Standing steadfast, proud and tall among the Regiments and Corps of SL Army
View(s):Golden Jubilee celebrations of the first battalion of the Gemunu Watch
The 50th anniversary of the First Battalion of the Gemunu Watch was commemorated on December 7 at Diyatalawa. This article is a summarised account of the operations and events that took place during what became a tumultuous 50 years of sacrifice, honour and dedicated service to the country.
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 The Battalion being conferred President’s and Regimental Colours in Galle in 1980 by the then President J.R. Jayewardene and re-awarded colours at Kuruwita by President Rajapaksa this year |
The First Battalion has an enviable record of a high standard of professionalism and patriotic service unparalleled in the history of the Ceylon and later Army of Sri Lanka.
True to its motto “Tarry not Forward”, the Battalion set the highest standards and traditions of military professionalism in the Gemunu Watch which at one time had a total of 27 battalions. It stands steadfast, proud and tall amongst all the Regiments and Corps of the Army of Sri Lanka.
The Gemunu Watch was the first Regiment of the Army to be named after a king of Lanka, the heroic Dutu Gemunu.
The Regimental flag bears the lineage of our ancient past. It also was the first to wear a red hackle on its beret and wear regimental numerals in Sinhala.
The Battalion began its operational deployments in Mannar on TaFII duties just over one year after its raising in 1962 and at the commencement of the ’71 JVP uprising it was the first into the fray to be deployed in Wellawaya. It began its deployment on COIN Operations in the North in 1980 and continued to serve in the North and East till the conflict ended in 2009.
During the hiatus of the IPKF involvement it was deployed in Hambantota, Moneragala and Ampara during the second JVP uprising in 1987 – 1989. The battalion provided 2 officers for UNIPOM [United Nations India/Pakistan Observer Mission] duties from October 1965 to March 1966 and contributed 92 all ranks to the 800 strong Gemunu Watch UN peacekeeping contingent of the Army sent to Haiti in 2002 and has continued that practice till the present.
In training it had the honour of being the first and only Regiment to have marched through the jungle from Haputale to Ridiyagama(71 miles)in 1964. Between 1964 and 1965 all companies of the Battalion marched through the South Zone jungles from Haputale to Ridiyagama, a feat unequalled to date by any other Regiment of the army. The march took five days. The Battalion provided demonstration and training platoons to the ATC, SLMA and the NRTS in Diyatalawa on a regular basis and instructors for officer cadet and Capt to Major courses and umpires for COIN and Other Rank commissioning exercises on an ad hoc basis from its inception.
The Battalion together with its two volunteer battalions was conferred with President’s and Regimental Colours at Galle in 1980 and was re-awarded colours at Kuruwita in 2012 by the President in recognition of their sacrifice and distinguished service to the motherland.
The Battalion records with great sorrow the sad loss of 20 officers and 317 other ranks killed in action and 10 officers and 193 other ranks amongst a total of 1174 wounded in action partially or permanently disabled during the period under review, who sacrificed their lives on operational duty to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
Finally the Regiment records with deep gratitude the contribution of its founding father, late Brigadier (Retd) J.F. Halangode VSV and the pioneering batch of officers and men who set the highest professional standards for the First Battalion the Gemunu Watch to achieve an excellent record of service during the past 50 years.
The First Battalion the Gemunu Watch is confident that the heroic sacrifices and the brave, honourable and selfless deeds will set the standards and inspire the serving and future generations of the men of Gemunu to attain even greater heights in the highest traditions of the profession of arms.
-Brigadier (Retd) Hiran N. Halangode RWP RSP USP USACGSC
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