The Death Followed

A thread on the battle of Kongma & Ane La 🧵

It was a bitterly cold morning on November 10, 1962. As Major Sangram Singh, who would soon become a Lieutenant Colonel, drove his Jeep into Chang Chenmo Valley, (1/n)
he thought of his gallant troops who had fought so valiantly against the powerful enemy during the start of the Sino-Indian War in 1962.The Chang Chenmo valley, also known as the Middle Sector, is situated east of Shyok and south of DBO. (2/n)

Galwan: A Lost Story
A thread on the Battle of Galwan

Establishment of Galwan post as termed by the Chinese was an attempt of cannibalisation by the Indian government. (1/n)
Galwan is one of the most used terms by the general public during the past three years of India-China stand-off in Ladakh. Though both posts of 1962 and 2020 are located at different positions. Here is the story of the actual gun-fight that happened at Galwan in 1962. (2/n)

For the Unsung Heroes of 1962... A thread on the valiant men of J&K Militia 🧵

In 1960, the Indian Army was given responsibility for the northern borders. This resulted in the induction of the 114 Infantry Brigade, which included the 7 J&K Militia under Lt Col RM Banon and the 14 J&K Militia under Lt Col Nihal Singh. The 1/8 Gorkha Rifles, led by Lieutenant Colonel Hari Chand, MVC, became the force’s third battalion in April 1961. These battalions were assigned to three different areas. The 14 J&K Militia oversaw the area north of the Galwan river. The 1/8 Gorkhas were responsible for the area between Galwan and Chushul, while the 7 J&K Militia were given the responsibility of the southern territory, consisting of the Indus Valley. (1/n) In April 1961, a platoon of the 14 J&K Militia was given the responsibility to establish a post at Daulat Beg Oldie, also termed as the “Gateway to Hell” by old traders. It was 16 kilometres southeast of the Karakoram Pass. Survival in the terrain and severe weather was challenging in this region, and the enemy came after that. In those days, Ladakh’s connectivity was also very poor, with only a Jeepable road connecting Chushul and Leh. Therefore, air supply was the only way to keep posts operational.

In the early stages of the 1962, Ladakh had only four battalions – 1/8 Gorkha Rifles, 14 J&K Militia, 7 J&K Militia, and 5 Jat led by Lt Col Bakhtawar Singh, which was inducted from Uri in April 1962, along with a platoon of 1 Mahar (MMG). These four battalions covered a front of 480 kilometres from DBO in the north to Demchok in the south. (2/n)

Tenth Battalion, The Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, had to hastily move to Binaguri shortly after it was raised on October 1, 1964, in order to relieve 3 JAT, which was relocating to the western sector. 10 JAKRIF was under the command of Lt Col Mahatam Singh, who would go on to become a Regimental legend. (1/n)
Move orders for a high altitude tenure in 17 Mountain Division under 63 Mountain Brigade at Chhangu Lake in Sikkim were soon received. Those days Sikkim was a protectorate of India and the Indian Army had deployed 17 Mountain Division there. Major General Sagat Singh was the GOC of the Division and Brigadier Kundan Singh was the Brigade Commander of 63 Brigade. There was a location swap between two sister battalions, 10 JAKRIF was supposed to relieve 11 JAK RIF and 11 had to take over from 10 JAKRIF in Binaguri.

After a year with no incidents at Cho La, on July 25, 1967, a big group of Chinese PLA with patrol dogs set up makeshift fortifications on the high peaks on the opposite side of Cho La, signalling their dubious intentions. (2/n)

The only post we reoccupied in the 1962 war in Ladakh.
Let's go back to the date 24 October 1962, the location was Hot Springs in Ladakh. Subedar Norang Lal Senior JCO of Bravo Company 5 JAT picked up his radio, passed a message to his company commander Major Ajit Singh, he asked his permission to reoccupy Nullah Junction Post. (1/n) The story started a day earlier. Two jawans who survived the battle of Nullah Junction came back to company headquarters at Hot Springs. They informed Subedar Norang Lal about one of the injured soldiers left behind. Subedar Norang Lal volunteered to take out a patrol to find the injured jawan. (2/n)

