By 1962, the euphoria of Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai had died down.
A full-scale war had broken out with the Chinese Army attacking on Namka Chu on 20 October 1962. On October 24th, 120 officers & jawans of the Ahir Charlie Company of the 13 Kumaon Regiment, almost all of them hailing from the Ahirwal region (southern Haryana), were airlifted from Hyderabad to the Chushul sector. They were deployed on the Rezang La Ridge to defend the highest air strip in the world located at 16,000 feet - just across the Chinese claim line. When the country was celebrating Diwali, a different scenario was unfolding in the Chushul sector. Chinese infantry in strength was moving up & in the early hours of November 18th, fighting broke out.
Artillery bombardment of the Indian outposts, airfield and brigade positions in the valley began in the small hours of November 18th and at first light infantry assaulted the Indians in their hill positions. Heavy mortars, recoilless guns and rockets softened the shallow Indian entrenchments, beaten off in frontal attacks. The Chinese moved to envelop the Indian positions, taking them from the flank or rear after savage hand-to-hand fighting. Of the Charlie Company, three of the wounded reached Battalion HQ in the valley, five were taken prisoner, the rest of the company were still in their positions.An Indian party climbed to Rezang La three months later on 11 February 1963 & found Indian Soldiers frozen as they died with weapons in hand. Only the Chinese dead had been removed, and evidence of the battle showed that there had been many. The Chinese troops, outnumbering the Indians by nearly 20 to one, the Indians were still skilled and determined soldiers who fought back fiercely against the overwhelming odds - enormous Chinese advantage in firepower and numbers - showing unparalleled chivalry and undaunted courage. It was natural that the Chinese suffered heavy casualties.
At one stage, having run out of ammunition, several jawans came out of the pickets and charged the enemy with bare hands - Lance Naik Ram Singh killing several Chinese soldiers after lifting and hitting them against the rocks. The brave Ahirs fought to the finish - to the last bullet and the last man - till their last breath. Even the enemy was so moved by their bravery that while retreating they covered the bodies of Naik Gulab Singh, Lance Naik Ram Singh and others with blankets and posted their rifles & bayonets by their bodies as a mark of respect.
The body of Major Shaitan Singh, Company Commander, was flown to Jodhpur where he was cremated with full military honours. Other bodies were laid to rest at Chushul itself where, later on, a memorial was erected. Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously decorated with the Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award, whereas Jamadars Soorja Ram and Hari Ram, Naiks Hukam Chand and Ram Kanwar, Lance Naik Ram Singh and Sepoy Dharam Pal were posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra. Several others were honoured with Sena Medals.
A full-scale war had broken out with the Chinese Army attacking on Namka Chu on 20 October 1962. On October 24th, 120 officers & jawans of the Ahir Charlie Company of the 13 Kumaon Regiment, almost all of them hailing from the Ahirwal region (southern Haryana), were airlifted from Hyderabad to the Chushul sector. They were deployed on the Rezang La Ridge to defend the highest air strip in the world located at 16,000 feet - just across the Chinese claim line. When the country was celebrating Diwali, a different scenario was unfolding in the Chushul sector. Chinese infantry in strength was moving up & in the early hours of November 18th, fighting broke out.
Artillery bombardment of the Indian outposts, airfield and brigade positions in the valley began in the small hours of November 18th and at first light infantry assaulted the Indians in their hill positions. Heavy mortars, recoilless guns and rockets softened the shallow Indian entrenchments, beaten off in frontal attacks. The Chinese moved to envelop the Indian positions, taking them from the flank or rear after savage hand-to-hand fighting. Of the Charlie Company, three of the wounded reached Battalion HQ in the valley, five were taken prisoner, the rest of the company were still in their positions.An Indian party climbed to Rezang La three months later on 11 February 1963 & found Indian Soldiers frozen as they died with weapons in hand. Only the Chinese dead had been removed, and evidence of the battle showed that there had been many. The Chinese troops, outnumbering the Indians by nearly 20 to one, the Indians were still skilled and determined soldiers who fought back fiercely against the overwhelming odds - enormous Chinese advantage in firepower and numbers - showing unparalleled chivalry and undaunted courage. It was natural that the Chinese suffered heavy casualties.
At one stage, having run out of ammunition, several jawans came out of the pickets and charged the enemy with bare hands - Lance Naik Ram Singh killing several Chinese soldiers after lifting and hitting them against the rocks. The brave Ahirs fought to the finish - to the last bullet and the last man - till their last breath. Even the enemy was so moved by their bravery that while retreating they covered the bodies of Naik Gulab Singh, Lance Naik Ram Singh and others with blankets and posted their rifles & bayonets by their bodies as a mark of respect.
The body of Major Shaitan Singh, Company Commander, was flown to Jodhpur where he was cremated with full military honours. Other bodies were laid to rest at Chushul itself where, later on, a memorial was erected. Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously decorated with the Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award, whereas Jamadars Soorja Ram and Hari Ram, Naiks Hukam Chand and Ram Kanwar, Lance Naik Ram Singh and Sepoy Dharam Pal were posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra. Several others were honoured with Sena Medals.
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