Respect to Soldiers ..worth more than a read

[third eye]

Moving indeed..

An extract form a book entitled "Toward Resurgent India " written by Lt. Gen.(Retd) M. M. Lakhera, one time Lt. Gov. of Pondicherry and also of Andaman & Nicobar.



“I had gone to UK in 1995 as Deputy Leader of the Indian Delegation to take part in the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the victory in Europe during the Second World War. I along with four other Army officers, had just stepped out after attending the inaugural session and were waiting on the roadside for the traffic to ease so as to walk across the road to the vehicle park. Among those with me was Honorary Captain Umrao Singh,a Victorian Cross winner (unfortunately, I have received the sad news of his expiry just two days back).

All of a sudden a car moving on the road came to a halt in front of us and a well dressed gentleman stepped out. He approached Umrao Singh and said, “Sir, may I have the privilege of shaking hands with the Victoria Cross?” He shook hands with him. Evidently he had spotted Umrao Singh’s medal from his car and had stopped his car to pay his respect to a winner of the highest gallantry medal of his country.

Then he looked at me and said, “General, you are from the Indian Army.” When I replied in the affirmative, he gave out his name, saying that he was Michael Hazeltine . I was absolutely astounded as the recognition dawned on me that he was the Deputy Prime Minister of UK . I was totally overawed by such courtesy shown by a dignitary of the second highest status in the British Government and humbly thanked him for having invited our delegation for the VE Day function. Again his reply was typical of his sagacity, “General, it is we the British, who should be grateful to your country and your Armed Forces, who had helped us win both the first and the second World wars. How can we be ever so ungrateful to forget your country’s great contribution.”

Suddenly I became conscious that all the traffic behind his car had come to stand still. I hurried to thank him and politely requested him to move along to relieve the traffic hold-up. He stated, “Sir, how dare I drive off when a person honoured with the Victoria Cross has to cross the road.”

Realizing his genuine feeling I and my colleagues quickly crossed the road. Reaching the other side I looked back and saw that Mr. Hazeltine was still standing waiting for the Victoria Cross to be safely across...

 

[third eye]

A small write up on the brave soldier..

Umrao Singh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


On the night of 15 December to 16 December 1944 in the Kaladan Valley, Burma (now Myanmar), Umrao Singh was a field gun detachment commander in an advanced section of the 33 Mountain Battery, 30th Mountain Regiment, Indian Artillery, serving on detachment as part of the 81st West African Division in Viscount Slim's British 14th Army, supporting the advance of the XV Corps on the Arakan. Singh's gun was in an advanced position, supporting the 8th Gold Coast Regiment. After a 90 minute sustained bombardment from 75 mm guns and mortars from the Lt-Gen Sakurai Seizo's Japanese 28th Army, Singh's gun position was attacked by at least two companies of Japanese infantry. He used a Bren light machine gun and directed the rifle fire of the gunners, holding off the assault. He was wounded by two grenades.

A second wave of attackers killed all but Singh and two other gunners, but was also beaten off. The three soldiers had only a few bullets remaining, and these were rapidly exhausted in the initial stages of the assault by a third wave of attackers. Undaunted, Singh picked up a "gun bearer" (a heavy iron rod, similar to a crow bar) and used that as a weapon in hand to hand fighting. He was seen to strike down three infantrymen, fatally wounded, before succumbing to a rain of blows.

Six hours later, after a counter-attack, he was found alive but unconscious near to his artillery piece, almost unrecognisable from a head injury, still clutching his gun bearer. Ten Japanese soldiers lay dead nearby. His field gun was back in action later that day.

Later life

Singh was presented with his VC by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 15 October 1945. The citation reads "Havildar Umrao Singh set a supreme example of gallantry and devotion to duty."

He was promoted to Subedar Major after recovering from his wounds. He retired from the British Indian army in 1946, but rejoined the army in 1947 following independence, and served until 1965. After leaving the army a second time, he returned to farm his family's 2 acre (8,000 m&#178 smallholding.

He was made an honorary captain in 1970. At the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of VE Day in London in 1995, he was almost turned away from the VIP tent because his name was not on the correct list, but Brigadier Tom Longland, who had organised the event, recognised his medal and gave orders for him to be admitted. After the event, Singh complained to British Prime Minister John Major about the meagre pension of £168 per year paid to the then ten surviving Indian VC holders. The amount had remained fixed since 1960, but Major subsequently arranged for the pension to be raised to £1,300 per year. He attended the service of dedication of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Memorial in Westminster Abbey on 14 May 2003.