The Destined Death

Story of Captain Harish Chandra Gujral, VrC, a thread 🧵

Undivided India, August 6, 1941, in a place named Hazro, which is currently in Pakistan, Harish Chandra Gujral was born to Mrs Raj Kaushalya and Mr Amolak Ram Gujral. He was second amongst six siblings. During the partition of the subcontinent, his family was successful in fleeing away from the massacre of partition. After coming to India Gujral's settled in Dehradun. Harish was admitted to a renowned convent named St. Joseph's Academy. He performed brilliantly well in school. In March 1955 he completed his matriculation. After completing his matric and first year he joined NDA, course no. 19. Spending three years at NDA and one year at IMA made Harish a very capable officer. (1/9)
He was commissioned into the Fifth battalion the Jat Regiment. After spending half a month on leave, 2/Lt Harish joined the unit in Uri on January 16, 1962. 5 Jat had moved from Amritsar, it was the unit's field tenure. In between 5 Jat had a change, there was a new Commanding Officer, Lt Col Badan Singh who just stayed for two days and moved out due to sick health. The 2-IC Major Balbir took over the charge as officiating CO and orders from the CORs secretariat were waiting for the unit. Jats were handpicked to be sent to Ladakh to relieve Gorkhas. (2/9)

On this day the GALWAN post was established in 1962. A thread 🧵

Most of us are aware of the post called Galwan but few know the details of its establishment in 1962. New Delhi was eager to establish a forward post opposite to the Chinese post of Samzungling. (1/n)
But Lieutenant General Daulet Singh led Shimla based Western Command which looked after Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was not happy with the decision of establishing the post so isolated deep in a valley with no land route. (2/n)

Mewar is not just a name of a region but it is a synonym of sacrifice and courage. Today on the occasion of Maharana Pratap Jayanti let us go through the brief history of the Mewar Infantry now known as IX GRENADIERS, MEWAR. (1/20)
The unit traces its origin with the origin of the Mewar state which is 734 AD when Bappa Rawal established his kingdom. If we talk about the battles, the list isn't small. This army had leaders like Maharana Kumbha, Maharana Sanga and Maharana Pratap. (2/20)

•Born to Lead•
Lt Col Kaman Singh, MVC

Kaman Singh, the man who was born to lead.

He was born on 23 April 1917 to Dafadar Vijay Singh Pathania, a Dogra Rajput from Ladori village of Nurpur town in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh (then Punjab). Dafadar Vijay Singh had served with 23rd Cavalry during World War I in the Mesopotamia Campaign. Young Kaman Singh continued the family tradition and joined Indian Army as a sowar in Hodson’s Horse on 23 April 1935. He served with Hodson’s Horse till June 1937 and after that he was sent to Kitchner’s College, Nowgong for military training to seek entry in Indian Army as an Officer. Soon he was selected for IMA, Dehradun along with 12 cadets including Tikka Khan (who later became General and commanded Pakistan Army). (1/n)
Kaman was sent to Indian Military Academy in July 1939 for military training after 18 months of rigorous training, on December 22, 1940 he was commissioned into the 5th Battalion the Dogra Regiment he served in 5th Dogra till April 1941 and was transferred to 17th Dogra, during this tenure he participated in World War II in the Burma Campaign from 1944 to 1945 & for his deeds he was mentioned in despatches (M-in-D) and from May 46 to July 47 he served under South East Asia Command. Till June 1947 he was a part of 17th Dogra and in July 1947 he was transferred again & this time to 4th Dogra, with them he served in North West till December 1947. (2/n)

•Honour, Enfield, and Panama•
The Story of Lieutenant Yog Raj Palta, VrC

Let's wish Lt Yog Raj Palta, VrC and his elder sister Uma Malhotra a very happy birthday.

