IC-7990

Major Dhan Singh Thapa

1/8 Gurkha Rifles

Date of Action:  20 October 1962

Place of Action:  Ladakh, India

Date and Place of Birth: 10 April 1928, Simla, Himachal Pradesh, son of P. S. Thapa

Commissioned:  28 August 1949

Retired:  As Lieutenant-Colonel

CITATION

Major Dhan Singh Thapa was in command of a forward post in Ladakh. On 20 October 1962 the post was attacked by the Chinese in overwhelming strength after being subjected to intensive artillery and mortar bombardment. Under his gallant command the greatly outnumbered post repulsed the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the aggressors. The enemy attacked again in greater numbers after heavy shelling by artillery and mortar fire. Under the leadership of Major Thapa, his men repulsed this attack also with heavy losses to the enemy.

The Chinese attacked for the third time, now with tanks to support their infantry. The post had already suffreed large casualties in the earlier attacks. Though considerably thinned, it held out to the last. When it was finally overrun by overwhelming numbers of Chinese, Major Thapa got out of the trench and killed several of the enemy in hand-to-hand fighting befor ehe was eventually overpowered by the Chinese soldiers and killed [but see note below].

Major Thapa's cool courage, conspicuous fighting qualities and leadership were in teh highest traditiona of our Army.

Major Thapa was, originally, believed to have been killed in this engagement, and the original PVC citation given above reflects this. He was later discovered to have been taken prisoner by the Chinese and, after his release from POW camp, he resumed his military career.

A page on Maj. Thapa (Bharat Rakshak)

And a picture of Thapa later in his career, as a Lieutenant-Colonel: