Thread by @meemainseen

Martyred Buddies of Daska
19 Lancers
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A mini triangle in the center of Daska city is formed by Pasrur Road heading South East, Nisbat Road branching off to South West and Sambrial Road originating due North
A few paces away on Sambrial Road stands Shaheedan Wala Qabrastan

A compound just by the roadside announces that these are the tombs of the Shuhada of 19 Lancers who fought at Chawinda
An honour roll lists the martyred soldiers, two officers, five NCOs and twelve soldiers

Inside the compound are 10 graves arranged in pairs on 5 rows, painted blood red each bearing a photograph of a young energetic face, beaming with life
Buddies in war at Chawinda are now buddies in afterlife at Daska
This, dear reader, is their story ...

Pulled away from the Khem Karan battle right when it started brewing, 3 Armoured Brigade on 12 September arrived at Sialkot
One of it’s regiments 19 Lancers would fight the battle at Chawinda, but not before a few friendly jolts

19 L fighting the battle of 6 Armoured Division depended on their brigade headquarters net to take orders that was away from live action
A mismatch between what happened on ground with what got communicated through the wireless sets would cost the unit dearly, more than once

On 15 September a false alarm was raised that two Indian tanks broke through and were on Badiana - Bhalowali track with a direct threat to the Division Headquarters
Bravo Squadron of 19 L was sent to tackle the intruding tanks
The squadron was soon to be caught in friendly fire

Now Alpha Squadron of 22 Cav returning from Zafarwal was deployed at Badiana, which the division knew but 19 L didn’t
22 Cav gunners in their sights saw tanks and fired their guns
They destroyed two leading tanks of 19 L and four crew members embraced shahadat from own guns

This ridiculous communication handicap was to deliver another blow to the Lancers
The date is 16 September, Chawinda is defended as strong point, Indian attack has started to develop from north
Charlie Squadron 19 L is ordered to move and cover the southern flank of Chawinda

Chawinda defenders were never told that their would be friendly armour towards the exposed flank
Alpha squadron of own 25 Cavalry saw 19 L tanks and thought the much awaited Indian tanks are now ‘in range’
Without any warning the first shots were fired and a tank knocked out

The war diary of 19 L records the duration of this engagement to be “full 15 mins”.
That day the Lancers lost Second Lieutenant Abid Majid and his wireless operator with tank gunner wounded
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picture credits: Agha H Amin

After a bumpy ride through friendly encounters 19 L was to prove their mettle in defence of Chawinda
For the subsequent days they would effectively "prevent Indians from reaching road Pasrur - Sialkot"

The left flank of the town of Chawinda was exposed as Indian elements had captured the villages of Buttur Dograndi, Jassoran and Janewal
On the morning of 18 September Bravo Squadron and Recce Troop of the unit in a fantastic dash cleared area upto Jassoran Janewal

Almost halfway between Baidan and Chawinda lies the prominent village of Sodreke
Charlie Squadron of 19 L supporting Alpha Company of 1st Punjab captured it the same day Jassoran fell

Major Alam Jan Mahsud of 19 Lancers who was commanding Bravo Squadron during the attack on Jassoran was wounded due to gun recoil and had to be evacuated
Major Masud Akhtar Kiani was appointed the new commander

https://twitter.com/leftofthepincer/status/1409026505137700864

Hailing from Pharwala near Kahuta Major Kiani led his squadron beating back a determined attack from 4 Hodson’s Horse on the morning of 19 Sep, claiming 8 Centurian Kills
Badly injured in Indian Air Force bombing he later succumbed to his wounds at CMH
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photo by: Agha H. Amin

He was posthumously decorated with a well deserved SJ
19 Lancers gave 6 precious lives in the defence of Chawinda but their finest hour was yet to come
In what General Mahmud terms as “a perfect revenge of Khem Kharan” Alpha Squadron of 19 Lancers struck 4 Horse yet again

In the wee hours of 20 Sep in their dash towards Chawinda railway line Alhpa Squadron and Recce Troop of 19 L bumped into tanks of 4 Horse breaking out of leaguer
The leading tanks without giving a respite opened up with all their guns and automatics

In the fiasco that followed 4 Horse had to retreat leaving behind six tanks
Fiercely fought were the battles at Chawinda, but that, dear reader, would be a story for another day

Post Script
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I was at Shaheedan Wala Qabrastan to pay my respect to a course mate and very dear friend Major Zia ul Haq Shaheed of Solah Salar
He embraced shahadat in Operation Rah e Haq at Swat
Having read this thread, dear reader, please say a silent prayer for Zia

ciao