Indian Defence Review

The story of the modern Cavalry in the Indian Army starts with the origin of the President’s Body Guards (PBG) regiment which is the oldest surviving mounted and the senior most regiment of the Indian Army. Being the oldest regiment of the army, the PBG takes its rightful position of “Right of the Line” during all official and ceremonial occasions. Origin: The Regiment was raised by Governor General Warren Hastings in September 1773. Hastings handpicked 50 troopers from the ‘Moghul Horse’ which was raised in 1760 by local sardars – Sardar Mirza Shahbaz Khan and Sardar Khan Tar Beg. In the same year, Raja Cheyt Singh provided another 50 troopers. Captain Sweeny Toone, an officer of the Honourable East India Company was the first commander of the unit who had Lt. Samuel Black as his subaltern. Titles: The title of the President’s Body Guards kept on changing with the passage of time. 1773-1780: The Governor’s Troops of Moghals. Other titles in use were Troops of Body Guard, Governor’s Troops of Bodyguards, Troops of Horse Guards, Troops of Black Cavalry, Body Troop 1784: Governor General’s Body Guards (GGBG) 1859: His Excellency the Viceroy’s Body Guards 1944: 44th Divisional Reconnaissance Squadron 1946: Governor General’s Bodyguard (GGBG) 1947: After independence, the unit got split between the Governor General’s Body Guard, India and the Governor General’s Body Guard, Pakistan 1950: President’s Body Guard, India. In Pakistan, the title remained GGBG till 1956 Battle Honours: Java, Ava, Maharajpore, Moodkee, Ferozshah, Aliwal, Sabroan.