1947/48 War – Gen Thimaya’s Tribute To 1st SIKH
Son of Col Harwant Singh, MC; 1 Sikh.
Col Harwant Singh MC (Retd) is 94 yrs. He was one of the Company Commanders of 1 SIKH when they landed in Srinagar on 27 Oct 1947 and took part in all actions of the unit. Later he was Station Commander Srinagar before taking command of 4 SIKH in Dec 48 in the Valley itself.
The Dakota landings of the Indian Army commenced on 27 Oct 1947 and were spearheaded by 1 SIKH under command of Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai who was in the leading aircraft. One Dakota carrying the Signal Platoon had to force land at Jammu and joined after three days. Meanwhile the CO took near two coys to Mile 32,, East of Baramulla and occupied hill features astride the road. Col Rai was killed on evening of 28 Oct in a rear guard action against the attacking horde of raiders. He was awarded a posthumous MVC. As rest of the battalion had not arrived, Major Harwant Singh MC, D Coy Commander took over.
The CO had given orders to withdraw and stop the raiders at the Shalateng Spill Channel 4 ½ miles from Srinagar. However during Night 28t/29 Oct the situation was unclear and Maj Harwant Singh MC with six years service decided to make a stand at Mile 17 near Pattan, midway between Srinagar and Baramulla and this position was occupied on Night 28/29. The Spill area was not defensible with the available troops.
The position had barely been occupied when at dawn the leading convoy of raiders was ambushed. Repeated attacks were launched by the raiders to dislodge 1 SIKH from Mile 17 but the troops held firm and inflicted heavy casualties on the raiders. Had the raiders not been held at Pattan, Srinagar would have fallen on 29 Oct itself.
This action delayed the raiders by some 48 hrs and enabled the defense of the Srinagar Airfield to be prepared.
Col Harwant Singh, MC breathed his last yesterday. PKM--Here is Gen KS Thimaya’s Order of the Day as GOC 19 Div, when 1 Sikh left the Valley –
“I bid farewell to you, Officers and men of the 1st Battalion The SIKH Regiment, on the eve of your departure from 19 Division.
You had the honor of being the first Battalion to arrive by air to Srinagar on the outbreak of hostilities and you reached Srinagar on the 27th October 47. The enemy was then at Baramula when you pushed forward. During this action you lost your gallant commander – Colonel Rai. Owing to the lack of transport and reinforcements and the overwhelming strength of the enemy you were forced to pull back to the outskirts of the city until your whole Battalion was concentrated from India.
From here, as part of 161 Brigade you made a brilliant advance and pushed the enemy all the way back to Uri causing heavy casualties to him. This speedy advance caused the enemy to break even run beyond Muzaffarabad and it was only because of the lack of transport and for other strategic reasons that prevented you from reaching Muzaffarabad itself.
From then on as part of 161 Brigade you held a secure base at Uri and prevented the enemy from infiltrating into the Kashmir Valley from the West. During this time you had some very fierce engagements with the enemy in which you proved your superiority over him in every way. You continued through out the winter. For many of you the sight of snow was a novel experience and the way you operated and stayed in that area under intense cold and in difficult terrain was a fine example of your toughness and high morale.
Early in spring the enemy infiltrated into the Handwara Valley via the Nastachhun Pass. You were hurriedly sent there to push him back from Sopor and Handwara and there you held him in the hills and prevented him from making further advance. During this time, apart from the fighting that you carried out, you took the opportunity of befriending the local population and with them you gained great popularity and won the confidence of the peasants, which has been a deciding factor in the political stability of Kashmir. All this time you were part of J&K Force.
In April 1948 Sri Division came into existence and you formed part of 163 Infantry Brigade. In May 1948 Sri Division took the offensive to the West and your Battalion as part of 163 Infantry Brigade took a most prominent part in these operations.
On the night of 16 /17 May in a lightening advance from Handwara you surrounded the enemy HQ at Dogarpur and then continued to capture Chokibal, the Nastachun Pass and finally entered Tithwal on 23rd May 48. This was an amazing advance under very difficult conditions and in very mountainous country against a Pathan enemy who was highly skilled in mountain warfare. When you pushed trough the Nastachun Pass, snow and ice still lay all over it.
From then onwards you held the most vital part of the Tithwal area for six months. You occupied a forward position which was constantly under enemy pressure and heavy mortar and artillery fire. The enemy made repeated attempts to drive you from this position and the last effort of the enemy on 13 October when he used over three Battalions accompanied by heavy Artillery and Mortar support, you beat him back causing very heavy casualties on him.
The enemy knew who you were and decided that it was no use trying to flight a fine Battalion like yours. During all these operations you suffered the following :- Killed Two Officers, Six JCOs and 101 ORs. Wounded– Five Officers, 15 JCOs and 342 ORs. Missing – One JCO and 15 ORs. Enemy Casualties Killed, 1206; Wounded 1215 and Missing 15
Before the partition of the Indian Army your Regiment – the SIKH Regiment- had earned for itself a great reputation for gallantry and efficiency in two World Wars in various theatres in the World and on numerous operations on the North West Frontier. During these 13 months in the Kashmir Valley, fighting for free India, you have surpassed all previous records and have further enhanced your traditions as a fighting unit.
It has been a great privilege to have you in my Division in which you have helped to lay the foundations of a great tradition and it is with a great sorrow that I bid farewell to you officers and men whom I have come to love and admire.
The Valley of Kashmir will always sing your praises and echo to the deeds of gallantry performed by you. Some of you who are present in the parade have lost all you owned in the West Punjab. You have had your homes uprooted and your families displaced and you are many of you, still without a home. In spite of all this you have fought hard and kept your morale high and enhanced the reputation of the Indian Army.
I hope you will all in a very short time be able to take your well earned leave and that you will find your families in great cheer and happiness and I wish you all a well earned rest and may God be with you!
JAI HIND
K S Thimayya, Major General
Srinagar J&K Nov 1948
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Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma Phaleshou Kada Chana !
Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani !!
-- Srimadbhagvadgita, Chapter 2, verse 47
It means: To action alone hast thou a right and never at all to its fruits;
let not the fruits of action be thy motive; neither let here be in thee any attachment to inaction.
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Retired Colonel Harwant Singh, a World War-II veteran and hero passed away in Patiala, Punjab. He was 95.