The Chamar Regiment

[Capt.Popeye]

^^^ CBE stands for Conqueror of british empire... (from wiki) ... lolz

And the VC stands for Victorius Cross, not the usual measly Victoria Cross which just happens to be the highest British Gallantry award and so on.............

 

[Joe Shearer]

@third eye; wht you have dredged out is actually a matter of fact. Maj.(r) Agha Humayun Amin is another Military Author who has ponted out Ayub Khan's 'less than edifying' Military Record in rather acerbic terms--to the extent of calling him 'timid', which as depicted in the Chamar Regt. episode could even be considered to be some kind of euphemism for LMF.

There is another account by another PA veteran who had served as ADC to Gen.Gracey who happened to be in Britain for a course when Gen.Gracey had superannuated and Ayub was COAS when this (then serving) PA officer called on his erstwhile Boss; Gen.Gracey asked him "when is Ayub taking over" or words to that effect. His astounded guest said that Iskandar Mirza was very much President while his protege Ayub was in the COAS's chair. Gracey smiled sardonically and said that all that Ayub could think of was to get into the chair himself ! Ayub's fortuitous appointment as COAS by a benefactor President/PM and then his later treasonous turning on his benefactor was replicated by other COAS in Pakistan's chequered history!! Zia and Musharraff are some other such "worthies"/ vardies! who instantly spring to mind; they had a hallowed tradition to uphold after all!

Incidentally; Gen.Gracey had not recommended any upward trajectory for Ayub Khan for the reasons that you have enumerated. The Officers senior to Ayub were Maj.Generals Iftikhar Khan, Akbar Khan, Raza and Majid. Iftikhar Khan was by far the most suitable choice for elevation to COAS to replace Gracey. But he had an untimely death in an air-crash. Of the rest, Majid was a Bengali which obviously ruled him out. Thus started the hoary tradition of COAS of the PA being chosen less for any professional qualities and more for the qualities of "good courtiership".
Of course that in turn gave such Officers to display greater "politicking skills" than "military skills".

Somebody here has mentioned Ayub Khan with the full panoply of Field Marshal General Ayub Khan ; which is amusing to start with because a Field Marshal cannot be a General at the same time!
Then is the other interesting fact: Ayub Khan appointed himself a Field Marshal ! So far the only one in PA's history! Incidentally; this was suggested and urged upon him by his (then) acolyte Zulfiqar Bhutto. It is another matter that Bhutto later turned upon him too.............Ah, the ides of March; where art thou oh Brutus?

BTW, a concluding note: another self appointed Field Marshal in (fairly) recent history was:
Field Marshal Alhaji Dr. Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, CBE ; AKA the Butcher of Uganda.
Except for the title of "Alhaji"; all the rest of the letters of alphabet appearing before and and after his name were 'self-assumed'.

 

which is amusing to start with because a Field Marshal cannot be a General at the same time!

Can.

In the German Army, the Field Marshal is a GeneralFeldMarschall.

I am quibbling, of course, in the British tradition, the Field Marshal was the seniormost rank, above a General, with one exception.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

 


Can.

In the German Army, the Field Marshal is a GeneralFeldMarschall.

I am quibbling, of course, in the British tradition, the Field Marshal was the seniormost rank, above a General, with one exception.

Thanks @Joe Shearer Dada (not to be connected to Idi Amin Dada) I was aware of that just there is a Herr Colonel Generall; my remark was in the context of the British Tradition which presumably governed both Ayub Khan and Idi Amin.

 

[POKEMON12]

Usually our complexions, our love for food, our happy-go-lucky attitude, our pot bellies & often a times our balding scalps do the differentiation for us !

Add bragging and day dreaming to it as well.

 

[LionChamar]

Chamars are proven warriors and fighters.