This is the story of Yog Raj Palta, a young and adventurous Indian Army officer who loved his Royal Enfield bike and Panama cigarettes and immortalized himself in the 1962 India-China war.

Yog Raj Palta was born on April 20, 1938, to Shakuntala Devi Palta and Shadilal Palta in Ferozpur, Punjab. Shadilal Palta was a well-read man and a renowned criminal lawyer in the undivided Punjab. He was married twice; from his first marriage, he had a son named Krishan Raj Palta, who was an advisor to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. His second wife, Shakuntala Devi, bore four children ­– three boys and one girl. They were Vinod, Uma, Ashok, and Yog Raj. Yogi, as his siblings affectionately referred to him, was the youngest child in the family. He shared his birthday with his elder sister Uma. He was an extrovert and an outgoing child from the beginning. (1/n)


Because his elder brother Krishan Raj was linked to the Indian National Army, some INA officials used to visit their house in Ferozpur, and the children gradually developed a strong attachment to the motherland.

Yogi was so inspired by the freedom movement at a young age. He and his elder brother Ashok used to put up Quit India posters in public places. Once he was apprehended by municipal officers and brought to his father, who wanted his sons to study law in England and become barristers like him. The senior Palta explained the consequences and told Yogi to focus on his studies.

Yogi and Ashok were sent to Lawrence School, in Sanawar, which was a prestigious public school in the country, at that time. There, he honed his skills as a painter and boxer. Because of his appearance and weight, his friends dubbed him “Ladoo”. Yogi was in his upper three (Cambridge pattern) when his father, Shadilal Palta, died in 1952. Yog Raj and his brother were taken out of Lawrence School following his death.

The entire family’s responsibility fell on his mother’s shoulders. She raised her children and got them educated all by herself. Yogi and Ashok both finished their education privately. Ashok later went on to build a career in the Merchant Navy.

Following that, in 1955, Yog Raj took and passed the National Defence Academy exam. Yogi had to lose weight because he was overweight, so he started to do skipping and other exercises, often wearing an Army jacket. He got in shape by losing 20 kilograms before appearing for the Services Selection Board in Meerut. He cleared his SSB tests in his first attempt. (2/n)

On 5 JAT's 85th raising day...
1964: after their arduous time in Ladakh & the 1962 War, the Jats were finally making their way from Darbuk to the plains. On July 20, 1964, Paltan landed in Jhansi and joined the 43 Lorried Brigade. (1/n) The entire brigade which included the 5 Jat, 8 Garhwal, and 5/9 Gorkha Rifles left Jhansi for Beas at the end of April 1965 on very short notice. Lt Col Bakhtawar Singh, who commanded the battalion during the 1962 War, remained in command of the unit. (2/n)

BATTLE OF REZANG LA

13 KUMAON was stationed at Baramulla, when it received orders to move towards Ladakh, later on 2 companies were sent to occupy Magar Hill & Tsaka La and on reaching there Charlie Company was ordered to occupy Rezang La and prepare defences there. (1/n) Major Shaitan Singh was the Quartermaster of the unit and OC of the rear party, so when he came to Chushul, after discharging his duties, he was sent to Rezang La to command the Charlie Company. Rezang La is a massive feature, approximately 5,180 metres high. (2/n)

•Honour, Enfield, and Panama•
Lieutenant Yog Raj Palta, VrC

This is the story of Yog Raj Palta, a young and adventurous Indian Army officer who loved his Royal Enfield bike and Panama cigarettes and immortalized himself on 15 November in the 1962 Sino-Indian war. (1/n)
Yog Raj Palta was born on April 20, 1938, to Shakuntala Devi Palta and Shadilal Palta in Ferozpur, Punjab. Shadilal Palta was a well-read man and a renowned criminal lawyer in the undivided Punjab. He was married twice; from his first marriage, (2/n)

