Battle of the Namkachu 1962

Karpola PassLooking Down from the Summit at 16000 feet photograph taken on 6th October 1962
One was Breathless, Sleepless, Hungry and Tired beyond words. No Oxygen and no Snow clothing. The Karpola pass was the Battle Zone. One can imagine what would have been the condition when we were withdrawing from the Chinese onslaught.

Brig lakshman Singh, VSM (Retd)

Summary: 7th Infantry Brigade paid the price with its blood.

7th Infantry Brigade Brigadier John Dalvi – POW, tactical commander for the battle

1/9th Gorkhas Lt Col BS Alhuwalia

2nd Rajputs Lt Col Maha Singh Rikh, 90 POW in a single day. 60 escaped.

4th Grenadiers Lt Col KS Harihar Singh

9th Punjab Lt Col RN Mishra

One company, 6th Mahar Machine Gun Regiment

One troop, 17 Parachute Field Regiment (4 guns, only 2 operational, 260 rounds, no sights or FOO)

34 Heavy Mortar Troop (Minus one platoon, No ammunition)

100 Field Company (Engineers)

One platoon, Assam Rifles

450 civilian road construction crew, Border Roads Organization, used as porters

Chinese forces directly attacking 7th Brigade included 11th Division, Tsona Dzong. A second division and a separate or independent regiment joined 11th Division in the subsequent fight against 4th Division.

That the Indian infantry stood and fought and died in the conditions and circumstances of the Battle of Namkachu had nothing to do with its senior officers, and everything to do with its company and battalion officers and its traditions of honour– honour to your brother soldier, to your unit, to your officers, and to your flag.

Tailpiece: The higher military leadership had been so beaten down and cowed by the Government, that the senior officers who should have set the terms and the timetable for this offensive remained silent. 7 Infantry Brigade paid the price in blood. Our hearts go out to them. Is there a memorial to honour them or to place a wreath or candle for their eternal supreme sacrifice?

We acknowledge with thanks “Famous Battles” from http://www.bharat-rakshak.com

Former Naval chief criticises Sixth Pay Commission Report

Former Naval Chief Admiral O S Dawson on Wednesday criticised the Sixth Pay Commission report, saying those looking into it were unaware of the difficulties faced by the armed forces personnel.

Dawson, who was in the Navy chief during February 1982 and November 1984, claimed that the committee, looking into the report, led by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, could not understand the problems faced by soldiers deployed in difficult terrains and provide relief to them.

"What do they know about the condition of soldiers deployed in difficult terrains. They are not capable of settling the genuine demands of soldiers and ex- servicemen," he told reporters here.

No politician or IAS officers, who were taking the final call on the report, had served in the armed forces, Dawson, who also served as the Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand after retiring from service, alleged.

"Soldiers are not just a bunch of unqualified people. They are skilled people handling sophisticated weapons and equipment. People sitting in the cool confines of their air conditioned offices will not understand the sufferings of soldiers," he added.

His comments came on the sidelines of a demonstration organised by Indian Ex- Servicemen League here to protest against the Pay Commission report which they claimed was "damaging the interest of defence services".

The protesters, including former soldiers, their families and widows, were demanding "one rank, one pension", inclusion of ex-servicemen welfare in the concurrent list and separate pay commission for the armed forces besides other commitments.

Former Naval chief criticises Sixth Pay Commission report: The Hindu

Comments: This article has been reproduced in Toto for benefit of the readers. The IESL demands has been clearly spelt out and highlighted by the media. The ESM who have been neglected by all the Pay Commissions since independence (one rank one pension) needs immediate attention especially when 20 lakh Jawans (ESM) who are exposed to the harsh bureaucracy, compounded with total unconcern for their welfare. The travails of Lt Gen TS Pattabhiraman (Retd) for securing a Family Ration Card is a sample of our harsh and corrupt bureaucracy see post titled "General Battles for Ration Card in Tamilnadu" posted on 07 May 2008 in this blog.

Remembering 1962 debacle

Terrain
The Karpola (16,000 feet) and Hatungla (18000) Pass, the three rivers Towang Chu, Nayamjang Chu and Namka Chu are intimately connected with the trials, tribulations and travails of Seven Brigade Troops during Op Leghorn.

Motivation
Pushed and prodded relentlessly, threatened ruthlessly with a long stick, Seven Brigade staggered into the valley of River Namkachu, struggling up the formidable Karpola pass, only to face the massive Chinese build up across the River Namkachu on the Thagla ridge. The men bereft of equipment, heavy weapons, mines, barbed wire, digging implements, rations, ammunition, snow clothing. Ill equipped either to take an offensive action against the Chinese or take effective defensive positions and more importantly without a cause and motivation to fight.

Valley of death
The valley deceptively serene all this time suddenly bared its fangs on 20th October 1962 and turned into the valley of death.A valley of death for those who perished on that fateful day strung along the river line. For those herded across, to languish in the prisoner of war camps. It was worse still for those mortally wounded, lying unattended in the valley, on the riverbank, up the slopes, life slowly draining out, without food, water or medical aid, in abject misery, unbearable pain. With no one to provide succour and no hope, they could only wish for a quick and early merciful end.

Haunting question
Those who did manage to escape from the valley of River Namka Chu on 20th /21st some, had to once again negotiate the Karpola pass, others the Hatungla pass, cross the river Nayamjang Chu near Shakti over a half demolished rope bridge and finally the River Towang Chu on the night of 23rd into the uncertain safety of Bhutan. Survivors who managed to crawl out also did not return intact, losing their pride and self respect in the process. All that they brought out was vision of comrades dead and dying, a nightmare which refuses to go even after more than 40 years. The eternal unanswered question still haunting why were we sent in and why the manner in which we were sent in?

Valley of no return
The Valley of River Namka Chu was indeed the 'Valley of No Return' for all those who had ventured into it. Equally for those who perished and also those who survived. The Seven Brigade Signals was deployed with the brigade at Towang the HQ of Keming Frontier Division of Northeast Frontier Agency (NEFA). It also moved forward, consequent to the Sino- Indian conflict starting 8th September 1962, along with the brigade.

Travails
The less told story 'Letters from the Border' pertains to The Seven Brigade Signal Section, for the simple reason that the author was involved in the trails and travails of the Section from the beginning to end, the other 'Less Told Stories' are equally relevant and pertinent in bringing out the devotion to duty, unquestioning obedience and feelings of those who did not form part of the decision making loop of the higher echelons of military or of those who had political compulsions and priorities to keep and maintain.

Brig Lakshman Singh, VSM (Retd)