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| BATTLEFIELD HIMALAYAS EXPRESSIONS OF TANKS COMMANDER | | (Stuart Tanks Assaulting Zoji La on 1 November 1948) | | Col J S Pawar
Himalayas comprise the most dominating geographical features of India. No other mountain range anywhere in the world has affected the life of people and shaped the destiny of a nation as the Himalayas have for India. Himalayan Ranges are useful to India in many ways. It is very vital to the defence and prosperity of India. It prevents foreign invasions from the North. It acts as barrier against cold winds flowing down from Central Asia. It is a source of water for almost all the perennial rivers of India helping irrigation and agriculture. There is a close mythological connect also. Himalayas is homeland of Lord Shiva. For Indians the Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in the abode of Himalayas have always been and continue to be the ultimate destinations for Peace and Nirvana. After Mahabharata, the bloodiest war of ancient history between Kauravas and Pandavas, despite winning the war, the Pandavas were neither happy nor elated over the victory. They walked across to snow-laden Himalayas to seek peace and salvation at Kailash-Mansarovar. So did the survived Kauravas. Henece ingress in Himalayan Ranges by any invader makes India uncomfortable and makes Indian defence untenable. That is why PLA’s ingress in Eastern Ladakh has been resolutely checkmated.
Strategic importance of Himalayas also lies in the fact that soon after partition of India, Pakistan spared no time to invest Gilgit-Baltistan and Ladakh. After the occupation of Gilgit-Baltistan Pak invaders occupied Zoji La which connected Kashmir Valley with Indus valley. Line of communications to Leh and Skardu was disrupted. For the maintenance of troops and civilians across Zoji La was vital. Hence Gen K S Thimayya, GOC Srinagar Division planned to clear it at the earliest. He tasked 77 Para Bde to clear Zoji La of the enemy. 77 Bde attempted twice on 3rd and 13th September 1948 but both the attacks failed because of enemy strength and difficulties of terrain & weather. Thereafter Gen Thimayya made an unthinkable plan. He decided to use Tanks. By then nowhere in the world Tanks had operated at such heights ever. Hence 7 Cav located at Deva Batala was ordered to move to the valley. Charlie Squadron (Sqn) commanded by Capt S D S Jamwal, later Lt Col, of Raipur Jammu was ordered to move first. It is to his credit to take his Sqn to the valley secretly by dismantling Tanks and carrying the Turrets in civil trucks unnoticed and clearing Zoji La on 1st November 1948 singlehanded and saving Indus valley.
He is alumni of ‘Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, (RIMC) Dehradun, which is the most prestigious pre-commission academic institution of Asia where my nephew Aryaveer Singh Parmar is also studying. His father Col Parsidh Singh was the veteran of 1st World War and awarded War Jagir. He was commissioned during the 2nd World War in 7 Cav. He went to Japan with his ‘Troop of Tanks’ from where he was diverted to Burma where, as part of British Indian Division, he performed gallantly. Later he served with ‘British Commonwealth Allied Occupation Forces’ in Japan. He is a veteran of many wars. Higher his age, the bigger is his historical repository of various wars that he fought in own country and overseas. Now ninety four plus, he is often seen on long morning walks in Gandhinagar due to his war tonics.
His story turns more interesting in 1948 when he returned to India and was sent to J&K, his homeland, to fight against the Pak invaders in Jhangar. In the battle of Jhangar, for its recapture, his Sqn supported the Infantry attack when his Troop Commander Jem Kartar Singh was awarded his first VrC. His CO, Lt Col (later Maj Gen) Rajinder Singh Sparrow earned his MVC and another officer 2 Lt Rana Raghav Rane got the PVC.
On arrival in Srinagar, Capt Jamwal was pressed into the battlefield to clear Zoji La. On 1st November 1948 morning, Gen K S Thimayya summoned him at Baltal and ordered him to advance across Zoji La and capture Gumri. His moments of glory came soon after that. Once ordered, he undertook the adventure boldly and lived up to GOC’s expectations and ancestral martial traditions.
