Service No : 5219

Date of Birth : July 14, 1921

Place of birth : Bhatinda Dist (Pun)

Service : Army

Last Rank : Jemadar

Unit : 1 Patiala

Arm/Regt : The Punjab Regiment

Operation : Indo-Pak War 1947-48

Awards : Maha Vir Chakra

Martyrdom : May 24, 1948

Jemadar Hardev Singh MVC

Jemadar Hardev Singh was born on 14 July 1921 in the Bhatinda district of Punjab. Son of Shri Ranjit Singh, Jem Hardev Singh joined the Army on 14 July 1941 at the age of 20 years. He was enrolled in 1 Patiala (RS) which later on along with the Jind Infantry from the Jind State, and the Nabha Akal Infantry from Nabha State became part of the Punjab Regiment.

 

Indo-Pak War 1947- 48 : 23 May 1948

 

During May 1948, Jemadar Hardev Singh’s unit was deployed in J &K area to check the advance of Pakistani raiders. The unit troops reached Zoji La on 21 May 1948 and had a serious encounter with the enemy forces at Gumri on 22 May, but suffered heavy casualties. Thereafter the unit undertook intense patrolling of the area between Zoji La and Machhoi. On 23 May 1948, Jem Hardev Singh was in command of a platoon patrol at Machhoi. On the way, his patrol party came under heavy attack from well-entrenched positions of the enemy.  The platoon was heavily engaged by intense, accurate and close fire, killing or wounding a third of its men. Jem Hardev Singh also got wounded in the arm, but he did not lose heart and immediately swung into action. Having understood the seriousness of the situation, he moved in a heavy snow-covered area from man to man through a hail of automatic and mortar fire trying to collect his party to the hillside from where he could keep the enemy engaged till reinforcements came.

 

However during this process, Jem Hardev Singh was twice hit in the shoulder but his indomitable will could not be dampened and made him all the more determined to beat the enemy. Gravely disregarding his personal safety, he got all his wounded men to the nearest cover. He was the last man to crawl back to cover and while doing so he was mortally wounded by an MMG burst. He refused to be attended to until all his wounded men had been provided with medical aid and dressed up first. Before succumbing to his injuries, he organized and enthused his men to put up a determined resistance against the enemy. Jem Hardev Singh was a gallant soldier, who laid down his life in the line of his duty following the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

 

Jem Hardev Singh was given the nation’s second-highest gallantry award “Maha Vir Chakra” for his raw courage, unfaltering leadership and act of supreme sacrifice beyond the call of duty.

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