew no adverse omment" 1n advan e depot

was opened at Marti6!urg" ,he field par+ returned to India on ;% 1pril 1*00"

ORDNANCE SER7ICE D4RIN) 8ORLD 8AR I

2C 1 1ugust 1*1& when the 9irst <orld <=# !ro+e out the re. organi6ation of 1*11 had just ta+en effe t" ,his reorgani6ation was indeed a lu +y development as it prepared the organi6ation for the diffi ult pro!lems of glo!al war" In 1*1%# the 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Stores shifted from (aona to Simla# whi h now made prompt intera tion possi!le !etween the 0ire tor General of 2rdnan e and the 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Stores# essential during war" 3owever# there remained a snag of the faulty system of holding the availa!le resour es" 0ue to retren hments and e onomy measures# the 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+s meant to a ompany the e4peditionary for e were not omplete in personnel or sto +s" Contingen y reserves were also limited" ,he 2rdnan e 0epartment was therefore put under a severe strain when on - 1ugust 1*1&# immediately after issue of mo!ili6ation orders# the %rd Lahore and 8th Meerut 0ivisions were ordered for servi e in 9ran e" ,his implied that the two onne ted 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+s were to !e despat hed along with the two 0ivs" ,he personnel and sto +s of !oth were at different pla es and only with great effort these ould !e married up in time" 0ue to the despat h of a!out half a do6en offi ers ;0 <arrant 2ffi ers and CC2s and proportional Indian Cler+s# artifi ers and la!ourers# the total strength of %% offi ers of all the arsenals was seriously redu ed# entailing a heavy strain on the thus repleted 2rdnan e Servi e throughout India parti ularly when the war had vastly in reased its Commitments" 2f the two field par+s despat hed along with the %rd and 8th 0ivisions to 9ran e# a sli e was ut off enroute at Egypt" ,his sli e formed itself into a par+" 1fter a short spell in Cairo# it got esta!lished at Qag.a.Qig as the Indian 2rdnan e 0epot" ,he rest of the original two par+s landed at Marseilles with a small reserve of sto +s for the Indian 0ivisions" ,hese stores !eing $uite small# were merged in the 'ritish 1rmy 2rdnan e depots" ,he offi ers and other personnel of the Indian 29(s got s attered and their servi es were utili6ed# where ever re$uired# !y the 'ritish 2rdnan e setup in 9ran e" In 1*16# the Indian 0ivisions in luding the Indian 2rdnan e personnel were transferred from 9ran e to Egypt" The Me o%otamia Cam%ai+"

1 Mesopotamia E4peditionary 9or e omprising 6 (oona 0ivision was dispat hed from India in 2 to!er 1*1& for the prote tion of the 1nglo. (ersian oilfield at 1!adan" ,his for e aptured 'asra in Covem!er 1*1& and then in 1*1/" it aptured Shai!a and >urna and then Fut.aU.1mara" 'ut its advan e towards 'aghdad was repulsed !y the ,ur+ish 9or es" ,he 9or e fel1 !a + to Fut where it was !esieged and had to surrender with heavy losses" <ith the transfer of the Indian 0ivisions from 9ran e# the main entre of a tivity of the Indian 2rdnan e shifted to Mesopotamia" 3ere a fle4i!le organi6ation was !uilt up" 'y early 1*16 a large !ase depot ame up at 'asra and several advan e depots were esta!lished on the lines of ommuni ation" ,here were also now 010s 2S with onsidera!le staff and dumps of their own with ea h of the five divisions as wel1 as an 102S with the ,igris 1rmy Corps 3>" ,he summer of 1*16 in Mesopotamia was a great ordeal for the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment men there" 1fter the surrender at Fut# the %rd Indian 1rmy Corps lay immo!ile in the tren hes on !oth sides of the ,igris" ,here were a num!er of advan e depots# one at Shei+h Saad @a!out 10 miles down the ,igrisA# another at 1mara and# further down# there was also one on the Euphrates at Casiriyah" ,here was a ontinuous shortage of eata!les and other essential items for al1 supplies ame !y river and river transport was $uite irregular" In addition to the misery of the intense heat# there was the mena e of swarming flies and inse ts" ,hen the vegeta!les et always arrived rotten from the effe t of heat during their slow transportation" 1s a result there was widespread si +ness and the relief was slow to ome" ,o ma+e matters worse# onditions in India improved only slightly" Supplies had !egun to e4pand# !ut not to the e4tent re$uired" Conse$uently# the fever.stri +en sun !a+ed 2rdnan e depots in Mesopotamia found it impossi!le to pro ure ade$uate supplies of ammunition and stores to meet the heavy e4penditure" ,he position was so !ad that the issue of ammunition to the guns in a tion was stri tly rationed" 3owever# when distress seemed to !e a ute# the <ar 2ffi er assumed responsi!ility for Mesopotamia and !egan to pour in reinfor ements on the European s ale" Mesopotamia was provided with a omplete 'ritish 2rdnan e 9ield 2rgani6ation" 2rdnan e Servi es in Mesopotamia was reorgani6ed" ,he administration was separated from the e4e utive responsi!ilities of the 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot and a self. ontained

02S offi e was onstituted" Major General 3"<" (erry# C'# was appointed 02S# 2rdnan e 'ase 0epot# 'asra" 1 major ause of the administrative !rea+down in Mesopotamia was its failure to understand and ta +le the pro!lems of the !ase and line of ommuni ations" 'asra was a primitive port# ill.e$uipped for re eiving a large num!er of troops and stores and e$uipment" It was also unsuita!le as a !ase" ,hen# in Mesopotamia no drin+ing water was availa!le e4 ept in the rivers" Conse$uently# when the troops and supplies arrived# all the suita!le dry spots were sei6ed !y the initial for e and utili6ed for setting up their depots" Some of the larger houses were turned into hospitals" So when more and more troops and supplies poured into 'asra there was no s ope for the E4pansion of the !ase" Some of these diffi ulties ould perhaps have !een over ome through foresight in planning and e4e ution# as the Mesopotamia Commission later o!served" General (erry su eeded in infusing vigour into the 2rdnan e administration" ,he 2rdnan e Servi e in Mesopotamia was now onverted into a purely 'ritish organi6ation# although many of the important appointments were held !y the offi ers of the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment" In the depots the main !urden of responsi!ility still fell on the trained and war.worn warrant and non. ommissioned offi ers of the same department" ,he advan e to 'aghdad and the lo ation of the advan e depot there @under the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment 2ffi erA together with the lo ation of the 02S offi e in the same ity ompleted the pro ess and hen eforth 2rdnan e Servi e in Mesopotamia fun tioned in a more settled manner" Ord"a"#e i" E+y%t a"d Ea t A!ri#a ,he main 'ritish interest in 1fri a was the Sue6 Canal# the highR5Iay !etween England and India" <hen ,ur+ey threw in its lot with Germany# the war got e4tended over wide frontiers as the ,ur+s ould dire tly interfere with the vital Sue6 Canal" ,he se urity of Egypt as well as East 1fri a had !een entrusted to India Command" Indian troops in Egypt and in the Sue6 Canal Se tor were $ui +ly reinfor ed !y formations from India" 1n Indian 2rdnan e 0epot was esta!lished at a pla e alled Qag.a.Qig" ,his depot was reinfor ed !y ta+ing a sli e from the 29(s pro eeding to 9ran e" Egypt was the a!vious hoi e as a !ase for refitting of units for operations against (alestine and 1ra!ia" In Septem!er 1*1&# when India was as+ed to send an E4peditionary 9or e with the ultimate aim of an invasion of German East 1fri a# an

2rdnan e 9ield (ar+ was as+ed to a ompany the for e" 1t Fara hi the 29( was finally ompleted in the 0epot" 0uring the five.wee+ stay at Fara hi# a lot of attention was paid to storage" ,he lo ation of ea h store was noted in ase the ship itself had to !e used as a depot" E4plosives were divided and stored as far as possi!le without the means of ignition" 'ul+heads were used as traverses# and porta!le maga6ines were !uilt for arti les li+e detonators so as to satisfy the re$uirements of the 'oard of ,rade" ,he time was also utili6ed in preparing su h ledgers and forms as would !e re$uired on arrival# in luding !in ards# to !e used as name plates on the stores" ,he E4peditionary 9or e suffered a heavy defeat at ,anga" It lost 80 offi ers and 1#;00 men# also 1; ma4ims and mu h e$uipment" ,he 2rdnan e 2ffi ers# !esieged !y a num!er of insistent Commanding 2ffi ers# had a !ad time in rationing stores# al ulated for maintenan e rather than disaster" 1fter the ,anga reverse and the de!a le in Mesopotamia# it was lear that India Command la +ed the ready resour es !y way of ordnan e stores for the si6e of the operations" In 1*16# li+e in Mos2pot"=1n1ia# the <ar 2ffi e stepped in and assumed responsi!ility for the 2rdnan e Servi es in these theatres also" )alli%oli Cam%ai+" <hile the fighting was going on in Mesopotamia and Indian troops were +eeping the ,ur+s well away from the Sue6 Canal in the Middle East# it was onsidered ne essary to open up the Straits of 0ardanelles to send help to the Bussians via the 'la + Sea" In 1pril 1*1/# a 'ritish E4peditionary 9or e# in luding an Indian Infantry 'rigade and one Indian mountain !attery landed in Gallipoli" 'ut due to stu!!orn opposition from the ,ur+s# this attempt failed# and the for e had to !e eva uated" In this a tion# one <arrant 2ffi er of the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment serving with a small dump of 2rdnan e stores to maintain the Indian mountain !attery and Gor+ha units# was severely wounded and died a wee+ later in hospital" O%eratio" i" So*th Per ia ,he 'ritish Counsel at Shira6 was arrested in Covem!er 1*1/ and the 'ritish Counsel at Farman was also ompelled to eva uate that pla e" ,o restore the 'ritish influen e in (ersia# a mission headed !y 'rigadier General Sir (er y Sy+es formed a (ersian 'rigade at Farman" 'y the

!eginning of 1*18# another !rigade of the for e +nown as South (ersia Military (oli e and later +nown as South (ersia Bifles was formed at Shira6" 2rdnan e personnel for these !rigades with other reinfor ement of troops arrived from India" 1 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot was esta!lished at 'adar 1!!as" ,in the arrival of personnel of other departments# India 2rdnan e 0epartment handled all responsi!ilities for the 'ase" Later an 2rdnan e 0epot was opened at Farman in addition to the 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot at 'adar 1!!as" Large $uantities of stores a umulated at Saida!ad# while enroute from 'adar 1!!as to Shira6# were ta+en over and organised into an 2rdnan e dump" Ord"a"#e E!!ort d*ri"+ the )reat 8ar 2wing to the pre.war measures of e onomy# the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment of <orld <ar I was aught unprepared for the tremendous magnitude of the effort re$uired" In the initial stages of the war therefore# the pau ity of sto +s was mu h in eviden e" 'ut it did not ta+e long for the output of 1rsenals and 2rdnan e fa tories to get geared up to a new level" Sour es were also systemati al1y developed in the private industrial se tor" ,o en ourage and guide produ tion# the 2rdnan e 0epartment supplied patterns# drawings and spe ifi ation and gave tuition in the methods of manufa ture" >uite often the raw material# spe ial tools# jigs and fi4tures were provided !y the 2rdnan e fa tories" India5s ontri!ution in material for the war effort thus got progressively !uilt up to a very signifi ant level and in luded ammunition# small arms# lothing# !oots# tents# jute goods# tim!er# river raft and even steamers" I"dia" M*"itio" Board 0uring the first two years of the <ar# the main sour e of supply of munitions of war# i"e"# imports from :F pra ti ally dried up" Measures ta+en to gear up indigenous produ tion though su essful# did not mat h up with the vastly in reased re$uirements" India Munitions 'oard# the entral agen y for all the sour es of supply of munitions of war# was set up on 1 1pril 1*18# as a department of the Government of India under the immediate harge of the 1rmy Mem!er" Its fun tion was to utilise to the utmost e4tent Indian resour es in materials of all +inds re$uired for war purposes# so that demands on the :F and the :S1 might !e ut down to the minimum" Its (resident# Sir ,homas 3olland# an administrator of ripe e4perien e# soon made his influen e felt and the 'oard was a!le to arry out many useful measures# some of whi h are as under? @aA ,a+e over of the organi6ation of all Government 2rdnan e#

lothing# hide and leather fa tories# and setting up of many su!sidiary ones" @!A @ A @dA @eA @fA @gA <or+ing up of the produ tion of woolen and worsted goods" (rodu tion of vast $uantities of railway tra +# rolling sto + and plants for the overseas theatres" Esta!lishment of a Government tent fa tory" Setting up of a Biver raft 'ran h for ere ting vessels for water transport" 2pening of a ,im!er 'ran h" Control of the produ tion of steel and pig.iron as well as of the entire manufa ture of ement in India# of ship repairs and ertain engineering materials" (reparation of enormous $uantities of mis ellaneous plant and stores# in luding ma hinery of all +inds and e$uipment for the do +s and wor+shops in Mesopotamia and East 1fri a" onstru ting and re

