The Madras Regiment The Madras Regiment is the oldest regiment in the Indian army formed in the 1750s . The regiment has been through many campaigns with both the British Indian Army and the Indian Army . History . The town of Madras was founded in 1639 and the first Fort Saint George in 1644 , but the military history of the Presidency does not commence till more than a century later . ( From Page 1 ) . In August 1758 they were formed into regular companies of 100 men each with a due proportion of Indian Officers , Havildars , Naiks , etc . , and in December of that year the first two battalions were formed with a European subaltern to each company and a captain the command the whole . ( From Page 2 ) Note . These were mostly seconded from the King ' s service with a step in rank . They were of a better class , better educated and above all had far more military experience than the Company ' s officers . Above ) The Madras Regiment was initially formed as the Madras European Regiment in the 1660s by the East India Company as the second company established in India . However , it was formed as a battalion in 1748 under the command of Major Stringer Lawrence . The battalion was involved in all the battles against the French forces in India . Lawrence structured the regiment to include two battalions , one European and one " Sepoy " ( Indian ) . Both battalions were similar in structure and included seven companies each , with each company including three officers in command and seventy privates . Also part of the companies were four sergeants and corporals and three drummers . The oldest Battalion in the Madras Regiment ( and the Indian Army ) was the 9th Battalion , formerly known as the Nair Brigade ( " Nayar Pattalam " - " Nair Army " ) . This militia was raised in 1704 at Padmanabhapuram as body guards for the Maharajah of Travancore , and were active in the Battle of Colachel in defeating the Dutch forces . The army was made up of soldiers from Nair warrior clans , however after the 1940s , non - Nairs were permitted to join . The " Nayar Army " became incorporated into the Indian Army on April 1951 . In 1748 Major Stringer Lawrence , a veteran of action in Spain , Flanders and the Highlands , was hired by the East India Company to take charge of the defense of Cuddalore . He laid the foundations of what was to become the Indian Army . Training the levies to become a militia , the Madras Levies were formed into " companies " and trained to become a disciplined and fine fighting force . In 1758 Lawrence raised the Madras Regiment , forming the several Companies of Madras Levies into two battalions . 2 Madras was raised in 1776 as 15 Carnatic Infantry at Thanjavur [ and underwent many nomenclature changes thereafter ] . The regiment has been through many campaigns with both the British Indian Army and the Indian Army . Many well - known British officers have commanded this regiment , Robert Clive is one among them . This regiment has fought the Carnatic wars , which were fought in South India . The elephant crest symbolizes its gallantry in the Battle of Assaye under Arthur Wellesley , later Duke of Wellington . There after the British annexed the Indian sub - continent , largely with the help of the Madras Regiment sepoys . The coming of the British rule and merging the Presidency armies into a British Indian Army led the erstwhile regiments to be reorganised . After conquest of India , main threat to British was from Russia . So recruitment was re - oriented towards north Indians of Punjab and Nepal . This resulted in the British reducing the strength of the Madras Regiment since the southern borders were relatively peaceful . After many years , this regiment was re - raised with fresh recruits and a draft of troops from the Madras Sappers during the World War II . The newly reborn Madras Regiment performed very creditably during the War in the Burma campaign . Post Independence . After independence , the infantry battalions of the Travancore " Nair Pattalam " , Cochin and Mysore State forces were amalgamated into the Madras Regiment . Post - independence saw the consolidation of the Regiment and re - affirmation of the versatility and valour of the South Indian troops when the battalions of the Regiment fought fierce battles during the 1947 – 48 Jammu & Kashmir Operations , the 1962 Sino - Indian Conflict and the Indo - Pak Wars of 1965 and 1971 . The deployment of as many as seven battalions of the Regiment in Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan in 1987 – 89 was a testimony to the faith the Indian Army reposed in the loyalty , dedication and valour of the troops of the Madras Regiment . Two battalions ( 3 and 25 Madras ) of the Regiment have been awarded unit citations by the COAS in recognition of their splendid service in combating insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab . Further two battalions served the nation , in the world ' s highest battlefield in the subzero temperatures of Siachen Glacier . The Madras Regiment has taken part in various humanitarian aid operations in India . It has also taken part in various UN Peacekeeping missions . Current Strength . Currently the regiment has a strength of 20 battalions . The 1st Battalion was converted to the Mechanised Infantry Regiment . Current battalions of the Madras regiment are : Regimental Tribute . " Let those who come after , see to it that these names be not forgotten , " " For they who at the call of duty , left all that was dear to them , " " Endured hardships , faced dangers , and finally passed out of sight of men , " " In the path of duty and self - sacrifice , Giving their lives that we might live in freedom . "