Colonel Harwant Singh (Retd), World War-II hero passes away

Retired Colonel Harwant Singh, a World War-II veteran and hero passed away in Patiala, Punjab. He was 95.
He was commissioned in 2nd battalion of the Sikh Regiment of then British Army in September 1941. During the World War (WW)-II he had served in Palestine, North Africa, Iraq, Cyprus and Italy for the British Army.
In 1944, he was awarded with the Military Cross (highest award of the British Army) for gallantry during an offensive against the German forces on the Gothic Line in Italy.
During the first Independence Day celebration of 1947, he was officer in charge of the flag-hoisting ceremony held at Princess Park on August 15 and Red Fort on August 16.
In October 1947, during the outbreak of hostilities with Pakistan in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir he was one of the leading company commanders on the field. For his role in these hostilities he was felicitated as one of the saviours of Srinagar.
Later he took over command of 4 Sikh in the Kashmir valley and was transferred to the Rajputana Rifles in December 1951. He had commanded 6 Rajputana Rifles, 18 Rajputana Rifles and the Rajputana Regimental Centre.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2015