@hA

(RONTIER OPERATIONS 11010'10::3

<3ILE the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment was !usy learing the !a +log of the war and ta +ling the re.organi6ation of 1*1-# it was further ommitted to provide 2rdnan e support of personnel and stores for the ,hird 1fghan <ar in 1*1* and punitive e4peditions in <a6iristan in 1*1*. 1*;1" Third A!+ha" 8ar 1fter <orld <ar I# the freedom movement gathered momentum throughout India" 9inding this an opportune moment# 1fghanistan laun hed an atta + on Fhy!er Bifles" ,he Indian 1rmy was mo!ili6ed and war was de lared on 18 May 1*1*" ,his su!je ted the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment to onsidera!le strain" 1rsenals# already in the haos of demo!ili6ation# manned !y tired wor+ers or 5temporaries5 eager to get home# had to !e mo!ilised again" 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+s of the 1st and ;nd 0ivisions were issued stores from Bawalpindi 1rsenal" 1 large !ase depot was esta!lished at (eshawar# and later# advan e depots were esta!lished at Landi.Fotal and Iamrud" In <a6iristan and in Fhurram# tri!esmen# ta+ing advantage of the ,hird 1fghan <ar# made a for eful uprising whi h ne essitated punitive

e4peditions during 1*1*.1*;0" 2rdnan e depots had to !e opened at Fohat# 'annu# ,an+# 0era.Ismail.Fhan and at the Indus rossing# Mari. Indus" 2rdnan e wastages in this e4pedition were even heavier than in the 1fghan <ar and were ompara!le to the losses in Mesopotamia" In spite of the large s ale si +ness in 9ield 2rdnan e 0epots at ,an+ and 'annu# the wor+ was +ept going" ,he <a6iristan Campaign of 1*;0.;; involved o upation of the most distur!ed parts of Corth.<est 9rontier# overing an area of a!out 100 s$ miles" 1!out 8/#000 troops were deployed in two wen.supported hains of entren hed posts# */ and 60 miles long# running into unadministered hostile territory" Ea h post was lo ated at a distan e of 1; miles whi h ould !e overed !y mules and amels in one day" ,he roads !etween the posts were only pi +eted from the adjoining heights for a!out five daylight hours to ena!le the onvoy to pass through" ,roops were divided into three olumns# the ,o hi olumn on the 'annu line# the 0erajat olumn on the Fhirgi line# and the <ana olumn" ,he theatre was made dependent on the arsenals at Bawalpindi and 9ero6epore" 1n 1dvan e 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot was esta!lished at Mari. Indus to re eive !ul+ supplies" ,wo forward 2rdnan e depots# esta!lished at ,an+ and 'annu earlier# were losed in 1*;0" ,hree months of lothing and general stores for the entire for e# together with a reserve of ammunition was maintained at Mari.Indus" ,his was later raised to four months sto +" 2wing to the distan e of units in forward areas and many !rea+s in the means of transportation it was found essential that ea h !rigade should have a small dump of 2rdnan e stores within easy rea h" 1part from the depot at Mari.Indus# there were the !rigade dumps# two offi er shops# two 2rdnan e tent repair units# two ontra t tent repair units and one Fhajawas repair unit" Some spe ial pro!lems fa ed in this area are dis ussed !elow" 1fter the site of a !ase depot at Mari.Indus had !een approved in 1pril 1*;0# it !e ame possi!le to layout the !ase on lines indi ated !y e4perien e in the previous eight months5 ampaign" ,he depot was to sto + & months# maintenan e sto +s for the 9or es# al ulated initially on a ration strength of 60#000" @2rdnan e maintenan e sto +s those days wor+ed out to appro4imately %00 tons per 0ivision for a ampaign of si4 months duration"" Mari.Indus was undeveloped and la +ed storage# shedding# shelving and sta +ing e$uipment" Bri+ade D*m% Sy tem

In the summer that year unusual diffi ulties fa ed the supply to ordnan e stores" Sto +s were delayed !y the Bailway stri+e# !a + loading to Mari.Indus from ,an+ and 'annu was dislo ated !y floods in the Indus" ,hus the units supplied dire t !y Mari.Indus e4perien ed undue delays while those !ased on formation dumps were well served" ,he 'rigade 0ump prin iple5 was# therefore# standardi6ed and ea h one was put in harge of an 2rdnan e 'rigade <arrant 2ffi er" ,he <arrant 2ffi er he +ed indents# issued what was availa!le and passed the !alan e of the demand to Mari.Indus" 3e also re eived all onsignments for units from Mari.Indus# and a ted as adviser on 2rdnan e matters" Re%air In these operations# where transport was a serious limiting fa tor# suffi ient repair resour es had to !e provided so that all possi!le repairs to e$uipment ould !e arried out regimentally" 1rmourers# tailors# leather wor+ers and arpenters were# therefore# allowed on the war strength of units" 1 wor+shop of a!out 80 artifi ers e4isted at Mari.Indus" 'oot repairers# tent repairers# arpenters and smiths for Fhajawas @used for arrying si + on amelsA proved ne essary under 2rdnan e arrangements" E4tra spares were re$uired to !e +ept with units and in posts# for guns# rifles# ammunition and we! e$uipment" In the ase of rifles# an e4tra mule was authorised with fitted mule trun+s ontaining additional spares for the spot repair"

ORDNANCE IN SECOND 8ORLD 8AR

SEE0S of the Se ond <orld <ar were# in fa t# sown with the signing of the Muni h (a t on ;*.%0 Septem!er 1*%-# !etween 7 Germany# Italy# England and 9ran e# permitting Germany to immediately o upy the Sudetes territories of C6e h slova+ia whi h were the large German minority areas of 'ohemian !orderlands" ,his pa t was a lear sign of the in reasing !elligeren e of Germany and the mee+ su!missiveness of England and 9ran e" 9as ism was $ui +ly tightening its iron grip on Europe# and 'ritain and 9ran e were allowing it to do so" Em!oldened !y the appeasement poli y of England and 9ran e# Germany now sei6ed the prote torates of 'ohemia and Moravia in Mar h 1*%*# there!y pra ti ally dissolving C6e hoslova+ia" ,his finally served as the warning signal to 'ritain and 9ran e# who now started to arm and prepare themselves for a possi!le war with Germany" ,hey also e4tended guarantees to (oland and other European ountries against any aggression" 'ut there was no restraining Germany now" 3itler now raised the demand for the return of the 9ree City of 0an6ig sea port as well as e4tra territorial rights for Germany over the (olish orridor on the !asis of the large German minority in that area" Meanwhile the :SSB signed a non. aggression pa t with Germany in 1ugust 1*%*" 1fraid of no major opposition to its designs# Germany atta +ed (oland on 1 Septem!er 1*%*" 'ritain# though not yet prepared for a large s ale war as yet# 'ritain and 9ran e had to de lare war against Germany on % Septem!er 1*%*" ,he powers lined up in this war were the 14is in luding Germany# Italy and Iapan on one side and the 1llies in luding 'ritain# with most of the Commonwealth ountries and its olonies# and 9ran e on the other side" 'y Septem!er end# Germany !y its lightning ta ties @'lit6.FriegA overran the western and entral parts of (oland and anne4ed them" ,he :SSB anne4ed the eastern (oland"

(RANCE

In the mean time# 9ran e had started -tnngthening its defenses !ehind the Magi not Line" 'ritain lent an E4peditionary 9or e to 9ran e" ,his highly me hani6ed 'ritish 9or e found that its heavy motor vehi les ould not !e used in mud and snow and that animal transport would prove more useful" So on ;6 0e em!er 1*%*# India dispat hed a for e @+nown as 9or e 5F.65A to 9ran e" It onsisted of the 3ead$uarters# four animal transport ompanies @mulesA# a supply depot se tion# an advan e remount depot# a reinfor ement unit and a hospital se tion" Co 2rdnan e element went with the 9or e !ut it had to !e fully e$uipped prior to its departure" ,he personnel of the 9or e were lothed to a spe ial s ale" Later in Mar h 1*&0# India followed up with further three months5 supply of various items of e$uipment" In May 1*&0 additional e$uipment was dispat hed for the onversion of the pa + troop in ea h animal transport ompany also into draught" ,he Indian 9or e served in 9ran e till 1*&0 when it was eva uated" It returned to India in 9e!ruary 1*&&" 2n demand from the newly reated Middle East Command omprising Egypt# Sudan# (alestine# ,rans.Iordan and Cyprus# India dispat hed its troops to this theatre" ,hese troops onsisted mainly of the &th and /th Indian 0ivisions" ,he for es dispat hed from India to the Middle East fell into two main ategories" 9irst# those for whi h the ommitment already e4isted in pea e and their despat h was pre.planned and se ond those for whi h no advan e planning e4isted" In the first ategory there was only one !rigade group for the Middle East with an 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot and no diffi ulty was e4perien ed !y the 2rdnan e in e$uipping this for e with the full authori6ed s ale of e$uipment and lothing" ,he maintenan e stores omplete to s ale# also a ompanied the for e" 9or the troops falling in the se ond ategory onsidera!le diffi ulty was e4perien ed in providing weapons# espe ially5 light ma hine guns# mortars and anti.tan+ rifles" In fa t# the &th Indian 0ivision landed in the Middle East with so little modern e$uipment that the offi ers and the men of infantry !attalions had not yet even handled an anti.tan+ rifle or a mortar" 1lso there were no vehi les or trained drivers" In Egypt# vehi les and weapons were issued to the units and the units were trained 5in situ5 in their handling" ,raining in desert warfare was also imparted to the troops there itself" 9urther !rigade groups to this theatre were dispat hed in Iuly 1*&0" 1utomati weapons were issued to the fighting units only" Co ,hompson Ma hines Car!ines were availa!le at this stage" 1ll these formulations ould !e e$uipped only !y utili6ing the e$uipme"=1t earmar+ed for general

mo!ili6ation for a possi!le Corth <est 9rontier ampaign" Maintenan e sto +s of general stores# ammunition# M, stores and lothing were sent along with ea h !rigade group" In addition# a num!er of spe ial items# su h as additional tent age# and reserves of lothing and e$uipment were also dispat hed" 1s regards maintenan e of the for es during the first three months# al ulated re$uirements of all items were dispat hed from India automati ally" ,hereafter# demands were pla ed on India and the Middle East= Command" 2rdnan e units whi h a ompanied our troops to the Middle East were a 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot and a 'ase 1mmunition 0epot" ,hese two installations were raised on spe ial war esta!lishments" (ersonnel for these two had to !e e+ed out from stati arsenals and 2rdnan e depots in India" ,his drasti ally redu ed the staff with depots in India whi h ould not !e augmented until a mu h later date" Similarly# personnel for the I12C se ond line repair units pro eeding overseas denuded the Indian depots of a large per entage of s+illed staff"

MIDDLE EAST E+y%t

<hen the &th Indian 0ivision arrived in Egypt in 1ugust 1*%* it had only two l12C mo!ile wor+shop ompanies" In 2 to!er 1*&0# when the revised system of te hni al maintenan e was introdu ed in India# two more wor+shop ompanies were dispat hed from India# and the rapier resour es of the &th Indian 0ivision were reorgani6ed into five wor+shop ompanies" 1lterations ne essary for ma+ing the vehi les suita!le for desert onditions were su essfully arried out and the new organi6ation wor+ed satisfa torily" In the !attles in Corth 1fri a# the wor+shops found it diffi ult to +eep pa e with the rapid movement of advan ing units" Communi ations were the greatest pro!lem and the a!sen e of a wireless lin+ proved to !e a serious handi ap" 1 wor+shop representative was posted to 'rigade 3ead$uarters and 3ead$uarters Boyal 1rtillery to report asualty vehi les5 re$uiring re overy" ,his method# however# proved rather slow and unsuita!le for the highly mo!ile desert warfare" ,here was also an a ute shortage of re overy vehi les) whi h led to the general pra ti e of grouping together the asualty e$uipments and vehi les at a sele ted site and to move the light repair wor+shop se tion up to it"

,he pro urement of spares posed the greatest pro!lem" ,here was no 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+ with the 0ivision nor any large holding of te hni al stores for vehi les with the units" Most stores had to !e !rought from a distan e of %00 miles from Cairo" 1fter the !attle of Siddi 'arani the &th Indian 0ivision moved to Sudan" 2n return to Egypt in May 1*&1# the 0ivision 3ead$uarters and 8 and 11 'rigade Groups were assigned the tas+ of preparing an all.round defensive position in Siddi 'angush area) / 'rigade Group# with 18 Mo!ile <or+shop Company was dispat hed to (alestine to ta+e part in the su essful Syrian ampaign" 1t this stage n B12C 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+ was esta!lished for the 0ivision" ,hen on# there was onsidera!le improvement in the supply of spares as the road delivery onvoys had !een organi6ed" 2n 1- Covem!er 1*&1# the &th Indian 0ivision advan ed to 'en Gha6i and atta +ed the Siddi 2mar positions" ,he 0ivision was e$uipped with all availa!le resour es" 'en Gha6i was aptured on ;/ 0e em!er 1*&1" ,he 14is for es regrouped and laun hed a su essful ounter.atta +" 0uring the withdrawal from 'en Gha6i at the end of Ianuary 1*&;# wor+shop units moved !a + without serious loss of life or material# !ut all Light 1id 0eta hments of 8 'rigade# grouped with the 5'5 e helons of the units# were aptured !y the enemy" 1- Mo!iUe <or+shop Company @with the 11th Indian 'rigadeA was aptured !y the 14is for es when ,o!ru+ fell in their hands in Iune 1*&;" 18 Mo!ile <or+shop Company returned to the desert with the /th 'rigade in Iune 1*&; and fought in the retreat to E1 1lamein with the /th Indian 0ivision" ,his wor+shop ompany suffered heavy asualties" In Septem!er 1*&;# the &th Indian 0ivision relieved the /th Indian 0ivision on the Buweisat Bidge# whi h formed part of the E1 1lamein defenses" 1fter the !attle was won# further reorganisation of the wor+shop servi es was arried out" ,he &th Indian 0ivision then pulled out to the 'en Gha6i area" Later when the 0ivision was ordered to move from 'en Gha6i to Maretha distan e of -00 miles.no repla ement of vehi les was availa!le# though the supply of spare parts was fairly satisfa tory" ,he fall of ,unis mar+ed the end of the ampaign in Corth 1fri a and the 0ivision moved !a + to 1le4andria"

