4th HORSE (Hodson’s Horse), one of the most highly decorated armoured regiments of Indian Army, celebrated Basantar Day to commemorate the 39th anniversary of victory in the fierce battle of Basantar river (known as Degh Nadi in Pakistan) during the 1971 India-Pakistan War, on Dec 18, 2010. For this battle, it was awarded the Battle Honour ‘Basantar River’ and Theatre Honour ‘Punjab 1971’ Raised by Major WSR Hodson in 1857 as an irregular cavalry unit, it became famous as the 4th Duke of Cambridge’s Hodson’s Horse.
With 159 years of glorious history, the regiment comprising of Jat Sikhs and Dogras, has the proud distinction of having over 40 second and third generation officers and other ranks serving today. Present during the nostalgic two-days celebrations were 80 War Veterans/ retired personnel, including, Lt Gen RM Vohra, who commanded the regiment in the 1971 Indo-Pak war and former as GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, Lt Gen Gurinder Singh, former GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Lt Gen PPS Bhandari former Deputy Chief of Army Staff and Colonel of the Regiment Maj Gen Anil Bhalla presently commanding an elite Armoured Division.
