It was due to the 'spirited advocacy' of the then Governor of Madras Sir Arthur Hope, that the 3rd Madras Regiment was restored to the Army List in 1941 ; the old 11th, 12th, 13th and 15th Territorial battalions were converted into regular units, becoming the 1st to 4th Battalions of the reconstituted Regiment, with the Regimental Centre at Madukkarai (Coimbatore).

The 4th Battalion joined the War at Imphal in 1943 and distinguished itself in the fierce fighting that ensued in Tamu in March 1944.

Capt RS Noronha tenaciously held his company defences for sixteen days against repeated attacks, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy, for which he was awarded Military Cross.

He was again instrumental in launching a feint attack to relieve pressure on 19 Inf Div bridge-head for which he was awarded a Bar to Military Cross.

At the time of Independence it had four battalions, 1st to 4th, with the Regimental Centre having shifted in 1946 to Trichinapally.