‘Fire Till Eternity’: The story of Major Shyamal Dev Goswami Shyamal Dev Goswami was born on November 6, 1938, in a Bengali family from Meerut, in Uttar Pradesh. He was a shy but friendly child who used to write rhymes and loved music in his boyhood. (1/27) He did his schooling from a Christian missionary school in Meerut where he was an average student. He never thought of joining the Indian Army, but he was inspired by his father and family members who participated in India’s freedom movement. (2/27)

On this day in 1962 Major Shaitan Singh, the Quartermaster of 13 KUMAON had reached Rezang La to take over Charlie Company. Read a brief and know how he got to Rezang La and became OC of Charlie Company. (1/n)
13 KUMAON was located in Baramulla, Kashmir after spending a tenure in Ambala. The unit surprisingly received orders to move to Leh in September. Advance party & gradually main body left for Leh via road leaving Quartermaster Major Shaitan Singh in charge of rear party. (2/n)

Hot Springs: Will to Fight

It all started with the Indian Forward Policy. After some reluctance, in June 1962, the Western Army Command under Lt Gen Daulat Singh passed an order to the Udhampur-based XV Corps to establish an isolated forward post opposite China's Samzungling deep inside the valley. The 114th Brigade gave this responsibility to the 1/8 Gorkha Rifles, who were in control of this sector. Lt Col Hari Chand, MVC, who was commanding 1/8 Gorkha Rifles, established a platoon-size post on July 4, 1962, opposite the Chinese post and a ration party some miles away from the post to maintain the supply at Galwan post.
Gorkhas had been strongly holding the posts at Galwan and Hot Spring for three months when the order came that they were going to be relieved by 5 Jat.
Lt Col Bakhtawar Singh led Jats had already been inducted into Ladakh in April. The companies started moving to different locations after the induction. Alpha Company, under Major SS Hasabnis, had reached Chushul in June, and in August they had reached Phobrang. In the first week of September, they were ordered to move to Hot Spring and relieve the Gorkhas. The Jats took over the posts at Hot Spring, Nullah Junction, and Patrol Base. In the next week, Bravo Company, under Major Ajit Singh, also started reaching Phobrang. They were supposed to move to Hot Spring to reach Galwan and relieve the Gorkhas, but the heli-lift was delayed due to heavy snowfall. On the last day of September, Bravo Company reached Hot Spring.
Due to the delay in reaching Hot Spring, Alpha Company instead of Bravo Company was ordered to move to the Galwan complex. As this post was surrounded by the Chinese. The relief operations were carried out by Mi-4 helicopters. The relief was completely done by October 12, and the Chinese didn't interfere. The Galwan complex had a total of 61 men.

Till now, Bravo Company had settled in. Major Ajit Singh had divided Bravo Company and a platoon of Alpha Company into four posts:

