Thread by @LestWeForgetIN

#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 The "Saviour Of Kashmir", gallant #IndianBrave Brig Rajendra Singh, #MahaVirChakra (P) Chief of Military Staff, Jammu & Kashmir State Forces, defended Kashmir from Pakistani raiders until his last breath allowing time for #IndianArmy to fly in on 27 Oct

In October 1947, soon after the partition, thousands of raiders assisted by Pakistani regulars invaded J & K all along its border. Brigadier Rajendra Singh, Chief of Military Staff, J & K State Forces took over the command of a relief column and proceeded to check the raiders.

Another column with all available troops (nearly 100) was dispatched on 23 Oct 1947 to join Brig Singh with orders from Maharaja Hari Singh “Brigadier Rajendra Singh is commanded to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs and to the last man...“ #LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳

Seeing the situation and finding the defending force quite small in comparison to the swarming Pakistani invaders, Brig Singh ordered Capt Nasib Singh to blow up the steep girder bridge over the Uri stream on 24 October. This halted the march of the enemy for quite some time.

The enemy resumed attack at 7 am on 25 Oct. The defense was so effective that the raiders sent some columns to cross the Jhelum upstream on footbridges to attack the defense from the rear.

Brig Singh, sensing the move, asked Capt Jwala Singh to move upstream and blow up the bridges. The task was completed by 4.30 p.m. but by then some enemy troops had already crossed over to this side.
Again the Brigadier moved to Rampur to put up a defence near the Pathar ruins.

Trenches were hastily dug through the night.
On 26 Oct the enemy firing started from all sides. The defence was, once again, so effective that throughout the day raiders could not launch an assault. Then they planned to put up roadblocks to block even the tactical retreat.

At dusk, he ordered a withdrawal to Seri bridge west of Baramulla to halt the enemy.
As Brig Singh and his men fought, on 26 Oct, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession joining the Union of India as the region was under siege from Pakistani forces.

Retreating vehicles moved at 1 am on October 27 and enemy fire again started from all sides. The first roadblock was cleared without any loss but at the second one near Dewan Mandir (Buniyar), the leading driver was hit and killed. The convoy halted.

When Capt Jwala Singh got down to clear the block, he found that the drivers of the first three vehicles had been killed. He got the vehicles pushed aside and made four vehicles move on but the Brigadier was in none of them and Captain decided to retreat to Baramulla.

At the second road block, Brig Singh's driver had been killed and he himself took control of the steering of his vehicle which was number two in the small convoy.
Brig Singh was mortally wounded in the right leg from the MMG fire, thus impeding the plan.

He “forcefully ordered” his men to put him under the culvert with a revolver since he had promised his ruler that the enemy would advance only over his dead body and ordered them to swiftly move to the planned defensive position to check the movement of the enemy towards Srinagar

Thereafter nothing more was heard of the gallant #IndianBrave and fearless soldier who always placed duty and country before self.
#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 Brig Singh and his soldiers carried out the orders of the Maharaja to the letter & spirit. Fighting bravely defending the land

#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 Brig Rajendra Singh made the supreme sacrifice on the night of 26-27 October 1947 valiantly fighting the Pakistani raiders at Boniyar. The #IndianBrave was awarded with the #MahaVirChakra posthumously. The 1st Indian to be conferred with the #MVC

On 27 Oct 1999 a commemorative stamp in honour of Brig Singh, #MahaVirChakra (P) was released.

The first day cover carried a picture of the Memorial build in his memory and the route map of the historic battle.

On 24 Oct'18 a bust of Brig Singh, #MahaVirChakra (P) presented by his family, was unveiled by Lt Gen AK Bhatt, the GOC @Chinarcorps_IA at Srinagar. Brig Singh's daughter Mrs Uravshi Pathania was present too.
#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 the service & sacrifice of Brig Rajendra Singh