AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 85 of 170 rear. To achieve the surprise, when the regiment was thrusting forward between Phillora and Chawinda, it was suddenly counter-attacked by the enemy’s heavy armour from Wazirwali. Lt. Colonel Tarapore defied the enemy’s charge, held his ground and gallantly attacked Phillora with one of his squadrons supported by an Infantry battalion. Though under continuous enemy tank and artillery fire, Lt. Colonel Tarapore remain unperturbed throughout this action. When wounded, he refused to be evacuated. On 14 September 1965, he led his regiment to capture Wazirwali. Unmindful of his injury, he again led his regiment and captured Jassoran and Butur-Dograndi on 16 September 1965. In this battle his own tank was hit several times. But despite the odds, he maintained his pivots at both these places and thereby helped the supporting infantry to attack Chawinda from the rear. Inspired by his leadership, the regiment fiercely attacked the enemy armour and destroyed approximately sixty enemy tanks, suffering only nine tank casualties. However, Lt. Colonel Tarapore was enveloped in flames and died a hero’s death. The valour displayed by him in this action, lasting six days, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Army. He was awarded with the highest war-time gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra, posthumously. No greater tribute can be given to this officer than by Maj Shamshed Ali, of the Pakistan Army, (‘enemy’ point of view): With intensified shelling and the general confusion prevailing, Buttur Dograndi was shortly after abandoned by 8 Garhwal and the tanks of C Sqn Poona Horse pulled back to Jessoran. In the meantime Major Ajai Singh of C Sqn Poona Horse had been in touch with Col A B Tarapore, informing him about movement from Chawinda to Pasrur and he requested for reinforcements. A Sqn of Poona House with its 2IC Captain Gurdial Singh was despatched. During WW2 the 1st Hyderabad Lancers saw service in the Middle East. At this time the Regiment was commanded by a British Officer. In 1951 some of the Hyderabad States Force units were merged with the Indian Army, and Adi was posted to the Poona Horse. Colonel Tarapore was a brave forthright officer, and kept to the traditions that armour commanders are expected to lead from the front. Throughout the war he had set a personal example in the regiment by keeping the cupola open of his tank, unconcerned about the heavy shelling - and the rest followed his example. On one occasion he was even injured by shrapnel in the arm, but after getting it bandaged continued as if nothing had happened. Now getting back to Jessoran and Buttur Dograndi-As soon as Adi had ordered A Sqn to move and join C Sqn, he told his adjutant, ‘let us also go and join them’. This put the RHQ together with A and C Squadrons. The whole area now had been targeted, with medium and heavy artillery pounding their positions, anti-tank fire and even some of the newly acquired Cobra anti tank missiles were let off on tanks of the Poona Horse. Two tanks of C Sqn were hit. Unconcerned Adi dismounted from his tank to check the infantry positions on the ground, at this time his command tank, ‘Koosab’ was hit injuring Amarjit Bal, his intelligence officer in the leg, his gunner and operator were also wounded, With this intense shelling and casualties mounting, he decided to fall back to Jassoran. He had to leave ‘Koosab’ behind because the driver could not start it. {Sources: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/HEROISM/Tarapore.html ; http://haynese.winthrop.edu/india/medals/pvc/pvc10.html ; http://www.defencejournal.com/feb-mar99/poona-horse.htm; http://www.cse.iitb.ac.in/~mohan/pvc/brave.html; http://www.india- emb.org.eq/Section5/PARAM%20VIR%20CHAKRA.html }