AFVOA Newletters of Year 2002

Page 76 of 84 boats in the Mesopotamia campaign or as coastal mine sweepers. The Royal Marines was also responsible for the fitting out and despatch of the vessels conveying the various expeditionary forces sent overseas from India. 34. By the end of the World War II, the Royal Indian Navy had expanded from a complement of 1200 to 28,000 officers and men and its ships had taken a distinguished part in actions in the Red Sea, the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, the Bay of Bengal and the Mediterranean as well as in combined operations off the coast of Sicily and Burma. 35. In both wars large numbers of Indian seamen served in the merchant navies of India and other Commonwealth countries. Their role was no less essential than that or their comrades in the Armed services – without them the armies could neither have been transported are sustained nor could the civilian population receive their essential supplies. 36. The youngest Indian service, formed only in 1933, was the Royal Indian Air Force. Entering the war with one squadron and a strength of 200 officers and men, it had grown by 1945 to a strength of nine squadrons, and 28,500 men. Essentially a tactical Air Force in its early days saw service with the Army throughout the Burma campaign. Indian officers also served in the Royal Air Force in Burma and other theatres. 37. Every man who served in the forces of India was a volunteer and each did so as a matter of honour. Those who died and whose names the Commission honours and remembers. Had accepted a duty and were faithful unto death. Then this more can be said of no man. 38. As mentioned earlier, it is proposed to highlight the activities of the Armed Forces in these Newsletters, starting with this issue. We shall commence by bringing out a brief account about the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), awardees. We start with the first three winners of this coveted award – Maj Som Nath Sharma, Lt Rama Raghoba Rane and Hav Karham Singh. We hope to give out the exploits of the rest of the heroes in subsequent issues. Param Vir Chakra (PVC) 39. Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is the highest gallantry award given to the personnel of the Armed Forces. This is awarded for displaying valour of the utmost degree in the presence of the enemy. The PVC was established on January 26, 1950, by the President of India, with effect from August 15, 1947. 40. The medal was designed by Mrs Savitri Khanolakar (born Eva Yuonne Linda Maday- de-Maros to a Hungarian father and Russian mother) who was married to an Indian Army officer. By coincidence, the first PVC was posthumously awarded to her son-in-law Major Som Nath Sharma. The medal was designed to symbolise Rishi Dadichi who donated his thigh bones to the gods for fashioning Vajra – the personal weapon of Indra – a symbol of power, invincibility and self sacrifice.