S*da" a"d Eritrea

In Iune 1*&0# when Italy entered the war# nearly a $uarter of a million

troops guarded her East 1fri an Empire" ,he 1llied for es omprised three 'ritish !attalions and the Sudan 0efen e 9or e later reinfor ed !y ;G/ Mahrattas from 1den and the /th Indian 0ivision from India" ,he 0ivision was deployed on a long frontier in luding Galla!at# Guddard# 'utana 'ridge and Fhartoum" ,he 2rdnan e resour es of the /th Indian 0ivision were limited to a few mo!ile wor+shop ompanies# one 1dvan e 2rdnan e" 0epot and one 1dvan e 1mmunition 0epot" In addition# there was an 1dvan e 2rdnan e <or+shop of the B12C !a +ed !y meagre 2rdnan e resour es of the Sudan# primarily meant for the Sudan 0efen e 9or es" ,hese resour es ould not !e fully utilised due to the wide dispersion of troops" ,he main diffi ulty was that while 2rdnan e stores were lo ated at 1t!ara# ammunition was stored at Fhartoum) these two pla es were served !y a poor railway servi e" 2ften the stores had to !e transported more than %00 miles from the depots for issue to the troops" 1s the responsi!ility for supply was shared !etween the B21C and the I12C# there were many pro edural diffi ulties" Moreover# the 'ritish and Indian me hani al transport e$uipment varied" ,hese diffi ulties were over ome !y mutual adjustment and fre$uent improvisations" 2n 1* Ianuary 1*&1 the advan e 5to Fassala# 1gordat and Feren !egan" 0uring this ampaign 2rdnan e elements a ompanied the troops to Fassala and from there to 1gordat whi h fell on 1 9e!ruary" Similarly# 2rdnan e units a ompanied the troops to other parts of Eritrea" Indian soldiers fought gallantly and won everlasting glory" I12C# that maintained !oth these Indian and foreign# for es# an rightfully laim its share in the a hievement" ,he 2rdnan e situation improved onsidera!ly after the o upation of Fassala and the advan e into Eritrea# mainly !e ause of improvement the in ommuni ations" ,he storage pro!lem was solved !y issue of large $uantities of stores to the troops" Considera!le improvement was also effe ted !y the reorgani6ation of the fun tions of the depots at 1t!ara and Fhartoum.the former was to have general stores and lothing and the latter# ammunition and M, stores" 1 provision se tion was also added to ea h depot" <ith this reorgani6ation the num!er of personnel in ea h 120 dou!led for loo+ing after the same num!er of items# resulting in the following advantages ? @aA 1ll demands from units went dire t to the depot hol ling the re$uired stores and no time was lost"

@!A @ A @dA

(rovision was greatly simplified as now ea h depot had its own provision se tion" <or+ on sto +ta+ing and pla ing of demands was onsidera!ly redu ed" ,he distri!ution of stores was simplified so that the sto + position of any item ould !e as ertained without diffi ulty and delay"

'y the se ond wee+ of 1pril 1*&1# the whole of Eritrea ame under the ontrol of the 1llies" Large sto +s of war material and vehi les fell into 1llieds5 hands" ,his added onsidera!ly to 2rdnan e <or+" 1 ordingly# after the apture of 1smara and Massawa# an urgent need was felt for additional 2rdnan e installations" 11 9ield 0epot I12C was dispat hed from India to provide an 2rdnan e (ort 0eta hment for Massawa and form the nu leus of depots at 1smara" ,his nu leus was strengthened !y other personnel from 1t!ara# Fhartoum and dumps whi h had !een losed down" ,he wor+shops were also reorgani6ed" 2nly a general wor+shop was retained at 1t!ara" ,he Bear Se tion of Co 1 1dvan e <or+shop was losed down and some of its personnel reinfor ed the 1dvan e Se tion at Fhartoum while others too+ over and supervised the wor+ing of Italian wor+shops and Italian personnel num!ering a!out 1#000 at 1smara" Ira? a"d Per ia Syed Bashid 1li el Gilani had sei6ed power in Ira$ in the first wee+ of 1pril 1*&1" 3e fen under 14is influen e and ommen ed hostilities against the 'ritish" ,wo for es onverged on 'aghdad.one# advan ing from 'asra and# the other# from (alestine and they ended these hostilities within days" Su!se$uently# Ira$ !e ame a !ase of operations against Syria and (ersia" ,he main formations dispat hed from India to Ira$ and (ersia were the 6th# -th and 10th Indian Infantry 0ivisions and the %1st 1rmoured 0ivision" In addition# a large num!er of !ase and line of ommuni ation organi6ations were dispat hed" 9rom the point of view of supply# this was the only overseas theatre whi h was regarded as the entire responsi!ility of India" ,he 2rdnan e Servi es were put to a severe strain in e$uipping the for es in Ira$ and (ersia" 1part from the a ute shortage of weapons# the si6e of the for es far e4 eeded the planned figure" ,he supply pro!lem was further ompli ated !y two fa tors.first# the la + of !uildings in the theatre ne essitated heavy shipment of tentage and# se ondly# re$uirement of a large inland water transport organi6ation led to the demand for many types

of pe uliar stores not previously sto +ed !y the 2rdnan e" ,he supply situation !e ame even more a ute when two 'ritish formations had to !e e$uipped to full war s ale for despat h to Ira$" 9or the I12C# this was ertainly the largest ommitment !otli in personnel and stores" Ba e De%ot 1fter the arrivals of ; I12C 0epot in Ira$ in May 1*&1# a 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot @'20A and a 'ase 1mmunition 0epot @'10A were esta!lished in the Shai!a area near Margi1" Shai!a where the '20 was lo ated is 1/ miles Corth East of 'asra" ,he '10 was lo ated another two miles Corth of the '20" ,he '20 onsisted of the 3> and Co" 1 and ; 2rdnan e Store Companies whereas the '10 had the 3> and I# ; and % 1mmunition Companies" ,he depots were self ontained units and omprised the 3ead$uarters and three Su!.0epots ea h and# in ase of the '20# an additional Beturned Stores Su!.0epot" ,he three Su!.0epots and the Beturned Stores Stores Su!.0epot of the '20 were all rail.served with a onventional layout and were lo ated within a perimeter of appro4imately seven miles" ,he '10# on the other hand# had a more linear layout and the rail spur ran the entire length of the 0epot" 0ue to pau ity of spa e# the storage pits whi h were sited loser to one another than permitted !y regulations and majority of stores at Shai!a had to !e sta +ed in the open" It was e4tremely hot during the day @the temperature !eing a!out 1;/ degrees in the shadeA" ,here were also fre$uent sand storms# some times lasting several hours" Moreover# the depot la +ed ertain fa ilities.lifting e$uipment# ra +ing# !ins# and tim!er @for dunnageA" In the early days# lo al la!our was not availa!le so that the 2rdnan e om!atant personnel# had to sweat in the sweltering heat to do off.loading and sta +ing of stores" In spite of these diffi ulties# the installations made onsidera!le progress" In Iuly 1*&1# further reinfor ements arrived from India and it was planned to omplete the esta!lishments of these depots latest !y Ianuary 1*&;" Iapan5s entry into the war in 0e em!er 1*&1# however upset tliese arrangements and ertain 2rdnan e personnel meant for Ira$ were diverted to 'urma# Malaya and Ceylon" 'y Iuly.1ugust 1*&1 it was de ided to esta!lish an advan e 2rdnan e depot at Mussayi!# a!out /0 miles south of 'aghdad" (lans were also made to esta!lish an 2rdnan e depot at 1hwa6" In 1ugust 1*&1# the planning !egan for the defen e of Ira$ and (ersia against the possi!ility of an 14is atta +" 9or the defen e of this region# India

ommitted the 9or e 5Sa!ine5 omprising 6th# -th and 10th Indian Infantry 0ivisions# %1st Indian 1rmoured 0ivisions and a large num!er of an illary units for the !ase and the line of ommuni ations" ,o e$uip and maintain this for e# the 2rdnan e Servi e did a ommenda!le jo!" Ad$a"#e De%ot a"d other Ord"a"#e 4"it In addition to the 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot and the 'ase 1mmunition 0epot at Shai!a# an 1dvan ed 2rdnan e 0epot and an 1dvan ed 1mmunition 0epot were esta!lished at 'aghdad" 0ue to the lengthy lines of ommuni ations# small 2rdnan e and 1mmunition depots were also esta!lished at Fhana$uin# 1hwa6 and Fhurramshahr and rail head 2rdnan e depots were esta!lished at Mosul# Fir+u+ and ,eheran" India also provided other types of 2rdnan e units# su h as laundries# Salvage units# mo!ile inemas# 2rdnan e field par+s# re overy ompanies and 2ffi ers shops# Cone of these were in luded in India5s normal pea e organi6ation or pre.war e4pansion plans" India also provided se ond.line repair units whi h initially onsisted of four Indian 2rdnan e mo!ile wor+shop ompanies per 0ivision plus four Mo!ile wor+shop ompanies for line of ommuni ations and 'ase troops" ,he (ersia and the Ira$ Command was esta!lished in Septem!er 1*&; and the (1l 9or e was organi6ed under it" India was to e$uip the units for this for e to the full war s ale" 9or the new formations India was also to supply five months5 @three months5 in the ase of ontrolled storesA initial maintenan e and reserves of items of Eastern Group Supply" 1fter the arrival of 'ritish 2rdnan e units# the Indian 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot at Shai!a was reorganised as a 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot" <ith the redu tion of the (ersia and Ira$ for e at the on lusion of the Corth 1fri an ampaign# the tempo of 2rdnan e a tivity slowed down in Ira$" Sin e the depots during the !uildup stage had !een s aled for an optimum for e of 16 divisions# large surpluses of 2rdnan e stores in this theatre had to !e !a + loaded" ,he Indian for e whi h too+ part in the operation @-th Indian 0ivisionA was so well e$uipped that the 0eputy 1ssistant 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es @IndiaA re eived only one telegraphi demand for stores and not a single indent for repla ement"

(AR EAST
Malaya

9or supply of 2rdnan e stores for the &#/00 strong 59or e EM:5 in Malaya# no 2rdnan e stores organi6ation was re$uired to a ompany the for es sent from India" Cevertheless# a small 2rdnan e deta hment# +nown as 8 290 @l21CA"was sent to Malaya in 1ugust 1*%* for handling and assisting in the identifi ation of stores of Indian pattern" ,his deta hment was too small for the jo! and in Mar h 1*&0 got a!sor!ed into the B12C installations e4isting in Malaya at that time" ,hree months5 maintenan e sto +s of a11 stores# lothing and e$uipment a ompanied these formations" ,here were many other unforeseen demands pla ed upon the 2rdnan e in India !y the 'ritish formations passing through Indian ports enroute to Malaya# !ut not e$uipped with tentage or tropi al lothing" 1fter Iapan5s entry into the war on 8 0e em!er 1*&1# India had to provide personnel for an advan e 2rdnan e depot and an advan e ammunition depot" Malaya then had two Indian 0ivisions @1*th and 11th under III CorpsA# one 1ustralian 0ivision and the 'ritish Garrison of Singapore" 2f these# the maintenan e of the forward insta11ations in the III Corps area was allotted to Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps" As the line of ommuni ations e4tended to appro4imately &/0 miles# advan e 2rdnan e and advan e ammunition depots were set up.at Fuala Lumpur# (enang and Jaldor" 3owever# there were no mo!ile 2rdnan e units though the III Indian Corps was given an improvised 2rdnan e field par+" 1fter their su ess at (earl 3ar!our# the Iapanese overran 9ren h Indo.China and ,hailand and then atta +ed Malaya" 'y the end of Ianuary 1*&;# Malaya had to !e eva uated" ,he long retreat over &00 miles of territory# in less than two months made planned fun tioning for 2rdnan e Servi es impossi!le" ,he rearward movement of dumps was done to the ma4imum e4tent possi!le till it !e ame impossi!le to arry the a umulations any further !a + due to !rea+down of the transportation system and then vast $uantities of ammunition and stores had to !e a!andoned" 'eing a neigh!oring ountry# India was vitally interested in the defen e of 'urma" In 1*&1 !efore the out!rea+ of war with Iapan# two Indian Infantry 'rigades @1%th and 16thA were sent to 'urma these 'rigades arried 8"/ months5 sto +s of general stores and lothing and spares of M, and warli+e e$uipments" ,hey also arried three months reserves of vehi les and ammunition" ,he for es In 'urma were mainly dependent on the Bangoon 1rsenal" <ith the arrival of the 1%th and 16th

Indian infantry 'rigadeK? in Mar h and Covem!er 1*&1# five 2rdnan e field depots were opened at Mandalay Moulmein# ,aunggyi# 5Cammwagon and Fengtung" Mo!ile wor+shop ompanies and se tions for se ond line maintenan e of units were sent with the for es dispat hed from India" ,here was only one third.line wor+shop.forming part of the Bangoon 1rsenal" Some ivilian wor+shops were# however# ta+en over !y the Military authorities at Bangoon# Mei+tila# ,aunggyi and Lashio# and this improved the situation to some e4tent" In 0e em!er 1*&1# the 18th Indian Infantry 0ivision was deployed towards Moulmein with a view to se uring the defen e of Bangoon" 3eavy demands of 2rdnan e stores for this 0ivision rea hed India from 'urma In view of the a ute shortages# the General Staff de ided that 'urma would ta+e priority IAver Ira$ for issue of 2rdnan e stores" ,he Iapanese atta +ed 'urma and aptured the port of ,avoy on 1* Ianuary 1*&; and for ed the 'ritish to withdraw from Bangoon" 0uring this withdrawal# the Bangoon 1rsenal was lost" ,hereafter# the responsi!ility for maintenan e of the 1rmy fell on '209 Mei+tila# also +nown as '20 'urma" ,his '20 was heavily !om!ed on & 1pril and so it was moved to Fatha# where it was lo ated in a well on ealed site in a jungle" 3owever# the sto +s had !y now dwindled so mu h as ould maintain the 1rmy for only a few more days" 'y the end of 1pril the operational situation deteriorated so mu h that the '20 was ordered to destroy all its residual sto +s" ,he personnel retreated to India via Falewa" Ord"a"#e De%ot i" A am ,he 1llied 9or es pulled out of 'urma and retreated to 1ssam" <hen they arrived in the imphal area in May 1*&;# two depots.;1% 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot and &1% 1dvan e 1mmunition 0epot.were fun tioning on the Manipur Boad" ,he two depots supplied the allied troops as well as the ;%rd Indian 0ivision and the" troops of the IJ Corps" 2rdnan e field depots were esta!lished at Fangla ,ong!i# (alel# Gauhati and Ma+um" 3ead$uarters IJ Corps 2rdnan e was responsi!le for the administration of all the 2rdnan e units in 1ssam" ,he num!er of 2rdnan e installations ontinued to grow to meet the new ommitments# and !y the se ond half of 1*&; the following 2rdnan e installations were fun tioning under IJ Corps ? @aA ;1% 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot and &1% 1dvan e 1mmunition 0epot on the Manipur Boad @1 year later ;1% 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot was reorganised as ;;6 1dvan e 2rdnan e