1. Company HQs + 1 platoon under Major Ajit Singh and Sub Norang Lal at Hot Spring

2. One platoon under Subedar Amar Singh at Patrol Base

3. One weak platoon under Naib Subedar Umed Singh at Duffer (ex A Coy)

4. One platoon under Jemadar Kanhiya Ram at Nullah Junction
(1/n)
Patrol Base:
Patrol Base, a post at more than 17000 feet, was held by a weak platoon (26 men) under Subedar Amar Singh. The Patrol Base OP was a little forward from the main post under Havildar Dhan Singh. On October 20, no enemy activity was observed in the vicinity of the post or the next, though some firing was heard from the direction of Galwan post, as the patrol base was the nearest post to Galwan.
The post commander, Sub Amar Singh, was ordered on October 21 to reorganize his defenses and hold it with only 16 men (one section plus). This party included one nursing assistant and one signaler. The other two light machine guns of the platoon and two 2-inch mortars were to be sent back. These, consisting of 15 other ranks and the RMO, were to fall back under Naib Subedar Umed Singh to Duffer post, where they reached the same evening and retreated further, along with men of the post who had also been ordered to withdraw.
The enemy commenced shelling the Patrol Base OP post at about 2330 hrs on the 22nd. The OP, a little farther forward, was manned by nine men. Since the shelling was not heavy. Subedar Amar Singh wanted to go personally and control the situation. Having obtained permission, the JCO went forward. He was, however, told not to indulge in fighting but to withdraw if faced with a superior enemy. By then the intensity of the shelling had increased. Communication with the OP was severed a little later. Enemy surrounded the post and attacked. Enemy automatics were dominating the fight. Ultimately, the OP post was outnumbered by a large force of the Chinese. Subedar Amar Singh without caring for his personal safety kept on rallying and inspiring his men to fight till the last saying "We’ve come here to fight the Chinese," Subedar Amar Singh would tell his men. "Remember, no matter what, we are not leaving this sacred ground."
He and his men kept inflicting casualties on the enemy and a shell landed on his post claiming the lives of three men, including their gallant commander. Others, who were mostly wounded, became prisoners.
Havildar Dhan Singh, who was left behind on the main post, witnessed the enemy gathering in front of his position and reported it to company headquarters on the wireless. The enemy started shelling the post followed by an infantry assault. The enemy later switched on the shelling to Patrol Base main post and attacked it soon after, according to the last reports from Havildar Dhan Singh on the wireless. They also continued to fight Dhan Singh kept moving from trench to trench inspiring his men to fight till the last and put up a gallant fight until outnumbered. Havildar Dhan Singh and one other rank were killed and another wounded by a shell burst. Six others were taken prisoners.
Signalman Unninathan reported the happenings to the company commander, and he was detailed to escort the casualties. Zamin Singh and Balbir Singh, along with NA Gopiram and 3 other ranks of B Company. Troops were withdrawn from Nullah Junction due to enemy activity. The enemy had occupied a post between Duffer and Hot Spring and were shelling the area. Unninathan, along with one man, kept searching for a new route to evacuate casualties, while Gopiram kept treating the casualties with whatever he had.

DBO: The Gateway to Hell

The Indian Army was given responsibility for the Northern Borders in April 1960. The 114 Brigade under Brigadier IJ Rikhye, was inducted in Ladakh. Its battalions, 14 J&K Militia, were in charge of the area north of the Galwan River. The 1/8 Gorkhas were responsible for the area between Galwan and Chushul, while the 7 J&K Militia were looking after the southern territory, consisting of the Indus Valley. In April 1961, Brigadier Rawind Singh Grewal, MC of 114 Brigade, ordered the establishment of a post at DBO. A platoon of 14 J&K Militia was given the responsibility to establish a post at Daulat Beg Oldie, also termed the Gateway to Hell by old traders. It was 16 kilometres southeast of the Karakoram Pass, situated at 16–17,000 feet on the north bank of Chip Chap river. Survival in the terrain and severe weather was challenging here, and the enemy came after that. Ladakh's connectivity was also poor, with only a Jeepable road connecting Chushul and Leh. Air supply was the only way to keep posts operational. (1/n)
Chivalrous Charlie 

On May 9, 1962, a platoon of Charlie Company of 5 Jat under Lt Prem Singh was flown from Srinagar to Thoise, and the rest of the company was in Leh with Bn HQs. This party was seen off by the Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon himself. Thoise was also the Battalion Headquarters of 14 J&K Militia, which had already been operating in the DBO sector for a year.

Daulat Beg Oldie was only utilized by helicopters, therefore troops in Thoise established an airfield to receive Dakotas. Soon the troops from Jat were helo-lifted and sent to DBO; this move was completed by May 25th. 

The remaining Charlie Company at Leh was sent to Srinagar, and from there, a platoon was airlifted and sent to Thoise. Now troops of Jat and Militia marched on foot, which took them 12 days to reach DBO. At DBO, all posts of the Indian Army were located on the eastern heights of the valley. In the meantime, troops had made the airfield at DBO serviceable enough to take heavy aircraft.

