World War-II Sikh hero dies in Patiala
Tribune News Service
Patiala, August 6
Decorated war hero Colonel Harwant Singh (retd), who passed away peacefully on August 4 at the age of 95 years, was cremated with full honours on Wednesday.
His son Colonel DS Sidhu (retd) said that ashes of his father were immersed today and the bhog ceremony would be held on August 10.
Commissioned in 2 Sikh in September 1941, the officer served with the battalion in Iraq, Palestine, north Africa, Cyprus and Italy during the Second World War.
Harwant Singh was awarded the Military Cross in September 1944 in an attack on German defences on the Gothic Line in Italy. He later joined 1 Sikh at Malaya.
“My father passed away peacefully without any need for hospitalisation or sudden health issues. He was a thorough gentleman and served at various positions and in different countries and made India proud,” said DS Sidhu. “He was cremated on Wednesday,” he said.
During the Independence Day in 1947, he — being the senior most Indian officer in 1 Sikh — was made in charge of the flag hoisting ceremony at the Princess Park on August 15 and at the Red Fort on August 16, 1947. During the outbreak of hostilities with Pakistan in October 1947, leading elements of 1 Sikh were airlifted to Srinagar on October 27.
Col Harwant Singh was one of the leading company commanders. After Lt Col DR Rai, CO, 1 Sikh, was killed in action on October 28, Col Harwant Singh took over officiating command of the battalion and stopped the raiders at Pattan. Otherwise, Srinagar would have fallen on October 29, 1947. He thus caused a 48-hour delay in the raiders’ plan to build up their troops.
He was felicitated as one of the saviours of Srinagar. He was in the theatre of war in J&K till the cease fire was declared on January 1, 1949. Thereafter, he took over the command of 4 Sikh in the Valley.
Transferred to the Rajputana Rifles in December 1951 when the state forces began to be merged with the Indian Army, he commanded 18 Rajputana Rifles, 6 Rajputana Rifles and the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre.
His son and two daughters survive Col Harwant Singh. His grandson is a fourth generation Army officer, carrying on the family tradition of serving in the Army.