0epotA" @!A @ A @dA @eA /& 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot serving %* 0ivision and troops in Gauhati area" /6 2rdna"# e 9ield 0epot serving 0ivision and Corps troops south of Fangla ,ong!i" /- 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot serving units in Corth"East 1ssam" 6% 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot serving units forward of (aleK

;1% 120 was the parent installation for the a!ove 290s e4 ept /& 290 whi h was dependent on ;1; 120 not within IJ Corps area" 9our more depots were opened as follows ? @aA @!A @ A @dA 1n 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot at ,ang6ung 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot at Sil har" 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot and ;18 1dvan e 1mmunition 0epot near Mymensing"

1s Mymensing did not turn out to !e a 67 site# these depots were losed within the first year and 60 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot# Chittagong was e4panded into an 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot" 'y 2 to!er 1*&%# when the 9ourteenth 1rmy formed up at 'arra +pore for operations against the Iapanese# the fol1owing 2rdnan e organisation was planned ? @aA @!A @ A 1dvan e ordnan e depots at Gauhati# Mymensing# Chittagong# Manipur Boad and ImphaI @Fangla ,ong!iA" 1dvan e ammunition depots at Mymensing# Chittagong# Manipur Boad and Impha1" 2rdnan e field depots at Comilla# Gauhati# Sylhet# 9atehpura# Mu+um# ,iddim# ,ammu and Impha1" @dA 1 Corps 2rdnan e field par+" @eA 1 Mo!ile ammunition la!oratory and inspe tion unit# mo!ile laundries and salvage units"

)lory o! 5a"+la To"+&i Fangla ,ong!i is an o!s ure vil1sge near Mile - on the Imphal 0imapur Boad" It had !een the meeting pla e of despair and hope when in 1*&;# the 2rdnan e personnel of the Bangoon 1rsenal who had mar hed ;00 miles with the retreating 'urma 1rmy# were met !y 2rdnan e personnel from Manipur Boad" ,ogether# they formed an

2rdnan e dump whi h later !e ame /6 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+ and su!se$uently developed into ;;1 2rdnan e 0epot# Fangla ,ong!i" In Mar h 1*&&# the Iapanese surrounded the Imphal plains and the garrison at Fohima# and esta!lished themselves firmly on the road from Manipur to Fohima" ,hey ould now freely move ahead without any worthwhile opposition e4 ept one . the ;;1 2rdnan e 0epot gal1antly surviving on the roadside" So# on / 1pril 1*&&# they stru + at the 0epot and tried to overrun it during the night" :nfortunately for the Iapanese# the 2rdnan e personnel of ;;1 120 were of a different mettle" ,he atta + failed" 1 dawn atta + was then laun hed !y the enemy" ,his also foiled" ,he personnel of the 0epot did not rest with this su ess# they now laun hed a series of ounter.atta +s to repel the enemy and to ause onfusion in his ran+s" 1 sui ide s$uad was formed under major 'oyd# the 0eputy Chief 2rdnan e 2ffi er of the 0epot# whi h ontinuously +ept on he +mating the enemy5s attempts towards infiltration# atta + and advan e" ,he other personnel also stu + to their posts for three onse utive days under heavy and ontinuous fire from the enemy" 1s a result# the enemy was held at !ay and the time saved was utili6ed for eva uating the site# withdrawing the depot# and moving %#600 tones of arms# ammunition and war.li+e stores and 8/N of other stores to Imphal" f# ,he site was final1y eva uated on the Good 9riday# 1*&&" 0uring this a tion# Sgts Camp!el1 and Seaforths and (te Lawson were +il1ed" 9or ourage# !ravery and gal1ant a tion# Major 'oyd was awarded the Military Cross and 3avGCler+ 'asant Singh re eived the I0SM" ,he other forward depots in the area# vi6# /1# /; and /% 2rdnan e 9ield 0epots as well as 6% 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot at (alel were simultaneously doing sterling wor+ and holding on to their se tor of the administrative !o4 despite a series of Iapanese atta +s and mounting asualties" ,o ommemorate the memory of those who died in that area fighting against the desperate Iapanese !ayonet harges# a modest !ut impressive memorial was unveiled after the war at Fangla ,ong!i at the entran e gate of;;1 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot on the Imphal.0imapur Boad" ,he Masonry was ere ted from the lo al stone and the main pillar was a roughly hewn !lo + of Caga Stone" ,he honour of unveiling the memorial fell on Colonel 3IC Cunningham# I12C# who was the Commandant of ;;1 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot in those fateful days" 2ffi ers and men of the /8

and /- Mo!ile 1mmunition Bepair :nits# then deployed in the area for learan e of the left.over ammunition# provided the Guard of 3onour" " 0ue to ertain pro!lems of the maintenan e of the memorial at Fangla ,ong!i and on the advi e and on urren e of the <ar Graves Commission and in onsultation with the 02S of the 'ritish 1rmy# the memorial was resurre ted from its original site and !rought to Ia!alpur where it has !een installed at the CMM @then the 12C S hoolA" ,he memorial was inaugurated at its new site !y Lt Gen GL Chopra# (JSM# the 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi e and Colonel Commandant of the Corps on ;8 0e em!er 1*86" ,his monument !ears the following ins ription ? =EBEC,E0 'M ,3E 02S IC0I1 1C0 MEM'EBS 29 ,3E B21C 1X0 I12C ,2 ,3E MEM2BM 29 ,3E 299ICEBS 1C0 MEC <32 G1JE ,3EIB LIJES IC ,3E IM(31L 0IM1(:B 1BE1S 0:BICG ,3E ME1BS 1*7;G&/ 29 ,3E SEC2C0 <2BL0 <1B %riump!ant o)er fles! and pain %!e died. our da of peace to gain' Ord"a"#e Air S*%%ly 0uring the Iapanese offensive the 2rdnan e servi es wor+ed under heavy strain" Some 2rdnan e units were for ed to withdraw and a few were ut off" 9or e4ample# in 1ssam the /1# /; and /% 2rdnan e 9ield 0epots were for ed to withdraw stores to Impha1" Similarly through a su!tle a t of sa!otage# the Iapanese set a!la6e the major portion of &1% 110" Jery little ould !e salvaged" In the 1ra+ans# 2rdnan e units atta hed to the 8th Indian 0ivision were ut off for some wee+s in the 0ivisional 'o4" Lt Gen Slim# Commander 9ourteenth 1rmy# organised air maintenan e at a large s ale and put the troops at Imphal and Fohima on air supply" 9or this purpose# the 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot at Comilla and the deta hment at 1gartala were spe ially sto +ed) at the same time an 2rdnan e 1ir Supply 2rganisation was improvised at Chittagong" In Covem!er 1*&& the 3ead$uarters of the 9ourteenth 1rmy moved forward to Imphal as a preliminary to the offensive against the Iapanese" Early in 0e em!er an 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot was esta!lished as far south as Indianggyi" ,he offensive operations ommen ed with a two.pronged atta +.the XJ Indian Corps fighting its way down the oast and the IJ and XXXIII Corps advan ing down the entre" Bangoon was aptured on % May 1*&/) mopping up operations followed" ,he Iapanese surrendered in 1ugust 1*&/"

0uring these operations 2rdnan e fa ed a num!er of diffi ulties" ;;% 1dvan e 2rdnan e 0epot# Chittagong# did not have suffi ient trained personnel" La + of leri al personnel and la!our was another diffi ulty" Su!. depots and vehi le parts were s attered over a large area" Lines of ommuni ation were more diffi ult than in any other theatre of the <ar" ,he humid limate during the monsoon months made wor+ing onditions e4tremely !ad" 9urther# most of the new depots in 1ssam and 'urma were lo ated in thi + jungles" <or+ in the line of ommuni ations installations was seriously affe ted due to a num!er of adverse a fa tors.limitations of narrow gauge railways) fre$uent river transshipments) torrential rainfall and the dislo ation of large parts of the rail ommuni ation !y hostile elements of the population" It is really redita!le that the 2rdnan e personnel arried on their duties effi iently under these onditions" In late 1*&& when the end of the war against Iapan was in sight# a Mo!ile 1mmunition Bepair :nit @/- M1B:A from Eastern 1rmy laun hed into the operational area# south of 'rahmaputra# to inspe t and repair sto +s of ammunition left !ehind in the !rigade and divisional administrative !o4es when the 9ourteenth 1rmy em!ar+ed on the offensive" Servi ea!le ammunition was to !e !a + loaded to depots in India" Later# this unit was assigned the tas+ of !attle field learan e" ,he learan e operations started along the entire way from Fohima to Imphal to Falewa in 'urma" Large $uantities of ammunition dumped !y Iapanese were re overed from la+es <eight and 'ishenpur" 1 onsidera!le amount of ammunition was also olle ted and destroyed at ,iddim and along the approa h to ,iddim from 'ishenpur" ,hese learan e operations too+ /- M1B: well over four months to a omplish" 57 MAR4 ,hen# /8 M1B: was moved from (anagarh to Imphal to assist /M1B: in the learan e of une4ploded !om!s and other ammunition in luding air for e !om!s of the erstwhile &1% 110" ,here was onsidera!le ris+ and danger involved in this tas+" ,hree additional 1,2s. Capt (C Be+hi# Capt 1' Ma6i1IIldar and Capt I' Grey @a 'ritish 2ffi er then serving with I12CA and some ammunition e4aminers with a omplete (ioneer Company augmented the resour es of the two Mo!ile 1mmunition Bepair :nits so as to omplete it in three months.well ahead of the s hedule" <hile the learan e operations for the damaged ammunition of erstwhile &1% 110 were nearing ompletion# /- M1B: was withdrawn to ta+e over the ammunition !eing left !ehind !y the 1meri an for es" <ith

the end of the war# the 1meri an surpluses were to !e !a +loaded to the :S1" Later# however when the 1meri ans appre iated that !a +loading would !e a ostly affair and would add to the already e4isting surpluses in the :S1# they hose to destroy the surplus stores 5in.situ5" So# ostly s ientifi stores were rushed under road.rollers" Similarly# !ull.do6ers were employed to dig deep tren hes @605 long# -5 deep and ;05 wideA# and surplus ammunition of all ali!ers was !uried in these tren hes# sprin+led with +erosene oil and set on fire" 1fter the 1meri an troops pulled out# the villagers dug up tren hes for the !rass s rap" ,his aused many a idents" /- M1B: was# therefore# harged with the responsi!ility of learing the une4ploded !om!s# if any# along the entire Stillwell road up to India.China. 'urma jun tion" Ceylo" India dispat hed two major formations for the defense of Ceylon# the %&th Indian 0ivision less one 'rigade in Covem!er 1*&1 and the ;0th Indian 0ivision in Iune 1*&;" ,wo 2rdnan e 9ield 0epots were sent along with the %&th Indian 0ivision# and were initially lo ated at Colom!o and ,rin omalle" ,hey were reinfor ed in Ianuary 1*&; !y Se tion Be overy Companies" 1t this time# !e ause of the e4treme shortage of sto +s in India# espe ially of weapons# s ientifi stores# and other e$uipment of :F origin# the units were provided only pistols and rifles to full s ale while supply of other weapons was restri ted" ,here was an a ute shortage of M, vehi les and a num!er of units pro eeded without them) ,he vehi les had to !e re$uisitioned in Ceylon" 1s regards the initial maintenan e of the for e# India was responsi!le for ammunition as well as ontrolled and un ontrolled stores in luding M, spares of Eastern Group supply" 9or the su!se$uent maintenan e of the for e# the (rovision 2ffi er Ceylon su!mitted monthly demands on the 002S @(A India# for all items that ould not !e o!tained lo ally" Later# India5s ommitments# spe ially regarding items of Eastern Group Supply# in reased with the arrival of 1ustralian for es and a Boyal Marine for e" 1s a result# the 2rdnan e supply organisation was e4panded and a 'ase 2rdnan e 0epot was esta!lished in Ceylon in 1pril 1*&;" ,he Indian 0ivisions in Ceylon were provided with suffi ient I12C 9ield <or+shops over for se ond.line repairs" :ntil a 'ase <or+shop 2rgani6ation was esta!lished in Colom!o# third.line repairs had to !e arried out in the Bailway and ivilian <or+shops" Jehi les re$uiring third. line repairs !ut !eyond the apa ity of this limited organi6ation had to !e

eva uated to India" 9or 1n horages# India supplied units omprising 3eavy Coast 1rtillery# 1rtisan <or+s :nits# and an Indian Infantry 'attalion with the ne essary administrative servi es" Co 2rdnan e supply organi6ation a ompanied# !ut a minimum sto + of three months maintenan e stores and lothing was dispat hed with ea h unit" 1 onsidera!le $uantity of station stores and in reased s ale of tent age and a ommodation stores were also sent" Later# an 2rdnan e 9ield 0epot was esta!lished at 1ddu. 1toll" ,his depot was sto +ed !y withdrawing the une4pended maintenan e stores from ea h unit" It undertoo+ the normally supply arrangements demanding repla ements from Ceylon"

ORDNANCE IN E=5 OPERATIONS 10A7'10A8

,3E parti ipation of the 2rdnan e=# Corps in the Iammu and Fashmir @IHFA operations !egan within the first few days of the landing of the Indian 1rmy troops at the Sri nagar airfield" 'I12C 0E( Command had flown into Srinagar with General Fulwant Singh on ;8G;- 2 to!er 1*&8 to appre iate the nature of 2rdnan e support re$uired for the operations" In 2 to!er 1*&8# the State of Iammu and Fashmir had !een invaded from a ross the !order with (a+istan# !y tri!al hordes who had formed themselves into lash+ars" Ea h lash+ar was 1#000 strong# e$uipped with rifles# light ma hine guns and mortars# o!viously provided !y the (a+istan Government" Ea h lash+ar had a tri!al 5mali+5 as the titular head# !ut was under the overall ommand of a regular (a+istan 1rmy 2ffi er" ,here were also other offi ers and IC2s from the (a+istan 1rmy# who a ted as Group Commanders" ,wenty su h lash+ars were let loose a ross the Fashmir !order on ;; 2 to!er" ,heir main thrust lines were as under ? @aA @!A @ A @dA Si4 lash+ars advan ed along the main road from Mu6affara!ad to Srinagar to apture the Srinagar airfield" ,wo lash+ars advan ed from ,ithwal to Casta hun pass" ,wo lash+ars advan ed through 3aji (ir pass to Gulmarg" ,en lash+ars advan ed into (oon h# 'im!ar and Bawal+ot area to apture (oon h and Bajouri

