The proud history and heritage of the Bengal Sappers dates back to 1803, when Captain T Wood raised the Corps of Bengal Pioneers at Cawnpore, for providing parties for breaching of forts and scaling walls for the Bengal Presidency. Over the yrs, Centre has been known by various names before assuming the present-Bengal Engineer Group & Centre, on 25 Feb 1961. Along with the change in name, the Headquarters has also changed its loc to many places like Kanpur, Allahabad, Fatehgarh, Delhi, Meerut, Ludhiana, before finally settling at Roorkee in 1853, where it has remained ever since. The Group has had a long history of valour and bravery having won 80 battle honours, 11 theatre honours, 11 VC, 117 IOM in the pre independence era. The Bengal Sappers was the first Engr Gp to receive Presidential Colours in recognition for its service to the nations on 12 Jan 1989 by the President of India. The Independence of our country in 1947 was one of the most trying pd in the history of the Bengal Sappers. Greater part of British Offrs and units, regt funds and eqpt went to Pakistan. Col JS Dhillon (later Lt Gen) moulded the Gp on sound lines and intro innovations which led to greater integration and homogeneity. Brig JS Dhillon, the first Indian Comdt of the Gp also lead the first Republic Day Parade in Delhi.
Bengal Sappers Officers Association, Roorkee