In the month of July, Major Bhairon Singh rejoined the unit after his tenure as a commandant with the CRPF in Neemuch. On July 23, he took the last platoon with him to DBO in a Packet aircraft piloted by Sqn Ldr CKS Raje and Sqn Ldr John Philipose. It was the first time a packet aircraft landed at DBO. Men who were on leave or courses were directly airlifted from Srinagar to DBO without acclimatization. 

Now, the whole Charlie Company had reached DBO, and it was put under the command of Lt Col Nihal Singh, CO 14 J&K Militia. A small garrison was also established in DBO, which was under the command of Major SS Randhawa, who was the 2-IC of the 14 J&K Militia. (2/n)

•I Cheated Death•
Major Dhan Singh Thapa, PVC

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

Mr. PS Thapa and Smt Draupadi Thapa welcomed Dhan Singh Thapa into the world on April 28, 1928 in Shimla, (1/27)

Himachal Pradesh. Manu, Bikram, and Kishan Thapa were his three brothers. Shakuntala Thapa was the name of his only sister.He participated in athletic activities frequently while attending Gorkha School in Shimla to study. Thapa excelled at football. (2/27)

Today marks the 76th Raising Day of 13 KUMAON (REZANG LA).

The Kumaon Regiment's 13th Battalion holds the distinction of being the first raised in the regiment upon Independence. On August 5, 1948, the unit at Kanpur started to take shape under Lt Col HC Taylor, with an equal number of Kumaonis and Ahirs. The regiment was prepared to join the 202 Infantry Brigade at Barrackpore on July 1 of the next year and assume its place alongside other infantry battalions of the Indian Army. It changed location to Fort William (Calcutta) a few months later. Prior to arriving in Ambala, the battalion provided service in Kashmir and Nagaland. The unit saw a significant change in its class composition while in Naga Hills. (1/7)
Given the small percentage of Ahirs in other battalions, there was a promotion limitation for them. As a result, Army Headquarters decided in January 1959 that 13 Kumaon should be transformed into a 100% Ahir Battalion. This would be accomplished by moving its Kumaonis to the 2nd and 6th Battalions and sending their Ahirs to the 13th, making the 2nd and 6th Battalions all Kumaoni in the process. (2/7)

The Destined Death
Story of Captain Harish Chandra Gujral, VrC

Undivided India, August 6, 1941, in a place named Hazro, which is currently in Pakistan, Harish Chandra Gujral was born to Mrs Raj Kaushalya and Mr Amolak Ram Gujral. He was second amongst six siblings. During the partition of the subcontinent, his family was successful in fleeing away from the massacre of partition. After coming to India Gujral's settled in Dehradun. Harish was admitted to a renowned convent named St. Joseph's Academy. He performed brilliantly well in school. In March 1955 he completed his matriculation. After completing his matric and first year he joined NDA, course no. 19. Spending three years at NDA and one year at IMA made Harish a very capable officer. (1/9)
He was commissioned into the Fifth battalion the Jat Regiment. After spending half a month on leave, 2/Lt Harish joined the unit in Uri on January 16, 1962. 5 Jat had moved from Amritsar, it was the unit's field tenure. In between 5 Jat had a change, there was a new Commanding Officer, Lt Col Badan Singh who just stayed for two days and moved out due to sick health. The 2-IC Major Balbir took over the charge as officiating CO and orders from the CORs secretariat were waiting for the unit. Jats were handpicked to be sent to Ladakh to relieve Gorkhas. (2/9)

We always talk of strategically important Fingers but today let's go beyond them to Sirijap located south of beautiful Pangong Tso, which was held by the 1/8 Gorkha Rifles in 1962.

In June of 1962, orders came to establish a post on the north bank of the lake at Sirijap. (1/19)

CO 1/8 Gorkha Rifles assigned this task to Major PP Singh who was the Delta Company Commander. On 26 June, Major PP Singh along with Captain PL Kher who was the Adjutant and 1 NCO and 10 OR boarded boats to cross the lake and establish a section sized post at Sirjap. (2/19)