In addition# 8 Infantry 0ivision of the (a+istan 1rmy on entrated in the area of 1!!ota!ad# ready to move into Fashmir at an opportune moment to support the tri!esmen" 1nother infantry !rigade of the (a+istan

Begular 1rmy was ready at Sial+ot to move to Iammu" ,hese lash+ars advan ed rapidly and aptured 'aramullah# on ;/ 2 to!er" ,here they ravaged the ity and ommitted atro ities on the lo al population" 1t this riti al jun ture# the Maharaja of Fashmir a eded to India" ,he Government of India moved immediately and an infantry !attalion was airlifted from 0elhi to the Srinagar airfield on the morning of ;8 2 to!er" Ord"a"#e S*%%ort 9rom the point of view of 2rdnan e support# the IHF as a theatre divides itself into two distin t parts# i"e"# the area north of 'anihal whi h means the entire Fashmir valley and Lada+h# and the area south of 'anihal induding Iammu# Bajouri and (oon h se tors" ,he whole theatre was !asi ally road.served# with the railhead as far !a + as (athan+ot" ,he earliest 2rdnan e unit to ta+e !irth 5in situ5 was the 2rdnan e Bailhead Group whi h started fun tioning in (athan+ot at the end of 2 to!er 1*&8" ,here !eing no 2rdnan e unit in Iammu and Fashmir# the initial 2rdnan e support for the operations ame from the C20s# 2rdnan e 0epot Sha+ur!asti and 1mmunition 0epot Fasu 'egu" Most of the ammunition and stores were airlifted" ,he earliest 2rdnan e unit ordered a tually to move into Iammu and Fashmir theatre was the / 0iv 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+# whi h moved from Ban hi to 0elhi !y road# and then onwards to a lo ation in East (unja! where it was !rought to authorised strength !efore !eing moved to Iamr"1: in Covem!er 1*&8" ,his small unit on arrival in Iammu# had to on urrently send out two !rigade se tions# Co"1 'rigade Se tion to the Jalley# and Co" ; 'rigade Se tion to Caushera to support the operations in Bajouri Se tor" Initially therefore# this unit alone was serving all the three se tors of Iammu and Fashmir with a for e of appro4imately ;"/ 0ivisions" 2n the formation of I1I and SBI 0ivisions# this 29( was redesignated as I1F 9or e 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+" ,o ope with the situation the sto +s of this 29( had !een !oosted up to appro4imately five times the normal authorised holdings of an 29(" In due ourse SBI 0iv got its own 0E( and Co" 1 'rigade Se tion of this 29( was relieved to join the main unit" In 1ugust the I1F 9or e 29( was redesignated as ;6 Inf 0iv 29( and the newly raised one as 1* Inf 0iv 29(" 1 (OD 1s the ad ho deta hments of the I1F 9or e 29( ould not ade$uately sustain the operations in all the Se tors for long# so to maintain

the troops in Iammu# Bajouri and (oon h se tors# 1 920 was raised on 1% Ianuary 1*&-" ,he 29( was given a General Stores and Clothing platoon# a ,e hni al Stores platoon# a M, Stores platoon# a Beturned Stores platoon and an 1mmunition platoon" ,he 290 started fun tioning at Iammu on 1- Ianuary 1*&-" 'y Covem!er 1*&- its strength was augmented !y an additional General Stores and Clothing platoon and a Beturn Jehi le par+" In Covem!er 1*&-# the 1mmunition# ,e hni al and M, Stores elements were moved to a new lo ation a!out 1/ miles further north" In Iuly 1*/8# the remaining elements were also moved forward to the northern lo ation" 2n 11 1pril 1*/-# this installation was redesignated as 1 920 instead of 1 290" 1-0 1mmunition deta hment !ased on an ammunition platoon was raised as part of 1 290" ,his deta hment did very useful wor+ while the operations lasted" 9or the ne4t 1/ years it fun tioned as the 1mmunition Su! depot of 1 920 and in 1*6% it was reorganised as 1/ 9ield 1mmunition 0epot" : (OD In 9e!ruary 1*&-# orders were given for raising of ; 290" ,his 290 also onsisted of a General Stores and Clothing platoon# a M, Stores platoon# a ,; hni al Stores platoon# a Beturned Stores platoon and an 1mmunition platoon" ,he personnel moved into the Fashmir Jalley !y 1pril 1*&-" ,he 1mmunition (latoon of ; 920 esta!lished an ammunition su!. depot for the troops in the Fashmir valley at a pla e &; miles away from the main depot# and handled as mu h as 10#000 tons of ammunition during the operations" ,he need for greater self suffi ien y in ammunition for the area north of 'anihal was a epted mu h later# and in Iune 1*8; the ammunition su!.depot was reorgani6ed as ;1 910" Ord"a"#e Railhead )ro*% 2ne of the most useful 2rdnan e units that supported the Iammu and Fashmir operations was the Co" 1 2rdnan e Bailhead Group lo ated at (athan+ot" 1lmost with the first airlift of Indian troops to Srinagar# the need for positioning an 2rdnan e element at (athan+ot was felt# and Captain F"S" (athania was posted as 2C ,ransit Stores 0eta hment# (athan+ot" 9or the ne4t two wee+s" this offi er and two CC2s handled a num!er of wagons despat hed !y rear depots addressed to the 2C !y name" (athan+ot had at that time no railway siding to handle military stores# and the 2C had not yet re eived the san tion to employ ivil la!our for handling of stores" <ithin a ouple of wee+s the ,ransit 0eta hment was redesignated as Co" 1 2rdnan e Bailhead Group and happily# more

staff also arrived" 'etween then and Ianuary 1*&- the Group with its still meagre staff handled more than 6000 to ns of stores" ,he Bailhead Group performed the vital role of handling 2rdnan e stores and ammunition !oth at the points of entry into and e4it from Iammu and Fashmir theatre" 1 num!er of ammunition dumps of the se ond line reserve were !eing held !y the 1rmy Servi e Corps" 2rdnan e had to ta+e over these ammunition points" ,his was done under ad ho arrangements to start with# !ut later ;; 1mmunition Company was raised to ontrol these deta hments spread over a large area" ,he !uild up of the 2rdnan e 2rgani6ation to support the operations in Iammu and Fashmir was slow and gradual" 3aving !een indu ted into the theatre almost on the heels of the first fighting elements# the Corps su eeded in developing a tidy setup to sustain the operations within a period of appro4imately si4 months" ,his was a time when too many things happened to the Indian 1rmy at the same time" 1 ertain amount of adho ism in the initial stages was# therefore# inevita!le" ,his was the first test for the 2rdnan e servi es in India after independen e" It is a matter of great satisfa tion that all in all# the 2rdnan e performan e was entirely satisfa tory"

INDO'PA5 8AR 10G5

,3E Chinese aggression of 1*6; e4posed the vulnera!ility of the Eastern Se tor" In fa t it was dear that this vulnera!ility e4isted all along the !order with ,i!et and not only through the Corth East 9rontier 1gen y# now alled the 1runa hal (radesh" ,he 3imalayan !order was# perhaps# most vulnera!le at the narrow ne + onne ting 1ssam with the rest of India" (a+istan also had designs to start some a tion against India during the Chinese atta + on India in 1*6;" 3owever# the (a+istanis ould not put their s heme into a tion as the Chinese had de lared a unilateral easefire rather very soon" ,he :S1 and :F proposed !ilateral tal+s !etween India and (a+istan" 3igh.powered delegations from :S1 and :F had a series of meetings with !oth India and (a+istan !etween 0e em!er 1*6; and 1pril 1*6%# !ut the tal+s failed due to the intransigen y of (a+istan# it was not prepared to settle on anything less than the whole of Fashmir in luding Lada+h" Co ompromise solution was a epta!le to it" <hile these !ilateral tal+s were stil1 in progress# (a+istan signed !order treaty with China# giving away a large tra t of Fashmir territory to

China" ,his treaty !rought a!out a ol1usion !etween (a+istan and China" ,he Sino.(a+istan ol1usion ompromised India5s se urity on its Corthern and Southern 'orders" ,hereafter# the standing plans to move the / and ;8 Infantry 0ivisions with their supporting arms to the east was allowed to stand" ,he shape of the 1rmed 9or es was drasti ally revised" ,he 0efen e 'udget was tre!led and a plan for rearmament and moderni6ation of the 1rmy was drawn up" ,he 2rdnan e Corps was intimately affe ted !y the new plans for the 1rmy" ,he Corps had to arrange for the 2rdnan e over for the new setup in the Eastern Se tor and at the same time to !ear the !runt of !oth e4pansion as wel1 as the rearmament and re.e$uipping programmes of the 1rmy" ;;; 1'20 was well set !ut was still fa ing some pro!lems regarding storage and domesti a ommodation" 1; 1mmunition Company that was upgraded to an 910 and redesignated as 1& 910 during the a tual operations against the Chinese# also too+ time to settle down" ,he Corps now too+ energeti steps to fil1 up other gaps whi h e4isted in the provisions of 2rdnan e over for the Eastern Se tor" A1 7ehi#le Com%a"y 'efore and during the Chinese atta + in 2 to!er 1*6;# this region had no vehi le element" ,he vehi le support for the region ame either from (anagar or from Chheo+i near 1llaha!ad" In 0e em!er 1*6%# a vehi le ompany# designated as &1 Jehi le Company# was raised at Chheo+i and moved to its Eastern lo ation in 1pril 1*6&" 5 (OD a"d 1G (AD In the other sensitive se tor overing Si++im and 'hutan !order# only /; 2rdnan e Maintenan e (latoon e4isted with an ammunition element" ,his was upgraded to /; 2rdnan e Maintenan e Company with an 1mmunition (latoon in Covem!er 1*6;" Sin e it was felt that the e4isting 2rdnan e support in the shape of an 2rdnan e Maintenan e Company would not !e ade$uate# the elements of /- 2rdnan e Maintenan e Company lo ated further East were added to form two depots# / 920 and 16 910 in Iune 1*6%" ,he storage and the domesti a ommodation for these depots was !uilt later" Emer+e"#e o! Ord"a"#e Mai"te"a"#e Com%a"ie So far# the main omponent of the 2rdnan e Corps in an infantry

division had !een the 2rdnan e 9ield (ar+# i"e"# a mo!ile unit with its own transport and sto +s restri ted to M, spares and other te hni al spares for armament# engineering and signal e$uipments !esides ertain reserves of ontrolled stores" Su h a unit was not onsidered suita!le for a mountain division" It was felt that a mountain division must sto + general stores and lothing and ammunition as well" So an 2rdnan e Maintenan e Company @2MCA was provided with ea h mountain division# for handling general stores and 1othing# and ammunition in addition to te hni al spares for M, vehi les and armaments# engineering and signal e$uipments" ,he 2MC of a mountain division thus !e ame a grounded unit with onsidera!le sto +s" Te#h"i#al Store Se#tio" ,he 2rdnan e Stores Se tions atta hed to EME 9ield <or+shops in a division were redesignated as ,e hni al Stores Se tions" It now meant that the 2rdnan e omponent of a field wor+shop was fully integrated with the field wor+shop" ,his small su!.unit is the last !ut the vital lin+ in the system f supply of 2rdnan e stores# that is the field repair# parti ularly# the spares of important e$uipments" EB%a" io" a"d Rearmame"t 1fter the 1*6; Sino.Indian war# the Indian 1rmy was rearmed and re. e$uipped with more modern and sophisti ated weapons and e$uipments" ,his at on e gave the 2rdnan e Corps a !ig assignment of the phasing in of the new e$uipments and the phasing out of the old e$uipments together with their respe tive range of spares" ,his was a omple4 tas+# for a while some of the new additional e$uipment had to !e pro ured through the developing indigenous sour es the rest had to ome from foreign sour es of supply" ,he indigenous sour es did their !est to meet thei7 produ tio?." targets !ut the foreign suppliers reated pro!lems" <hiIe they showed enthusiasm after the Chinese att?6" +# tney started hedginI) with the onset of Indo.(a+ hostilities in 1*6/" ,he :S1 for instan e u?1dertoo+ to e$uij?"5 some mountain divisions deployed on the Indo.,i!etan !order" 3owever# it? Septem!er 1*6/# it unilaterally stopped aIl supplies" In fa t# it went a ste9 further and !anned all sales of lethal e$uipment to India even !y privatf5 :S agen ies" ,hus the hangeover to the new e$uipments was a pro ess that got stret hed over a long period"

Di #ard Poli#y o! 7ehi#le

1t this stage# the 1rmy adopted a poli y to dis ard vehi les that were not fully relia!le and !attleworthy" ,win riteria of vintage and miIeage were wor+ed out as a !asis for dis arding a vehi le from servi e" ,his mean7 that a ertain num!er of vehi les would go out of the 1rmy fleet and !e disposed of every year for further e4ploitation !y ommer ial age?1 ies" ,his rationalised the national priorities and too+ are of !oth the 0efen es and Civil re$uirements" EB%a" io" i" the Cor% 1lthough the 1rmy strength was at this time in reased from a!out % la+hs to a!out - la+hs the e4pansion of the 2rdnan e Corps was not of the same order" Its strength was in reased from a!out 1/#000 to only a!out ;/#000" .o tilitie i" the Ra"" o! 5*t#h ,he reorganisation and the rearmament of the Indian 1rmy after the Chinese aggression of 1*6; was not yet omplete when tension !uilt up !etween India and (a+istan" ,hen (a+istan laid laims on some !order posts in the Bann of Fut h whi h# through tradition and usage had always !elonged to India and opened up on Indian Sardar post with its artillery" ,he Indian 'order (oli e had to fall !a + to Jigo Fo7" In the meantime# (a+istan had !uilt up its strength to a division# supported !y a regiment of (atton tan+s" 2ur infantry strength here at that time onsisted of an Infantry !rigade with a field regiment" Cow# it was in reased !y the addition of a se ond !rigade supported !y another field regiment" 1 division head$uarters was also sent" (a+istan atta +ed and o upied 'iar!et in 1pril 1*6/" As the Bann was e4pe ted to get flooded !y the month of May# the wea+ Indian 0ivision only fought a 5holding a tion5" ,his was an operation involving long distan es" ,he nearest 2rdnan e and 1mmunition depots were lo ated at 0ehu# near (oona" ,he 2rdnan e support for the operations# therefore# ame from 0ehu group of depots" 2rdnan e planning parti ularly for the provision of artillery ammunition# re eived high praise from the formation ommanders"