Charlie Sqn started advance soon after the receipt of orders. It fought its way through the Pakistanis entrenched enroute. Scared of the roaring Tanks, enemy fled. The Sqn reached Gumri fighting its way through the enemy held positions. Appearance of Tanks came as bolt from the blue for Pakistanis. They ran for their lives. By 3 PM, 01 November 1948, Gumri was under Charlie Sqn’s feet. He messaged his Regt HQs; “Hello Victor 15, Gumri captured, enemy on the run, over”. Soon after that Gen Thimayya arrived at Gumri. General was the first person to reach there after the capture of Gumri and he was without any escort. Seeing him, Capt Jamwal jumped off his tank to receive the GOC but Gen shouted telling him not to salute because they were under enemy observation. It were Rimcolian Capt and a Rimcolian General who gave Zoji La to the Indian Army, credit to the RIMC which makes officers dare devils. Gen asked whereabouts of A Coy of 1/5 GR, which wasn’t seen around. Capt Jamwal requested GOC to get back before it gets dark. Complimenting Capt Jamwal GOC returned. A Coy 1/5 GR, which was supposed to be supporting Tank Assault through the snow-clad Pass reached Gumri much later. With victory at its feet the army advanced further and captured Matyan, 18 Kms ahead of Zoji La.
With just about two years of service, Capt SDS went on to create history by taking Stuart Tanks across strongly held Zoji La without Infantry support. Such risky misadventures were in his blood. This write up is a tribute to a bold and dashing Dogra who not only created history but geography also by saving Ladakh from Pakistan. It is here that Jem Kartar Singh got his second VrC. Corps Commander sent a congratulatory message to CO 7 Cav - “the magnificent part played by Charlie Sqn of your Regiment in the battle of Zoji La will always be remembered as the greatest achievement by Tanks in Kashmir Ops (.) This speaks highly of your excellent planning and leadership (.) Please convey to Capt Sharak Dev Singh, the OC Charlie Sqn, my warmest congratulations for his dash and boldness in the way the Tanks were employed (.) The JCOs and ORs who took part in this Op have won our admiration (.) Well done (.)”. For exemplary Command of his Sqn in war, he was awarded a ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’. He deserved a higher gallantry award but missed it, perhaps because of the politics that may have come in the way as it did later leading to a premature ceasefire thereby letting nearly half of J&K go to Pakistan.
In 1961, Maj Jamwal was part of ‘liberate Goa operation’. In 1962, he was in NEFA to fight against the Chinese. This story is also interesting. On 22 October 1962, 7 Cav was ordered to move to Missamari in the Brahmaputra valley. Maj Jamwal was Bravo Sqn Commander. At that time Regiment’s Stuart Tanks were in a bad state being old and for want of spares.
With cannibalization, he readied his Tanks for the battle and reached Missamari on 27 October where he received operational orders from the Corps HQ as follow:- (i) to deploy Sqn HQ and one Troop with HQ 4 Inf Div at Dirang (at 5,500 ft height). (ii) to deploy one Troop in support of 48 Inf Bde at Bomdila (at 10,000 ft height) and (iii) third Troop to be in support of 62 Bde at Se La, ( at 13,550 ft height) spread over a distance of 200 Kms from Missamari. Maj Jamwal however pressed his Sqn regardless of challenges and reached Bomdila on 11 November 1962.
Chinese over-ran Se La on 17 November. 4 Inf Div commanded by Maj Gen A S Pathania, MVC, MC was routed in the initial attacks. The famous Division went into a hasty withdrawal. With no orders from any commander, Maj Jamwal asked Gen Pathania as to what were the orders for him. Hurriedly withdrawing Div Commander gave the order, “try to break through Bomdila. If you can’t, cover our withdrawal. I am leaving, if you can’t get through to Bomdila follow us”. Thereafter Maj Jamwal neither saw the General nor his formation. Being left to fend for himself he asked his subordinates to hold the ground till last light and provide cover to withdrawing troops. Throughout the heavy engagement with advancing Chinese, Maj Jamwal kept encouraging his men to fight on. The men stood their ground till darkness. As the darkness fell, it was decided to break through. B Sqn finally reached Missamari on 25th November lesser mauled. Troops had to face the ignominy of withdrawal despite its glorious battle records.
Ironically the govt decided not to give any gallantry award for any action in Bomdila sector regardless of individual gallantry otherwise Col Jamwal would have been rewarded for gallantry and exemplary leadership in otherwise lost war. But I see him much better rewarded with good health and happiness. May he hit a glorious century and keep passing his knowledge to us. |
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