Colonel Kishan Singh Rathore, MVC, who was a Company Commander in the battle of Taindhar at which Naik Yadunath Singh was awarded a posthumous Param Vir Chakra and it was under him that Yadunath Singh performed his unmatched acts of heroism. Then a Lieutenant, Kishen Singh Rathore was awarded the Mahavir Chakra in the same battle.
Born on 1st Oct 1923 Lieutenant Kishan Singh Rathore was from Dist. Kota of Rajasthan. At a young age, he joined Indian Army and on 13 October, 1946 got posted with 1 Rajput Regiment of 4 Guards Brigade as a commissioned officer. Being committed to his duties, Subsequently he rose to the rank of Colonel in the Indian Army. Lt. KS Rathore was known for his sharpness.
Lieutenant Kishan Singh Rathor and 70 men of the Rajput regiment deployed at Tain Dhar. In the Taindhar war of 1948, Indian soldiers were fighting off the Pakistan army to guard the Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir that Pakistan had managed to make their way into. When Pakistan attacked with a massive force of 1500 men, Indian army’s 1 Rajput Regiment was deployed there to retaliate enemy attack and their act of cowardness. In the course of war, on 6th Feb 1948, Lt. KS Rathore was commanding a piquet with 70 men at Taindhar.
Overpowered the enemy force of 1500 with merely 70 men company
The Taingarh war that was a result of Pakistan’s attack on Indian sector had begun in Oct 1947. Lt. Rathore, along with his regiment was deployed in Jammu & Kashmir at the time when the enemy attacked Indian frontline with a force of 1500 men. Enemy launched simultaneous attacks on all picquets of Naushera. Lt. KS Rathore was commanding a picquet with 70 soldiers at his side. When exchange of fires began, he along with his company retaliated promptly and also kept going from post to post to inspire his men to fight to their last breath. With complete disregard for his own safety, he continued to resist despite being injured. Eventually, there was hardly anyone left to replenish ammunition at his side so he himself carried it forward under very heavy and continuous firing from the other side. His exemplary leadership enabled the Indians to hold on Proving his fearless and gallant leadership, he stood strong against the Pakistani soldiers through the operation.
Account of 2/Lt(Later Col) Kishan Singh Rathore
At the end of January I was sent to a picket called Taindhar, which guarded the approach to Naushera. It was the highest feature in the area and dominated the countryside. The approach to it from the enemy’s side was a gentle slope but towards Naushera it was a steep cliff. The defence of Taindhar was critical for the defence of Naushera. I had about seventy men with a section of 3inch mortars but I had no medium machine guns. We had plenty of small arms and ammunition and about a hundred and fifty 3inch mortar bombs. At this stage, neither I nor for that matter even my Brigade Commander, Brig Usman, also an MVC winner, were aware of the fact that the task allotted to the company was well beyond its capacity. Our defences had been hastily prepared and frankly, were quite pathetic. We had tried our best to build what ever we could by collecting stones which are not the best materiel to build defences, for when hit with artillery fire, the stones shatter into small pieces which cause more harm than the shelling itself. We had no sandbags to strengthen our trenches.
As a routine and standard battle procedure, two men from each section were deployed as sentries at night. At day break all personnel would stand down and go to perform their normal morning functions. Our food was terrible too, the only thing that we were supplied with besides wheat flour was tinned carrots left over in some supply depot from the Second World War stocks. During the day, the time was spent in administrative duty like checking our weapons and ammunition and also to patrol the area in front of our defences. Though mentally and physically prepared to take what ever came, I was personally a little apprehensive of the state of our defences and the limited resources available with me.
Perhaps because of this frame of mind, on the night of 5/6 February, I doubled the sentries and ordered half my men to be on stand to. This was obviously not liked by the men and my popularity plummeted. Why I did this I cannot fathom to this day for we had received no warning of any impending action by the enemy in our sector. In the morning the men wanted to relieve themselves but I ordered them to stay put in the trenches, and do their call of nature in the trenches themselves!
This indeed was fortuitous, for a few minutes after day break there was a roar of “Maro Nara Hayadari, Ya Ali, Ya Ali” and the enemy came rushing towards us. I ordered rapid fire and all my six bren guns opened up on the enemy hordes. Many fell in the initial bursts of fire, but the enemy recovered quickly and pressed on with the attack. Our troops held firm and took on the enemy at close range with rifle and bren fire and also hurling grenades, which caused the attack to falter. I could see Yadunath Singh shouting expletives at the enemy and hurling grenades at them. At this time Brig Usman called me and asked if I wanted artillery fire. I declined, as we were so mixed up with the enemy that the artillery fire would have caused more damage to my troops. We beat back the first attack with heavy casualties to the enemy, but within minutes the second wave of the enemy came rushing towards us and this too we beat back. By now, our own casualties were mounting. Amongst the wounded was Naik Yadunath Singh who, in spite of his wounds, was rallying his men and firing a bren gun. We beat back the second attack too.
But the enemy was not done yet and some of them were even able to get in between the gaps in our defences. This time I had no choice but to ask Havaldar Ishar Singh, the mortar detachment commander to fire the mortars overhead and bring down fire on our own locality. It was then that Naik Yadunath Singh, along with his men came out of their bunkers with bayonets fixed and charged the enemy, engaging him in hand to hand combat. That broke the enemy’s will. He fled in disorder never to return. Naushera was saved but Yadunath was killed in action, leading a most heroic charge for which he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
Naik Yadunath Singh, however met his gallant death in his third and last charge, by two bullets hitting him in the head and chest. Thus charging single handed at the advancing enemy this non-commissioned officer, performed thehighest act of gallantry and self sacrifice and by doing so he saved his section-nay his whole picket from being overrun by the enemy at the most critical stage in the battle for Naushera.
Awarded the gallantry award, MahaVir Chakra
On 5th March, during the withdrawal at Kaman GoshaDhar, Lt. Rathor was deployed as an intelligence officer at Koman Gosha Dhar. When the Indian position came under intense enemy fire, Lt. Rathore led a platoon attack on the enemy's left to ease the pressure. When one of the men was hurt the Lieutenant Rathore showed great bravery by going to retrieve the body of his fallen comrade, he brought back the body of a comrade lying in open ground swept by heavy enemy fire.
In another action on 9th April near Jhangar, he led his platoon to Jhangar. 350 metres short of objective he was caught under heavy enemy fire. There were two alternatives before him -- to withdraw or advance. He chose the later and in a successful bayonet charge compelled the Pakistanis to retreat.
The attack from the enemy was finally beaten off with major casualties their side. Brave Lt. Rathore not only overpowered the enemy but also successfully chased them away. For his daredevil act of conspicuous courage, determination and fine leadership in keeping with the highest traditions of the Army, he was awarded MahaVir Chakra.
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