O%eratio" a+ai" t I"!iltrator i" E=5 2n / 1ugust 1*6/# (a+istan raiders start-d large s ale infiltrations into India" 1s the troops of the 1* and ;/ Infantry 0ivisions started to deal with these infiltrators" (a+istan troops# supported !y armoured and artiliel5A5 laun hed a full !looded atta + in the Chham! Se tor on 1 Septem!er" ,his se tor was hurriedly reinfor ed !y two un ommitted !rigades# and 10 0ivision 3ead$uarters was rushed there" 2ur troops had to withdraw east #fManawer ,awO and ta+e up an intermediary position at Iaurian" ,he 1ir 9or e had ome to the 1rmy5s help and further advan e !y the (a+istan 1"=8f1y stopped after they had suffered heavy losses" OP Riddle ,he then (rime Minister Lal 'ahadur Shastri had already de lared that in the event of use of regular troops !y (a+istan a ross the easefire line in Iammu o"?1d Fashmir# India would not?hesitate to laun h operations !eyond the international !order" So on 6 Septem!er 11 Corps mounted an atta + in the (unja! with an advan e to the I hhogil Canal on Indo.(a+ !order" ,he atta + immediatel had the desired effe t and (a+istan armour in Chham! thinned out" 2n 8 Septem!er# (a+istan mounted a ounter offensive through Fhem Faran whi h was held at a pla e alled 51salutar5 !y & Mountain 0ivision reinfor ed !y ; Independent 1rmoured 'rigade" (a+istan laun hed their 1 1rmoured 0ivision on this a4is" 2ur tan+s and BCL guns made a grand +ill of the (a+istani armour so mu h that the Fhem Faran has sin e then ome to !e +nown as the graveyard of (a+ (attons" (a+istan suffered heavy losses and its offensive petered out" 1lmost oin iding with the (a+istani ounter offensive through Fhem Faran# 1 Corps# with 1 1rmoured 0ivision under ommand# was laun hed a ross the !order from Iammu and (athan+ot aimed at (a+istani town of Sial+ot" ,his atta + effe tively split the (a+istani armour and resulted in the apture of (hillora and (hagowal" Jery fier e fighting ensured resulting in heavy losses on !oth sides" Ord"a"#e S*%%ort Sin e the fighting was on a very large s ale# every 2rdnan e installation !oth in the rear and the front got heavily involved" C20s had to wor+ day and night to replenish the forward 2rdnan e depots and to ma+e good the e$uipment defi ien ies of the formations !eing indu ted into various se tors" ,he movement of ammunition from the rear depots involved very heavy tonnage and a num!er of spe ial trains were run# day

and night from far off pla es li+e (ulgaon towards the depots in (unja! or (athan+ot for Iammu and Fashmir" ,he & month interval !etween the hostilities in Bann of Fut h and the full s ale atta + in Chham! se tor !y (a+istan# was fully utili6ed !y the 2rdnan e Corps to ma+e good some of the important shortages" ,he C20s as well as the forward depots topped up their sto +s" ,he result was that !y the time the operations started the forward depots were we11 sto +ed !oth !y way of 2rdnan e stores and ammunition" Eamm* Se#tor In Septem!er 1*6%# 1mmunition Su!.depot of 1 920 had !een reorganised as 1/ 910" So# !y the time the operations started in 1*6/ !oth 1 920 and its offshoot 1/ 910 were well esta!lished 2rdnan e installations and were in a position to support the operations fu11y" 3owever# some holdings of these depots had to !e reoriented due to hanges in their dependen ies" 0uring the two operations 1/ 910 issued as mu h as 10#600 tons of ammunition and re eived an e$ual amount" >uite a few onvoys in the area were atta +ed !oth from the air= as well as !y ground a tion !y (a+istan# !ut this did not deter the 2rdnan e supply system" 'oth the depots also were within stri+ing distan e of (a+istani 1ir 9or e and had to fun tion with full air raid pre autions" 1/ 910 esta!lished another su!depot during the operations at a pla e more a essi!le from (athan+ot through a new route whi h did not have to use the (athan+ot. Iammu road" 5a hmir 7alley In 1*6/# the Ja11ey had not yet !een given a 910" Instead an ammunition su!.depot of; 920 was the only ammunition holding e helon" 0uring 1ugust 1*6/ !oth the main depot as we11 as the ammunition su!. depot had to ounter the threat to their se urity from infiltrators" ,he depots had to dig tren hes and prepare !un+ers for an a11 round defen e" 2n ;0 1ugust the ammunition su!.depot ame under heavy fire from the infiltrators" ,his atta + was repulsed" Si4 infiltrators who managed to reep very near the outer perimeter were dealt with !y hand grenades" 2ne of our 2B was wounded in this a tion" 2n ;% 1ugust there was a repetition of this in ident with a l7rger strength of raiders worth over two platoons" 'y that time the depot5s resour es had !een augmented !y a ompany from 6 Bajputs" Mortar fire dispersed the infiltrators" ; 920 managed to +eep the troops supplied with all their re$uirements during the operations" ,he holdings of the depot went up !y

%#000 tons" 1mmunition Su!.depot alone handled 10#000 tons of ammunition during the two months of the operations" 1s a result of these operations it !e ame lear that in order to have suffi ient <ar <astage Beserve sto +s forward# a full fledged field ammunition depot was needed in the Fashmir Ja11ey" 3owever# it was only later in 1*8; that this 1mmunition Su! depot was onverted into ;1 910"

EAST P4NEAB SECTOR

; (OD 9orward of 0elhi# the only 2rdnan e stores installation that supported in the East (unja! se tor was % 920 whi h was esta!lished in 1*&-" ,he depot was given two ammunition platoons for manning the sto +ing points at Ludhiana# Surranussi and 'eas" In 1*/-# the ammunition platoons were ta+en off from the 920 and formed into an independent unit designated as 11 1mmunition Company" 'eing lose to Indo.(a+ !order# this depot was a sensitive installation from air defen e point of view" It had to support the entire 11 Corps and other indu ted formations" 0uring 1*6/# therefore# the depot went through he ti a tivity as a result of a manifold in rease in !oth re eipts and issues" Di$ OMC ,he !runt of the (a+istani ounter.offensive in (unja! was !orne !y the & Mountain 0ivision" ,he 2MC of this 0ivision had moved forward on 6 Septem!er and had positioned itself in a well.sited lo ation to support the 0ivision" ,wo days earlier the ammunition platoon of the 2MC had also arried out a well planned move and was ready to issue se ond line ammunition to the 0ivision" ,he ammunition platoon fun tioned very smoothly and there was never any shortages for the heavy tan+ and artillery !attles that were to follow" ,his platoon and its offi er in harge ame in for high praise from all the ommanders on erned" 17 (AD 9ortunately# the ammunition setup in this se tor had !een tidied up in Iune 1*6& when 11 1mmunition Company was augmented and redesignated as 18 910" 0uring the three wee+s of operations# 18 910 handled the heaviest tonnage out of all the 2rdnan e installations" ,his tonnage has !een assessed at 18#000 tons" ,o ater for the operational re$uirements# the depot opened two additional su! depots at Moga and Fasu!egu" ,he depot did e4 ellent wor+ and re eived all round

ommendation" 1s a result# & offi ers and 1 CC2 were awarded Jishist Seva Medals# 1 IC2 was awarded 5Mention in 0espat hes5 and & IC2s and ; CC2s were awarded the C21S Commendation Cards" 18 (AD ,he ammunition !a +ing for the operations of 1 Corps had to ome over a very long distan e from 1/ 910" 1s this was not a satisfa tory arrangement# it was de ided to raise a 910 at a suita!le lo ation to support the operations of 1 Corps" Baising of 1- 910 will go down in the history of the 2rdnan e Corps as a uni$ue event" ,he re e for sitting this depot was done on & Septem!er when the (a+istani atta + in the Chham! se tor was in full swing" ,he first offi er reported for duty the same day" ,he first installment of the depot personnel and military spe ials arrying the ammunition arrived on 6 Septem!er" ,he lo als in luding s hool students assisted the unloading of these =spe ials=" 1/0 om!atant personnel of all ran+s# earmar+ed for 1- 910# were !rought to the site !y hiring si4 ivil passenger !uses from Iullundur" ,he depot offi ers and men wor+ed round the lo + and it goes to their redit that the unit !e ame fully fun tional !y 1; Septem!er# i"e" only two days after 1 Corps was laun hed a ross the (a+istan !order" ,he depot met the hallenging tas+ of supporting the main !attles of 1 Corps whi h involved heavy e4penditure of ammunition"

SOME LESSONS (ROM T.E 10G5 8AR

8ar 8a ta+e Re er$e ,he (a+istani infiltration into Iammu and Fashmir es alated into a war so suddenly that all the 2rdnan e e helons ould not re eive a proper warning" Co dou!t# they prepared themselves during the first operation vi6 52p 1!la6e5# seven months earlier# some forward e helons had a lot of important stores still to !e moved forward to the 920s and 910s when the 1rmy got a tually involved in large s ale operations" 1 lesson learnt was that a su!stantial per entage of the all.India <ar <astage Beserve ought to !e positioned with forward e helons during pea e time" (or6ard .oldi"+ o! Re er$e Ta",he 1rmy had no forward holdings of reserve tan+s to repla e the asualties" ,he support had to ome from as far !a + as 0elhi" &/ Cavalry was onverted into an 1rmoured 0elivery Begiment and was given this role at the last moment" 'ut it was without a Fitting S$uadron" ,he result was that tan+s that ame forward with ertain defi ien ies ould not !e made

fun tional for $uite some time" 0espite these handi aps# the tan+ asualties were repla ed in re ord time" ,he heavy tan+ losses in the Chham! se tor made up almost within ;& hours" So in the ase of any future short war in this se tor# the asualties will have to !e repla ed immediately" ,here is therefore an urgent ne essity for forward holding of tan+s with an organisation that an deal with the pro!lem omprehensively" .a"dli"+ o! 7ehi#le 9or handling the !attle asualties of vehi les# there was only a Jehi le Company ea h with 11 Corps and 1/ Corps" 1 Corps on the other hand had no vehi le support element" Ea h of these vehi le ompanies had the apa!ility to esta!lish only one returned Jehi le (ar+# and ould not over more than one a4is" ,he a tual vehi le asualties# parti ularly the ones aptured from or a!andoned !y the (a+ 1rmy# were so heavy that they were !eyond the holding apa ity of our Beturned Jehi le (ar+s" 1fter the !attle of 1salutar in the Fhem Faran Se tor alone# there were over 100 (atton tan+s +no +ed out !y our armour or a!andoned !y the enemy in their hasty retreat# whi h were littered all over the !attle area and ould only !e re overed into a on entration area in the erstwhile !attlefield itself# whi h later ame to !e +nown as the (atton Cagar" It therefore ame out learly that not only every Corps needed a vehi le ompany !ut also the Company had to !e given the apa!ility to esta!lish at least two Beturned Jehi le (ar+s# one on ea h a4is" EB#e i$e IMo$e (or6ardI o! Store 0ue to over.estimation of e4penditure some times mu h more sto +s of ammunition were moved forward than were a tually re$uired or e4pended" ,here was a stage during the operations# when the railway networ+ in East (unja! almost rea hed a !rea+ing point due to spe ial trains rushing forward with sto +s from the rear depots" ,he a!ove ontingen y ould !e avoided if forward depots had !een made more self. suffi ient" ,hus# the need was felt for esta!lishing an 1'20 and an 1'10 in ea h important se tor" ,his re$uirement was partly met later when % 920 was onverted into ;;% 1'20 in 1*8;" 1n 1'20 holds a more omprehensive range of stores than an 920 and there!y not only the normal light and field repairs an !e underta+en !ut also e4tended field repairs or restri ted overhauls of some e$uipments an !e attempted" Sin e the Corps 3> had to utili6e some of its own reserves to meet various operational e4igen ies# it is re$uired# therefore# that on operational formation of the si6e of a Corps should have some reserves at its own

disposal" Reor+a"i,atio" o! Di$i io"al Ord"a"#e ,he 2rdnan e units in a 0ivision# under the overall ontrol of the C12C# are fun tionally split into small self ontained units li+e the 2MC# the Mo!ile 1mmunition Bepair Se tion# the Mo!ile Cinema Se tion# the Stores 0istri!ution 0eta hment in addition to the 3> C12C" 1s a result of 1*6/ operations# the need was learly felt to group these units into an 2rdnan e !attalion or a 0ivisional 2rdnan e Support :nit under the effe tive ommand of the C12C" ,his reform was not arried out earlier" :nder the impa t of this short war# it was reali6ed that the grouping of these units under one ommand would give greater ohesiveness to the 2rdnan e servi e in a 0ivision" Mo&ili,atio" Pla" (erhaps the wea+est spot in the 2rdnan e planning for the operations was that some of the 2rdnan e units raised during the war had no personnel or store earmar+ed for them in pea e" Su h a situation eats into the resour es of trained manpower of other installations at a ru ial time" It was lear from the very in eption of 1*6/ operations that the raising of all the 2rdnan e units should have !een dovetailed into the operational planning so "that the re$uired manpower and stores were earmar+ed in pea e" 4"relia&ility o! (orei+" So*r#e o! S*%%ly 0uring this war# neither Chinese nor the <estern nations ame to the a tive support of (a+istan" 3owever# the :nited States went !a + on their agreement and wound up their Military 1id and Military Credit Sales programmes in India" ,he :S authorities went to the e4tent of pla ing a omplete !an on Indian pur hases of lethal e$uipment in the :nited States" 9ortunately# the industrial !ase !uilt up in India !oth in the pu!li and private se tors was !y then strong enough to meet the hallenge" ,he !an pla ed !y the :S1 was soon followed !y other <estern nations li+e the :F"# 9ran e and <est Germany" India# therefore# had no option !ut to diversify its sour es of supply and go out to other sour es li+e the East European ountries to pro ure su h of its re$uirements that ould not yet !e indigenously produ ed" ,his diversifi ation at on e inje ted many ompli ations into the 2rdnan e system of provisioning and pro urement" ,he swit h over was a hieved $uite smoothly# whi h spea+s highly of not only the resilien e of the organi6ation !ut also of the

professional ompeten e of those who were immediately on erned with !ringing a!out this hange" EBer#i e o" I"di+e"i,atio" 1 s heme has sin e !een drawn up for redu ing our dependen e on foreign ountries !y gearing up the indigenous produ tion of some of the vitaK items# whi h had not !een produ ed in the ountry so far" 9or this purpose# four 2rdnan e Sample Booms# one ea h at 0elhi# Cal utta# Madras and 'om!ay# were esta!lished# where samples of the items re$uired to !e indigeni6ed were displayed together with their drawings and spe ifi ations to help the private se tor to ta+e up their manufa ture" ,he s heme met with great su ess and many items valued at rores of rupees were indigeni6ed" ,his has resulted in not only the saving of the foreign e4 hange# !ut also redu ing our dependen e on foreign sour es" In the ase of some items# with e4tremely limited re$uirements# the produ tion was off" loaded to the Corps of Ele tri al and Me hani al Engineers# who had diversified their traditional role of repair !y assuming the fun tions of a manufa turing agen y of onsidera!le si6e"

