JC-4547

Subadar Joginder Singh

1st Sikh Regiment

(posthumous)

Date of Action:  23 October 1962

Place of Action:  Tongpen La, Northeast Frontier Agency, India

Date and Place of Birth: 28 September 1921, Mahla Kalan village, Moga, Faridkot tehsil, Punjab, son of Sher Singh

Enrolled:  28 September 1936

CITATION

During the 1962 Indo-China War, Subedar Joginder Singh commanded a platoon in the Tawang sector of NEFA. While holding a defensive position on a ridge in Tongpeng La area on Bum La axis, the platoon noticed heavy enemy concentration opposite Bum La across the McMohan Line on October 20th. This was indeed a preparatory to the Chinese advance on Bum La axis on October 23rd.

At 0530 hours on October 23rd, the Chinese launched a heavy attack on the Bum La axis. The intention was to achieve a breakthrough to Tawang. The enemy attacked the Ridge in three waves, each about 200 strong. The attack was supported by artillery and mortar fire, besides other weapons.

The fierce resistance of the Sikh platoon, however, compelled the enemy to fall back with heavy losses. But he regrouped quickly and launched a fresh attack under the cover of an artillery barrage. However, Subedar Joginder Singh and his platoon stood firm like a rock before the advancing enemy.

In this fierce action, the platoon lost half of its men but not the will to fight. Subedar Joginder Singh, despite a wound in the thigh, refused evacuation. His platoon also refused to yield any ground to the enemy. The last wave of the Chinese attack, which was more determined and more forceful followed next. Now the platoon had very few men left to fight. Subedar Joginder Singh, therefore, manned a light machine gun and killed a large number of enemies.

But he could not stem the tide of the enemy advance single-handed. The Chinese continued advancing with little concern for the casualties. By now all ammunition with the platoon had been exhausted. When the situation became desperate, Subedar Joginder Singh and his men emerged from their position with fixed bayonets, shouting the Sikh battle cry, "Wahe Guruji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guruji ki Fateh."

They fell upon the advancing enemy and bayonetted many to death. Finally better weapons and numerical superiority of the enemy prevailed. Subedar Singh, was killed in this epic battle. For his inspiring leadership, courage and devotion to duty, Subedar Joginder Singh, was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry medal, posthumously.