Karam Singh
Encyclopedia
Lance Naik
Karam Singh MM
, a Sikh
, was born on 15 September 1915 in Barnala
, Punjab
. He is an Indian military war hero who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra
, India's highest wartime military award, in 1948.
Karam Singh retired from the Indian Army
as Honorary Captain. He is survived by his wife Gurdial Kaur.
and was awarded the Military Medal
on 14 March 1944.
Karam Singh earned his Param Vir Chakra in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
. In the war, India
and Pakistan
fought battles for control of the Tithwal sector. India captured Tithwal on 23 May 1948, but subsequently lost hold of the position because of strong Pakistani counter-attacks. Between May and October 1948, the two forces engaged in multiple battles over Tithwal. Company Havildar Major Piru Singh Shekhawat
showed extreme bravery in a battle near the River Krishnaganga between 17 and 18 July 1948 and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
In October 1948, Pakistan troops launched an attack with the objective of capturing Richhmar Gali to the south of Tithwal and occupying Nastachur Pass to the east of Tithwal. Lance Naik Karam Singh was commanding a forward outpost in the Richhmar Gali area. During the initial attacks, all the bunkers in the platoon area were destroyed by heavy enemy shelling. Communications with his commander was also cut off, hence Karam Singh was unable to update his situation or ask for reinforcements. Although wounded, he brought back two injured comrades to the frontline with the help of another man to the main company position and defended Richhmar Gali.
Twice wounded by the fifth enemy attack, Lance Naik Karam Singh refused evacuation and continued to hold on to the first-line trenches. When enemy soldiers secured a position close to the frontline, Karam Singh jumped out of his trench and bayoneted the two intruders to death. This bold action so demoralised the enemy that they broke off the attack. In all, the outpost was attacked eight times that day and the Sikhs repulsed the enemy every time. For his outstanding role in the battle of Tithwal, Karam Singh became the second recipient of the Param Vir Chakra.
awarded to him reads:
LANCE NAIK KARAM SINGH
1 SIKH (NO-22356)
Tithwal in Jammu and Kashmir was captured on 23 May 1948. After that date, the enemy made numerous attempts to recapture Richmar Gali, and thence Tithwal. On 13 October 1948, coinciding with Id, the enemy decided to launch a brigade attack to retake Richmar Gali, and bypassing Tithwal, advance into the Srinagar Valley . Lance Naik Karam Singh was commanding a section at Richmar Gali.
The enemy commenced its attack with heavy shelling of guns and mortars. The fire was so accurate that not a single bunker in the platoon locality was left unscathed.
Communication trenches caved in. Bravely, Lance Naik karam Singh went from bunker to bunker, giving succor to the wounded and urging the men to fight.
The enemy launched eight separate attacks that day. In one such attack, the enemy managed to obtain a foothold in the platoon locality. Immediately, Lance Naik Karam Singh, who was severely wounded by then, with a few men, hurled himself in a counter-attack and evicted the enemy after a close quarter encounter which accounted for many enemy dead, having been dispatched by the bayonet.
Lance Naik Karam Singh proved himself to be a dauntless leader of men in crisis. Nothing could subdue him and no amount of fire or hardship could break his spirit.
Lance Naik
Lance Naik is the equivalent rank to Lance Corporal in the Pakistan and Indian Armies and before 1947, in the British Indian Army, ranking below Naik. In cavalry units the equivalent is Acting Lance Daffadar. Like a British Lance Corporal, he wore a single rank chevron....
Karam Singh MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
, a Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
, was born on 15 September 1915 in Barnala
Barnala
Barnala is an Indian city in the Punjab state of India which serves as the head quarters of the Barnala district. It is situated in the heart of the state. Barnala is well known for textile market in the area.-History and famous people:...
, Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
. He is an Indian military war hero who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra
Param Vir Chakra
The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. It can be, and often has been, awarded posthumously....
, India's highest wartime military award, in 1948.
Karam Singh retired from the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
as Honorary Captain. He is survived by his wife Gurdial Kaur.
Military career
He was enrolled in the 1st battalion of Sikh Regiment on 15 September 1941. Karam Singh fought for India in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was awarded the Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
on 14 March 1944.
Karam Singh earned his Param Vir Chakra in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
The India-Pakistan War of 1947-48, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four wars fought between the two newly independent nations...
. In the war, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
fought battles for control of the Tithwal sector. India captured Tithwal on 23 May 1948, but subsequently lost hold of the position because of strong Pakistani counter-attacks. Between May and October 1948, the two forces engaged in multiple battles over Tithwal. Company Havildar Major Piru Singh Shekhawat
Piru Singh
Company Havildar Major Piru Singh Shekhawat was a Shekhawat Kachwaha Rajput. He was soldier in the British Indian Army. He died in service during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947...
showed extreme bravery in a battle near the River Krishnaganga between 17 and 18 July 1948 and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
In October 1948, Pakistan troops launched an attack with the objective of capturing Richhmar Gali to the south of Tithwal and occupying Nastachur Pass to the east of Tithwal. Lance Naik Karam Singh was commanding a forward outpost in the Richhmar Gali area. During the initial attacks, all the bunkers in the platoon area were destroyed by heavy enemy shelling. Communications with his commander was also cut off, hence Karam Singh was unable to update his situation or ask for reinforcements. Although wounded, he brought back two injured comrades to the frontline with the help of another man to the main company position and defended Richhmar Gali.
Twice wounded by the fifth enemy attack, Lance Naik Karam Singh refused evacuation and continued to hold on to the first-line trenches. When enemy soldiers secured a position close to the frontline, Karam Singh jumped out of his trench and bayoneted the two intruders to death. This bold action so demoralised the enemy that they broke off the attack. In all, the outpost was attacked eight times that day and the Sikhs repulsed the enemy every time. For his outstanding role in the battle of Tithwal, Karam Singh became the second recipient of the Param Vir Chakra.
Citation
The citation for the Param Vir ChakraParam Vir Chakra
The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. It can be, and often has been, awarded posthumously....
awarded to him reads:
Tithwal in Jammu and Kashmir was captured on 23 May 1948. After that date, the enemy made numerous attempts to recapture Richmar Gali, and thence Tithwal. On 13 October 1948, coinciding with Id, the enemy decided to launch a brigade attack to retake Richmar Gali, and bypassing Tithwal, advance into the Srinagar Valley . Lance Naik Karam Singh was commanding a section at Richmar Gali.
The enemy commenced its attack with heavy shelling of guns and mortars. The fire was so accurate that not a single bunker in the platoon locality was left unscathed.
Communication trenches caved in. Bravely, Lance Naik karam Singh went from bunker to bunker, giving succor to the wounded and urging the men to fight.
The enemy launched eight separate attacks that day. In one such attack, the enemy managed to obtain a foothold in the platoon locality. Immediately, Lance Naik Karam Singh, who was severely wounded by then, with a few men, hurled himself in a counter-attack and evicted the enemy after a close quarter encounter which accounted for many enemy dead, having been dispatched by the bayonet.
Lance Naik Karam Singh proved himself to be a dauntless leader of men in crisis. Nothing could subdue him and no amount of fire or hardship could break his spirit.