INDO'PA5 CON(LICT 1071

(1FIS,1C5S atta + on India on % 0e em!er 1*81 was not un. e4pe ted# for ever sin e the Indo.(a+ <ar of 1*6/# (a+istan had !een !uilding up its armed strength" ,he immediate ause# however# was that the <est (a+istan5s ruling military junta started efforts to su!vert !y for e the popular mandate of the (a+istani people in favour of the 1wami League# a politi al party of East (a+istani !ase" ,he leader of the 1wami League# Shei+h Muji!.ur.Behman was arrested and massive repression was let loose in East (a+istan" 1s a result# millions of refugees rossed the !orders of East (a+istan and too+ refuge in India" In view of this deteriorating situation in East (a+istan# the Indian 1rmy was alerted !y the government to prepare for operations# if need arose" ,hus for the 1*81 operations the Indian 1rmy got a!out - months# warning# whi h would seem ade$uate for !uilding up logisti resour es" 'ut there were ertain new fa tors whi h made the time period inade$uate" ,o state# 1/- new units were raised# a large num!er of these for the first time" ,hey re$uired new E$uipment ,a!les and S ales" ,hen# no advan e provisioning of vehi les# e$uipments# ordnan e stores or ammunition had

!een made for these units# so at least 1; months5 time was re$uired for su h provisioning" ,o e$uip them out of war wastage reserves would have made a drasti fan in assuran e level" In the matter of the logisti support !y the 2rdnan e Corps for the 1*81 operations# the lead period or the warning period an !e !roadly divided into three stages? Stage I.from 1pril to Septem!er 1*81# during whi h period a num!er of new raisings were made and some limited moves also too+ pla e" Be$uirements of the new raisings were met through rash repair programmes# lo al pur hase and from reserves" 9resh demands were also pla ed to meet the anti ipated additional alls" Stage ; !eing the two months of 2 to!er and Covem!er 1*81 when the moves too+ pla e" Several formationsGunits moved to their respe tive on entration areas and started provisioning themselves" Sin e the Commanders of these units generally wanted only new e$uipment for the operation# the items in short supply had to !e rationed out" (ro urement was e4pedited the ma4imum and lo al pur hase was made wherever it was essential to do so" Stage % was the a tual operational period# starting from % 0e em!er 1*81" 'y this time# pra ti ally the whole field for e of !oth the ountries had !een deployed in or very near to its intended !attle lo ation" 2n % 0e em!er# (a+istan laun hed a pre.emptive air stri+e on a num!er of our airfields# as an attempt to deal a rushing !low to the Indian 1ir 9or e as5 Israel had done to Egypt in Iune 1*68" ,he atta +# however# failed to ause even a su!stantial loss or damage to the Indian 1ir 9or e# !e ause of our prompt and strong air and ground preparedness" ,he Indian 1rmed 9or es# who this time had orders to go for offensive defen e# at on e laun hed their operational plans" ,he war was fought in three theaters? ,he <estern Se tor# the Southern Se tor# and the Eastern Se tor"

8ESTERN SECTOR

Mainly three of our Corps were deployed in this Se tor? ,he 1/ Corps was in the Mu6affara!ad Chham! area# 11 Corps was positioned on the Sha+argarh.9a6il+a !order# and 1 Corps was on (athan+ot.Iammu a4is" 2rdnan e had to ma+e an all out effort to provide a satisfa tory over to the units operating in this onfli t" 'e ause of the short noti e move of some units they failed to o!tain their re$uirements from their dependent depots" ,his resulted in e4tra effort for redire tion of onsignments and arranging spe ial olle tion of su h stores from various depots" Even the se ond.line ammunition of some of the units now indu ted into the <estern Se tor was with the ammunition depots elsewhere" Enough free sto + did not e4ist in the 910s on whi h these units were now dependent" Met most of these vital sto + movements were a omplished in time" ,o over ome ertain initial shortages# some of the newly introdu ed vehi les and e$uipments were re eived from a!road on the eve of the operations" ,he 2rdnan e representatives with the formations had to +eep a lose liaison with !oth the C20s and 1rmy 3ead$uarters to as ertain the time of arrival and e4a t lo ation of su h items" >uite often the formation 2rdnan e had to arrange olle tion of su h e$uipments dire tly from the airports# as soon as these landed from the foreign ountries" 9or the formations !eing indu ted into the area# a Bailway Control Coordination Cell was esta!lished with lin+s at the terminal stations" ,his setup had own railway lin+s with most of the intermediary stations" ,his organi6ation was of great assistan e in e4peditious transportations of onsignments and wagons" In 1/ Corps Se tor# the re eipts and issue of vital items was entrali6ed to solve the pro!lem of shortages" ,his ena!led the 002s to ensure an e$uita!le distri!ution of short supply vital items depending upon the operational situation" ,o meet an a ute shortage of firing pins for rifles# light ma hine guns and medium ma hine guns when the normal supply from the 2rdnan e fa tories had failed# the 002s managed to get these lo ally manufa tured through lo al private entrepreneurs" ,he nearest Corthern Bailway <or+shop lo ated at 1mritsar was also tapped to meet this shortage" Lo al ivil agen ies were tapped for the initial harging of !atteries" 'oth 18 and 1- 910s wor+ed under tremendous pressure" ,hey had to not only open forward ammunition points wherever 1SC personnel were not availa!le# !ut also ma+e heavy daily issues# tou hing a pea+ figure of

1#000 tonnes" 2ne major diffi ulty e4perien ed was that general staff ordered ammunition in $uantity !ased on se ond line re$uirements# while 2rdnan e sto +ing and al ulations were !ased on the wastage rates laid down" It too+ onsidera!le time at various levels to onvert one to other" Large a!senteeism of ivilian la!our due to air raids greatly hampered wor+ in majority of 2rdnan e e helons and the depots were hard put to get through their in reased load of issues and re eipts with om!atant manpower" Later on# (ioneer personnel provided some relief in some depots" Civil re$uisitioned transport was also e4tensively used for the movement of ammunition and other 2rdnan e stores" ,he only pro!lem with ivil transport was that it did not wor+ on permanent affiliations# so oordination was very diffi ult" ,he ammunition su!.depot of 1- 910 had !een hurriedly esta!lished in Covem!er 1*81" 9rom % to 1& 0e em!er 1*81# this su!.depot was air . raided 6- times" 'ut the depot diligently +ept fun tioning effi iently right through the operations" 2n 1& 0e em!er this depot re eived telephoni instru tions at 16%0 hours to issue and arrange despat h of ;0#000 antitan+ mines to rea h Sha+argarh area latest !y first light the ne4t day" 'y gathering all availa!le manpower in luding ivilians# the depot managed to omplete the loading of %60 vehi les !y 0%10 hours on 1/ 0e em!er" In the same night#(a+istani 1ir 9or e arried out si4 air raids on this depot" 2ne air rafts was shot down !y our 10 guns" In one of the air raids# a haysta + outside the depot aught fire" Immediately an area of ;00 yards !etween the fire and depot perimeter was leared so that the fire ould not rea h any of the ammunition !un+ers" ,his fire was a !lessing in disguise" 9ollowing the announ ement !y the (a+istan Badio that the (athan+ot 1mmunition depot had !een set a!la6e# the su!.depot re eived no further attention from the (a+istan 1ir 9or e" 2n 16 Covem!er 1*81# one of the wagons of the spe ial train arrying a medium regiment aught fire somewhere in the <estern se tor" ,he wagon ontained some ammunition and an artillery tra tor" ,here were a num!er of e4plosions and a num!er of missiles were s attered in the vi inity" ,he railway authorities managed to remove the other trains away from the fire" Intimation of this o urren e rea hed the C12C of a 0ivision" 1 party onsisting of a Major# ; ammunition $ualified IC2s and a few other ran+s# rushed to the s ene with whatever ivil and military fire fighting resour es they ould muster" <ith their gallant efforts# they put out the fire and leared the tra + and the surrounding areas of all " missiles and

dangerous ammunition" Bailways were a!le to resume traffi on this tra + !y 0&%0 hours that night" In re ognition of the e4 eptional servi e rendered !y this team# Maj SF 'hardwa#i and Su! IC Singh were awarded the Sena Medal in 1*8;" ,he area of operation of 1 Corps was out of rea h of the e4isting 920s" (rior to 1*81# 1 Corps 2MC had !een pla ed in a state of suspended animation for a long time" 1 $ui + administrative he + in Iuly 1*81 revealed that this Corps 2MC had war wastages reserves for a very restri t range of items# whi h ould not mat h up with the new e4pe ted dependen y of the 2MC" 1 rash programme was underta+en to provision the 2M C and !y the end of Septem!er 1*81 sto + levels were !uilt up to some e4tent" 12 I"! Di$ OMC Major B( 1garwal @Cow Lt Gen B( 1garwal# (JSM# JSM# the 0G 2S and Senior Colonel CommandantA ommanded 10 Inf 0iv 2MC from ;* Iuly 1*80 to 18 May 1*8;" ,he offi ers and men of this unit were a moti. vated lot" 0espite heavy odds and pressures of wor+# the unit provided logisti support of e4 eptional order" ,he 1mmunition point at Ba+hmuti as well as at 1+hnur ame under heavy air raids and !om!ing" Major B( 1garwal# the offi er ommanding suffered wounds in the a!domen region when a flying splinter hit him" In omplete disregard of their own safety Major B( 1garwal and his men ontinued undeterred" Major B( 1garwal was re ommended for the award of 1JSM" Captain M 5Mu+herji @now ColonelA CGSu! Madav and C+G0vr'al!ir Singh re eived5Sena Medals# a ivilian Mr Munshi Bam was awarded Shaurya Cha+ra for the rare display of ourage" 1 large num!er of names of men were mentioned in despat hes" Clearly 10 Inf0iv 2MC had the distin tion of !eing the most de orated 2rdnan e :nit after 1*81 war under the a!le stewardship of Major B( 1garwal"

SO4T.ERN T.EATRE

,he Southern ,heatre was spread over -/0 miles long Indo.(a+ !order from Ganganagar in Bajasthan to the 1ra!ian Sea in the south" ,he terrain is a waterless# treeless desert with high and shifting sand dunes" In this theatre# apart from a few lo al a tions resulting in the Indian troops se uring su!stantial hun+s of territory# there were two major a tions) an atta + !y (a+istan in Iaisalmer se tor and our advan e in 'armer se tor" In the Iaisalmer se tor# a large (a+istani for e with onsidera!le armour and artillery made a !old thrust with the o!je t of apturing Bamgarh and then advan ing towards Iaisalmer" ,he move was dis overed !y us only when the (a+ army had rea hed our forward position of Longewala" 2ur 1ir 9or e" too+ on the enemy armour in open desert near Longewala and destroyed 1- enemy tan+s" In the meantime our own annour artil1ery and infantry reinfor ed Longewala and put in a ounter atta + on the enemy remnants" ,he enemy was thrown out from the Indian territory and in the !argain our troops managed to se ure some ;/0 s$ miles of (a+istan territory" 9urther south# an offensive was planned !y us towards Caya hor" 'y 1% 0e em!er# ;#-00 s$ miles of enemy territory around Caya hor was aptured !y us" 'ut !efore we ould atta + Caya hor easefire had !een de lared" 9or 2rdnan e support# this se tor had only one 2rdnan e Maintenan e (ar+ @61 Independent Com Qone Su! 1rea 2M(A" ,his small unit raised in 1*6-# sto +ed only a restri ted range of fast moving items" ,he !alan e 2rdnan e stores for units in Gujarat se tor ame from 0enu group of depots" Some other units in Bajasthan depended on 2rdnan e 0epot# Sha+ur!asti" ,he ammunition over for this se tor was provided !y the distant depots of 'haratpur and (ulgaon" So# to shorten the supply line# 1* 910 was moved from the Eastern Se tor in 1*8; and !uilt around the erstwhile ammunition deta hment of 61 2M(" Sin e this se tor suffered from serious shortages# therefore during the preparatory stages# all depots in Southern Command had to ope with a very heavy in rease in their wor+.load" Crash repair programmes for some of the M, and general stores items and retrieval a tion from salvage were underta+en" ,o supply the long frontline# forward maintenan e areas were esta!lished !oth at Iaisalmer and 'armer" ,he administrative units in these 9M1s were pla ed under 9M1 Control 3ead$uarters# of whi h many were

ommanded !y 2rdnan e 2ffi ers" 'esides# ea h 9M1 had a deta hment from the 61 2M(" ,he tan+s# anns and ammunition aptured from the enemy were also !a +loaded through these 9M1s to the !ases" 0uring the operations# onsidera!le a umulation of stores awaiting olle tion !y units got held up at the forward maintenan e areas at Iaisalmer and 'anner# due to la + of suffi ient transport" 9ortunately the supply of ammunition was never held up during the operations"