After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in July 2005, he died, aged 85, at the Army Research and Referral hospital in New Delhi November 21, 2005. He was cremated in his native village with full military honours, attended by Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Chief Minister of Haryana), General Joginder Jaswant Singh (Army Chief), and Lt Gen Charanjit Singh (Director General of Artillery). His wife, Vimla pre-deceased him, but he was survived by two sons and a daughter.

In spite of personal hardship and receiving substantial offers, Singh refused to sell his medal during his lifetime, saying that selling the medal would "stain the honour of those who fell in battle".

 

[Urbanized Greyhound]

Courtesy has always been a british hallmark......sadly it matters very little ,as they basically used our blood to further their empire.....

R.I.P to the brave captain ....a daring and gallant officer.....

 

[Awesome]

Nice read, TE

 

[third eye]

I wish those who have joined this forum recently were to read real life tales like these.

It would help them realise the honour in the profession of Arms.

 

[third eye]

Relevant always..for all to read.

 

[third eye]

THE 50th anniversary of the end of World War II was one among the several mega-celebrations organised in the UK during the fading years of the last century. The recurrent theme of almost all ceremonies was the hope that the carnage of the battlefield must not be allowed to inflict humanity in the new millennium.

It was appropriate that the Indian contingent to the celebrations would include soldiers decorated with the Victoria Cross, the foremost award for gallantry on the battlefield. Of the 32 Indian awardees of the VC during World War II, only 11 were alive at that time. Four could not take the journey to UK due to old age and illness. That left seven and they were glad to participate.

Despite multiple infirmities through battle injuries and years of frugal rural living, their looks belied the fact that they had entered their seventies. All had the immaculate carriage of proud soldiers even though the six Gorkha war veterans had various grades of flab around their midriffs. The seventh was Subedar and Hony Capt Umrao Singh. Over six-feet tall, of ram-rod stance, flat-bellied and broad chested, he was somehow the cynosure of all eyes. The way he walked up to Queen Elizabeth at the Buckingham Palace, any drill sergeant-major of the Coldstream Guards would be envious of his calibrated and firm strides. Breaking all precedence of the ceremonial ettiquette, the gathering burst into spontaneous applause!

On another occasion when the VC Indians, alighting at the car-park, walked past the formidable bear-skin helmeted guardsmen to enter the Buckingham Palace fore-court, John Major, the Prime Minister happened to drive past them. When from the corner of his eye he caught the sun glint on their VC medals, the Prime Minister had his Bentley halt. He walked up and saluted them all and greeted each with a firm hand shake.

Dismissing his car, John Major escorted them to the venue of the function. Striking conversation through his aide, he enquired if the war veterans had any hardships which needed attention. Umrao Singh was prompt to state that when he first drew his VC allowance in 1946, the currency exchange rate was Rs 2 to £1. Now 50 years later, the allowance handed out to him was at the same old exchange rate. Is not that unjust, he enquired? John Major was visibly upset at this revelation and in all seriousness said that this must be the gravest of all bureaucratic lapses for which Her Majesty’s Government holds itself fully accountable.

A week later, when Umrao and his VC companion alighted the air-liner at New Delhi, they were received by an officer from the British High Commission with the news that with immediate effect their VC allowance will be admitted to them at the prevailing currency exchange rate or the next higher rate but never lower than that day’s.

But how and why did we in India allow this injustice to pass for full 50 years? In UK if a man (nationality notwithstanding) with a VC or MC pinned on chest were to walk out, chances are that five out of 10 passers-by would halt in mid-stride, smile and nod in salutation. In India even though righteous wars and warriors have been glorified by the gods through the epic Mahabharata, yet not one in 1,000 will know what a PVC, MVC or VrC look like, leave alone greet its wearer.

Six months later in March 1996 Christopher Thomas, the South Asia correspondent of The Times (London) drove to Umrao Singh’s home at Village Palra (Jhajjar district, Haryana) with the news that Her Majesty’s Government had enhanced the VC annual allowance from £100.00 to £1300.00. Obviously, Umrao Singh was astounded with the prospects of this windfall. Recovering his composure, he rushed to his wife Vimla who was frying paranthas on a wood-fire and said: "Now we can live in style."

Inviting Christopher Thomas to sit down on his charpoy, Umrao Singh brought out a bottle of Old Monk rum. Cracking the seal open, he filled two large steel tumblers almost to the brim,. Handing one to Christopher and holding his own in the left hand, Umrao came to attention and giving a smart salute said: "This is for John Major, the Prime Minister of Britain ! He has made me happy and proud." There was a glow on Umrao Singh’s face in the thought that he would now pass his allotted days with the dignity due to a VC soldier.

Well, Umrao Singh the last of the VC veterans of the Indian Army passed away on November 21 2005, on his 86th birthday. He was cremated with full military and state honours. Moments before the pyre was lit, the Army Chief fully bemedalled, saluted his mortal remains.