Piru Singh

Company Havildar Major
Piru Singh Shekhawat
PVC
Born (1918-05-20)20 May 1918
Village Rampura Beri Jhunjhunu Rajasthan, India (then Rajputana)
Died 18 July 1948(1948-07-18) (aged 30)
Killed in Action at Tithwal, Kashmir
Allegiance British Indian Empire
India
Service/branch British Indian Army
Indian Army
Years of service 1936–1948
Rank Company Havildar Major[lower-alpha 1]
Unit 6th Battalion, Rajputna Rifles
Battles/wars Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Awards Param Vir Chakra

Company Havildar Major[lower-alpha 1] Piru Singh Shekhawat, PVC (20 May 1918 – 18 July 1948), was an Indian Army soldier, awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration.[1]

Singh enrolled in the British Indian Army on 20 May 1936, 6 Rajputana Rifles as his parent regiment. After the independence, he took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 with the Indian Army. During the battle, Singh was part of the leading section of the 'D' company, under 6 Rajputana Rifles, that was assigned to capture an enemy post at Tithwal, Jammu and Kashmir. Soon after their attack was launched, the company suffered heavy casualties. In time, Singh successfully occupied a medium machine gun post of the enemy. But, by the time, the entire company lay dead or wounded. Singh was left alone to achieve the objective. He moved out and lobbed grenades at the next enemy post. Before moved to another trench, he was hit with a bullet in his head, and succumbed to death.

Early life

Piru Singh was born on 20 May 1918, in village Beri, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. He was the son of Lal Singh.[2]

Military career

Piru Singh Shekhawat was enrolled in the 6 Rajputana Rifles on 20 May 1936.[2]

War of 1947

In July 1948, the enemy launched offensive strikes in the Tithwal sector, Jammu and Kashmir, and captured a ring contour on 8 July. This forced the Indian troops stationed at the forward positions across river Kishanganga to retreat. In an attempt to setback, the 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles was moved Uri to Tithwal, and assigned to the 163 Brigade. The troops took position on the Tithwal bridge.[3][1]

On 11 July, the Indian troops commenced their strikes. These strikes continued for another four days. But the reports on the situation suggested that the enemy was in command of a strategically beneficial position and this must captured for further advancement of the Indians. Apart from this position, another position was also to be captured by the Indians. The task of capturing these two positions was assigned to 6 Rajputana Rifles. The strategy planned is as follows; the 'C' Company of the battalion was to secure the second position after the first was captured by 'D' Company of the same battalion.[3][1]

On 18 July, the 'D' Company launched it first attack at 0130 hours. As the path to the position held by enemy was very narrow with just one metre wide, and deep ravines on the either side. This narrow path was overlooked by the hidden enemy bunkers in the surrounding. Soon the company was subjected to heavy fire from the enemy, and within half an hour the company recorded fifty-one casualties.[3][1]

During the battle, Singh's section, leading the company, was sheared down to half. Singh rushed towards the enemy's medium machine gun post, causing much damage to his troops. Several parts of his body were wounded by the splinters from the grenade bombardment by the enemy. Undeterred, Singh continued to advance adopting the battle cry, "Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai". Soon he killed the men at the post with his bayonet and sten gun, and occupied the post.[3][1]

But by the time, the entire company lay dead or wounded. Singh was left alone to achieve the objective assigned. He forwarded to the second medium machine gun post of the enemy. At this juncture, he was almost blinded by a grenade that blast at his face. All his sten gun ammo was also empty. Singh moved out of the trench and lobbed grenades at the next enemy post. Meanwhile, he jumped into another trench, and killed the two enemy soldiers present with his bayonet. Before moved out the trench to another, he was hit by a bullet in his head. Before he was succumbed, he hurled a grenade into another enemy trench.[3][1]

Param Vir Chakra

On 17 July 1948, Company Havildar Major[lower-alpha 1] was posthumously was awarded the India's highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra. The citation reads of follows:

South of Tithwal, ‘D’ Company, of which No 2831592 Piru Singh, was Havildar Major was detailed to attack and capture an enemy occupied hill feature. The enemy had well dug in positions and had sited his MMGs so as to cover all possible approaches. As the attack advanced, it was met with heavy MMG fire from both flanks. Volleys of grenades were hurled down from enemy bunkers. Company Havildar Major Piru Singh was then with the forward most Section of the company. Seeing more than half of the Section killed or wounded, he did not lose courage. With battle cries he encouraged the remaining men and rushed forward with great determination onto the nearest enemy MMG position. Grenade splinters ripping his clothes and wounding him at several places, he continued to advance without the least regard for his safety. He was on top of the MMG position wounding the gun crew with Sten gun fire. With complete disregard to his bleeding wounds he made a mad jump on the MMG crew bayoneting them to death, thus silencing the gun. By then he suddenly realized that he was the sole survivor of the section, the rest of them either dead or wounded. Another grenade thrown at him wounded him in the face. With blood dripping from his face wounds in his eyes, he crawled out of the trench, hurling grenades at the next enemy position.
— Gazette Notification: 8 Pres./52, 16.1.52, [4]

Legacy

The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), a Government of India enterprise under the aegis of Ministry of Shipping named fifteen of her crude oil tankers in honour of the Param Vir Chakra recipients. The crude oil tanker named MT "Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, PVC" was delivered to SCI on 12 October 1984. Due to MARPOL Convention on single hull tankers, SCI phased out all her fifteen PVC series crude tankers on completion of their economic age of 25 years.[5]

A circle called 'Shahid Piru Singh Shekhawat Circle' was named after him, in Jhunjhunu, by the Government of Rajasthan.[6]

Notes

Footnotes
  1. 1 2 3 The rank 'Company Havildar Major' is no longer in use with the Indian Army.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 Reddy 2007, p. 30.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Chakravorty 1995, pp. 65–66.
  4. ↑ "CHM Piru Singh , PVC". twdi.in. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "COMPANY HAVILDAR MAJOR PIRU SINGH PVC - IMO 8224145 - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos and Ship Tracker". Ship Spotting. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Peeru Singh Circle". Google Maps. Retrieved 26 October 2016.

References

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