AFOVA New Letter 2 of Year 2021

Section 6 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 02 / 2021 Page 125 of 332 bold forays of conquest into Ladakh, Hunza, Chitral and Baltistan. In 1841, during the breath-taking invasion of Western Tibet, resulting in a series of defeats for the Sino Tibetan forces, the Chinese MANTALAI STANDARD was captured in a battle near the Mansarovar lake area. Our Fourth battalion then known as FATEH SHIBJI, in a fierce battle was able to capture this prize possession and the regiment is perhaps the only one to possess a Chinese war trophy that is placed in the Gaurav Sangrahalaya at the Regimental Centre. The Regiment has a unique and distinct identity being the only true historical Indian regiment that is completely indigenous in its origins. It fought in the First and Second World Wars not as a part of the British Indian Army, but as its ally – under its own officers and held its own against the Germans, Turks and the Japanese. A host of foreign awards, Medals for military valour and Distinguished Service medals in many theatres in the two World Wars and other areas of conflict were won by the valiant heroes of the regiment. Post-Independence of India in August 1947, in the First Indo Pak war in 1947, in the initial stages of the Pakistani invasion, the Jammu and Kashmir State forces stood alone. Although, they were hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned, they were seldom outfought. In what is one of the grimmest stands in military history, the beleaguered State Forces held off the invaders in 1947-48 Jammu and Kashmir operations, till regular Indian Army troops were landed at Srinagar Airport. The Commander in Chief of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces Brigadier Rajinder Singh spontaneously acted on the written order from Maharaja Hari Singh on 23 October 1947 and mustered the last remnants of troops from Srinagar. In a gallant last stand he successfully blew up the Uri Bridge, delaying the rapid advance of the enemy forces and saved Srinagar. He laid down his life displaying supreme heroism which was recognized and India’s first Maha Vir Chakra award was bestowed on him posthumously. The siege of the Skardu fort by Pakistan and the indomitable spirit of Lt Colonel later Brigadier Sherjung Thapa to hold on and fight till he was told to surrender by the Indian Army as a linking up was not possible, is an example of bravery and patriotism. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his gallant stand at Skardu. The state forces battalions of the regiment continued to fight with their backs to the wall with great tenacity. At the end of this war that was called off by the declaration of the Cease Fire agreement, the Jammu and Kashmir State forces had lost eighteen officers, thirty three junior commissioned officers and one thousand two hundred and thirty two men killed. They won two Maha Vir Chakras, nineteen Vir Chakras, fifty two Brig Rajinder Singh