EASTERN T.EATRE
In this operation# 0a a# the geographi al heart of the then East (a+istan# was made the lear ut final o!je tive" 9our thrust lines into 'angladesh# all onverging on 0a a# were de ided upon? from the north. west# west# south.east and north.east" ,he operations pro eeded almost e4a tly a ording to plan" ,he air effort was very effe tive" In fa t# the (a+istan 1ir 9or e was almost annihilated and omplete air superiority was a hieved within the first three days" ,he main tas+ of !lo +ading the maritime approa hes to 'angladesh was also a hieved as planned !y the Cavy" 2rdnan e over to the for es deployed for the 'angladesh operation was essentially given from the e4isting installations.2rdnan e 0epot# Cal utta# Central Jehi le 0epot# (anagarh) and 1mmunition 0epot# (anagarh# all lo ated in the south and south.west of the operational area" Similarly# ;;; 1'20# 1& 910# &1 Jeh Coy# / 920 and 16 910 ould support the operations from the north and north.west" 10 (AD 1* 910# raised in Septem!er 1*81 under the ommand of Lt Col B (ra!ha+aran# provided ammunition over to & Corps operations from the east" ,he depot ompleted its raising at Carangi in the re ord time of one month" In 2 to!er 1*81# the depot was moved to the anti ipated operational area where it esta!lished two su!.depots at ,eliamurra and :daipur" ,he railhead was 1/0 +ms away from the nearest su!.depot" Conse$uently# the entire sto +ing of ammunition from the railhead had to !e arried out !y road transp"ort" 9r"om the very day "of its in epti"on the depot simultaneously handled heavy re eipts and issues" 0uring the 1& days "of a tual "operations this depot handled appro4imately 1/#000 tons of ammunition when for ta ti al reasons pra ti ally all issues were made "only at night"

1fter the su essful "operations in 'angladesh# the depot had to !a +load all its sto +s to rear depots within two months# whi h involved handling of 16#000 tonnes" ,he depot an proudly laim to have made history inasmu h as a sto + holding installation "of an 910 a hieved so mu h in a short time of si4 months" 9or its role# the depot re eived one Sena Medal# one Mention in 0ispat hes and two C21S Commendation Cards" AA 7E.ICLE COMPAN/ && Jehi le Company was raised in 1ugust 1*81 at Gauhati and was moved to ,ripura to support & Corps operations in 2 to!er 1*81" It was as+ed to detail a tas+ for e to area 'rahman!aria.1shuganj in 'angladesh for the re overy of enemy vehi les a!andoned !y them on the eastern !an+ of river Meghna 3owever# the site "of the vehi les was still within full view of the enemy for es" ,he deta hment remained under sporadi enemy fire pra ti ally the whole day# yet !y the ne4t morning it ompleted its tas+ and pulled "out all the enemy vehi les in luding a very large $uantity "of ammunition" 1fter the easefire# it was dis!anded in 2 to!er 1*8;" Ca%t*red Arm a"d E?*i%me"t ,he Indian 1rmy5s su ess in 'angladesh resulted in the apitulation "of a large segment "of the (a+istan 1rmy# whi h entailed large s ale handling "of aptured arms and e$uipment" (resently# 2rdnan e elements in all se tors had to wor+ round the lo + to meet this heavy ommitment" 1lso adho arrangements had to !e made !y detailing an 2rdnan e 0eta hment from ;8 Mountain 0ivision to ta+e "over arms and ammunition from (a+istan Begular 1rmy and (ara Military 9or es in the then East (a+istan @nowR 'angladeshA" Later a deta hment was sent to 'angladesh to ta+e over the (a+istani 2rdnan e installations till these ou1d !e handed over to the new 'ang1adesh 1rmy" ,he 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps a $uitted itse1f most redita!1y during the Indo.(a+ Confli t of 1*81" Its su essfu1 performan e an !est !e judged !y the fo11owing e4 erpt from the Ministry of 0efen e Beport ? "As is +nown# the su ess in the re ent war 1arge1y depended upon the 10gisti s overage provided to fighting troops !ased on the overa11 p1an of the army in the year 1*80.81" ,he 12C geared themselves and su eeded in meeting the re$uirements of troops#

pla ing reserves of e$uipments# ammunition and stores forward and essentia1 e$uipments from fa tories for troops in su h a manner that the troops in the fie1d did not have to 100+ !a + for the stores and e$uipments#= (u!li ations# aptured military arti les# old uniforms and a large variety of other artifa ts" In fa t# this museum is perhaps the !est that we have in the 1rmy and ontains several rare# valua!le and e4 lusive pie es in luding a Servi ea!le Gatling Ma hine Gun" 1 visit to the Corps Museum is a must for al1 visitors to Ia!alpur" :nits on dis!andment send their !oards ins ri!ed with the name of al1 Commanding 2ffi ers to the Museum" Commemorati$e Pillar ,o mar+ the ompletion of;00 years of e4isten e of the 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps# it was de ided to ere t ommemorative pillars in sele t stations" ,he design of the pillar as approved !y the 02S was for a onstru tion of simple and elegant ement on rete pillar" ,he nine foot high re tangular pillar was to !e !uilt over a three tiered pedestal# %"/ feet in height with the !ase overing -54-5" ,he approved ins ription in !la + was approved to !e made on a mar!le sla! to !e em!eded in the pillar" ,hese 'i entenary (illars were onstru ted at 1gra# 1llaha!ad# 1vadi# Cal utta# Chheo+i# 0ehu# 0elhi Cantt# Ia!alpur# Fanpur# (anagarh and (ulgaon" 1mongst the field units# ;;; 1'20# ; 920# 18 910# 1- 910 and ;1 910 onstru ted su h 'i entenary (il1ars" ,he (il1ars arry the ins ription" "-!en ou go !ome. tell t!em of us and sa For t!eir %omorrow. we ga)e our %oda '" Pre e"tatio" o! a Mo*"ted Ti+er to the Cor% Me Lt Col 1jay Mushran @BetdA e4.12C# the Minister for Mouth and 9orests in the Madhya (radesh Government# presented a !eautiful stuffed tiger to the 12C Centre 2ffi ers5 Mess on 6 1pril 1*-/" ECOI Me , CMM

Di"i"+ O*t9 ,he Commandant# 0eputy Commandant and 11 H >MG are dined out from the IC2s Mess" 2n the retirementGposting of Su!edar

Majors# the Commandant# 0eputy Commandant# 11 H >MG and other ofij ers are invited for the dining out" )e"eral'CMM Ladie Cl*&9 1ll offi ers5 wives are mem!ers of the 1rmy <ives <elfare 1sso iation# Ia!alpur and the CMM Ladies Clu!" ,he hair person of the Ladies5 Clu! is the Commandant5s wife and the Se retary is the wife of one of the Lieutenant Colonels" (orei+" O!!i#er 8i"+9 'uilding Co" ;& has !een nominated as the foreign offi ers !lo +" It ontains 1; suites and are furnished with reasona!le omforts" Single staff offi ers are also a ommodated in this !lo +" Pi%i"+I Ceremo"y9 2ffi ers and IC2s who re eive their promotion when posted in the Col1ege of Materials Management are presented with the !adges of ran+# the ost of whi h is paid from the College 9und"

BAD)ES AND (LA)S

Ord"a"#e Ca% Bad+e ,he original of the ap !adge of the 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps an !e tra ed to the 1rms of the 'oard of 2rdnan e# !a + in th6 1/th entury# whi h eased to e4ist in 1-// after some four hundred years of servi e" ,he 1rms of the 'oard of 2rdnan e in orporated three field artillery pie es and three annon !alls on a shield poised entrally on a plan+" 2n the rest of the shield is an argent mural Crown# a de4ter Cu!it arm with the hand grasping a thunder!olt winged and enflamed=# 2n the either side of the Shield is a supporter.a person# ea h with a thread a ross his !are !ody# one holding in the e4terior hand a hammer and the other a pair of tongs# resting on the shoulder of ea h respe tively" ,he Motto =S:1 ,EL1 ,2C 1C,I= was arried on the s roll at the !ottom of the !adge# ,he origin as well as the meanings of this phrase are ontroversial" 3owever# it is generally# ta+en to mean as =,o the thundered his arms= or in a .more modern sense =to the warrior.his weapons= In 1-*6# on the reorgani6ation of the 2rdnan e Store 0epartment and Corps# >ueen Ji toria approved that the shield of arms# 55!ut not the rest nor supporters or the motto=# !e in orporated in the !adge of the 1rmy

2rdnan e 0epartment and Corps" ,he two !adges were reated# one for the 1rmy 2rdnan e 0epartment @2ffi ersA and the 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps @SoldiersA !oth similar in design# differing only in the wording on the s roll# ,he other ran+s !adge had 51rmy 2rdnan e Corps5 on the s roll while the offi ers just the one word.52rdnan e5" In 1*0; the other ran+s !adge was made slightly smaller" In 1*1- for its servi e during world war I# the Corps was granted the prefi4 5Boyal5 !y Fing George J" ,he new title was to !e the Boyal 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps" ,he !adge# was now redesigned in orporating the Garter and the ,udor Crown for !oth offi ers and soldiers" 2n the approved designs the shield was pla ed within the garter and surmounted !y the ,udor Crown" ,he ap and ollar !adges adopted the new design !ut used 5Boyal 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps5 in the s roll instead of the motto" The IAOC Cre t ,he Corps !adge adopted in 1*;; on the formation of l12C was a dire t des endant of the !adge used !y the Indian 2rdnan e 0epartment" ,he three annon !alls and three field pie es mounted on a shield and the whole surmounted !y the Crown with a s roll at the !ottom with the ins ription 5Indian 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps5 was o!viously an adaptation# ea h element retaining the original signifi an e" Ne6 Bad+e'Army Ord"a"#e Cor% ,he new !adge of the 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps was adopted in 1*/& after India !e ame a Bepu!li " It onsisted of a round shield a!ove two rossed swords# a s roll with the ins ription 51rmy 2rdnan e Corps5# the whole surmounted !y the national em!lem" 2n the shield are em!la6oned three annon !alls over three field pie es# one !efore the other" ,he shield and the sword are an e4a t reprodu tion of those depi ted in the rest of the 3oysala Fings of an ient India @*/010A" Cor%9 Motto* ,he original motto of the 2rdnan e was 5Sua ,ela ,onanti5 found in the 1rms of the 'oard of 2rdnan e" ,his was translated as 5,o the thunderer his arms5" In a Corps Committee Meeting in 1pril 1*88# it was de ided to adopt the 3indi version of this motto 5Shastra.Se.Sha+ti5 @Strength ,hrough 1rmsA in 3indi# written in the 0evnagri s ript as the motto of the 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps was a orded on ;% Ianuary 1*8-" (la+ a"d Pe""a"t ,hree types of flags are permitted to !e flown !y 2rdnan e depots and units# in pea e# in field and on spe ial o asions" ,he Cational flag is

flown at the Main 3ead$uarters of a stati depot" ,he Corps 9lag @Begimental 9lagA is flown at the $uarter guard of all stati Gfield depotsGunits" ,he third# the 2rdnan e distinguishing pennant is used as a dire tion.indi ating flag and used !y the 2rdnan e representatives at their main head$uarters and field depotsGunits fun tioning on <Es and !y 2rdnan e representatives and units in temporary amps# e4er ises or during manoeuvres" Cor%9 (la+' ,he 12C Begimental 9lag @Corps 9lagA is navy !lue with a hori6ontal sa4e !lue !and !etween two !roader maroon !ands a ross the middle" ,hese olours are registered at the Boyal College of 3eraldi Colours in :F" ,hese were the olours of Fing George IJ who very gra iously permitted them to !e used !y the Boyal 1rmy 2rdnan e Corps" ,he flag is made of !unting loth" ,he si6e depends upon the mast height and nature of surroundings to ma+e the flag suffi iently onspi uous" Ord"a"#e Pe""a"t9 ,he 2rdnan e (ennant in the 1*%- edition of the vo a!ulary of 2rdnan e Stores @IndiaA Se tion I @iA is des ri!ed as 9lag 0istinguishing5 l12C 0epot MF IJ and des ri!ed as a %54;5 !lue pennant with red !all of diameter 1; in hes with its entre - in hes from the entre of the halliard side" In 1*&* and 1*/; the l12C pennant was omitted and the omission un.wittingly perpetuated in the Indian atalogue of 2rdnan e Stores# Se tion 3 - whi h repla ed it" In 0e em!er 1*60# the 0ire tor of 2rdnan e Servi es dire ted that the item !e reintrodu ed in servi e and the pennant ame into use again in Ianuary 1*6%" Ord"a"#e Colo*r Begimental olours are the sym!ol of the spirit of the regiment" ,hey stand for everything that is no!le and honoura!le" ,he Colours prior to !eing ta+en into use are onse rated at a religious eremony" ,he 2rdnan e Colours are a s arlet sil+en flag with the 2rdnan e rest in the entre and surrounding it is a wreath of 1sho+a leaves and lotus flowers" ,he olours are always +ept en ased in the >uarter Guard of the 12C Centre" <henever these are to !e !rought on parade they are always es orted !y an armed =Cishan ,oli=" ,he olours are only to !e paraded on spe ifi eremonial o asions and are given a salute when they are !rought on parade" 1s the olours mar h past the saluting !ase# they are saluted !y all spe tators in uniform" Civilian spe tators stand up to show their respe t" 2ld olours after servi e are laid up in a sa red pla e# thus

maintaining the atmosphere of veneration with whi h they were surrounded" A mot!-eaten rag on a worm eaten pole. &t does not loo* li*el to stir a man/s soul' /%is t!e deeds t!at were done. neat! t!e mot!-eaten rag. -!en t!e pole was a staff and t!e rag was a flag'