Thread by @LestWeForgetIN

Remembering #BravestOfTheBrave Hony Capt Karam Singh, 1 SIKH (4 MECH INF) on 28th Death Anniversary.

#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 first living #ParamVirChakra awardee decorated for supreme gallantry at Tithwal, J&K during #IndoPakWar 1947-48 passed away #OnThisDay 20 Jan in 1993 aged 78

Born in 1915, at Bhaliawala village, Sangrur, Punjab, Hon Capt Karam Singh joined the army on 15 Sept 1941 at the age of 26 years. He received his military training in Ranchi and was inducted into the Sikh Regiment in August 1942.

During the First Kashmir War 1947-48, Tithwal, J&K, was captured on 23 May 1948. After that date, the enemy made numerous attempts to recapture Richmar Gali, and thence Tithwal.

On 13 October 1948, coinciding with Id, Pakistan decided to launch a brigade attack to retake Richmar Gali, and bypassing Tithwal, advance into the Srinagar Valley. Then Lance Naik, Karam Singh was commanding a section at Richmar Gali.

Pakistan commenced its attack with heavy shelling of guns and mortars and not a single bunker in the platoon locality was left unscathed.
Communication trenches caved in. Bravely, L/Nk Singh went from bunker to bunker, giving succor to the wounded and urged the men to fight.

The enemy launched eight separate attacks that day. In one such attack, the enemy managed to obtain a foothold in the platoon locality.

Immediately, L/Nk Singh, who was severely wounded by then, with a few men, hurled himself in a counter-attack and evicted the enemy after a close quarter encounter and bayonet attack which accounted for many enemy dead.

L/Nk Karam Singh proved himself to be a dauntless leader of men in crisis. Although wounded, he brought back two
of his wounded companions, refused to be evacuated & continued fighting .His bravery saved the coveted position
of Tithwal and inevitably changed the course of the war

#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 Hon Capt Karam Singh, then Lance Naik, was the first soldier to be decorated with a
non-posthumous Param Vir Chakra for his heroic deeds in the Tithwal sector of Jammu & Kashmir during the 1947-48 #IndoPakWar

Hony Capt Karam Singh was among the 5 soldiers invited by then Prime Minister Nehru to hoist the National Flag🇮🇳 at Red Fort for the first time after Independence in 1947

#LestWeForgetIndia🇮🇳 one of the greatest #IndianBraves- Hony Capt Karam Singh, 1 SIKH, the 1st soldier to be decorated with a non-posthumous #ParamVirChakra for his heroic deeds at Tithawal in the 1947 #IndoPakWar, passed away #OnThisDay 20 January in 1993.