CREMATION ::10 DEC 2015 AT

SECTOR 25 CREMATION GROUND

AT 12 P.M

A TRIBUTE

Brig Sant Singh, MVC** (retd)

Service: Army
Arm: Infantry
Unit: Sikh Light Infantry
P. Number: IC-5479
Birth: 12 Jul 1921
Marital Status: Married
Medals:
MVC, Operation: 1971 Cactus Lily, Date of Award: 02 Jan 1972 More Details
MVC, Operation: 1965 Riddle, Date of Award: 02 Nov 1965 More Details
Permanent Address:
1545, Sector 36-D
Chandigarh
160036
India
Contact Details:
Telephone: 01722601063

Gazette Notification: 22 Pres/72,12-2-72
Operation: 1971 Cactus Lily
Date of Award: 02 Jan 1972

Citation:

Brigadier Sant Singh, MVC, while commanding a sector on the Eastern Front, achieved spectacular results with a mixed force, having one regular battalion, advancing 38 miles almost on foot, to secure Mymensingh and Madhopur in eight days. During the advance, in spite of very stiff opposition from the enemy he cleared heavily defended positions at several places. Throughout these actions, Brigadier Sant Singh personally led and directed the troops, exposing himself to enemy medium machine gun fire and shelling. His personal gallantry, leadership, skilful handling of meagre resources, audacity, improvisation and maximum use of local resources were responsible for the successful and rapid advance against much stronger enemy in well prepared defensive positions. Throughout, Brigadier Sant Singh displayed conspicuous gallantry and inspiring leadership in keeping with the highest traditions of the Army.

ind6 — Brigadier Sant Singh (retd) with the portrait of Lt Gen AAK Niazi and his alarm clock which were seized from his office in Dhaka in 1971 after Pakistan troops surrendered. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

In November 1965, i.e. after the ceasefire with Pakistan, Brig Sant Singh, then a Lt Col commanding a battalion of the Sikh Light infantry, drove out Pakistanis, who had encroached on our territory, after a bitter hand-to-hand fight. This gallantry earned him the MVC. Then in 1971, as a senior commander in the eastern theatre, he carried out a rapid advance in the face of stiff enemy opposition, thus capturing Mymensingh and Madhopur. His conspicuous gallantry and inspiring leadership were recognised by the grant of the Bar to his MVC.

BRAVEST OF the BRAVE – BRIGADIER SANT SINGH, MVC(Bar)

In November 1965, i.e. after the ceasefire with Pakistan, Brig Sant Singh, then a Lt Col commanding a battalion of the Sikh Light infantry, drove out Pakistanis, who had encroached on our territory, after a bitter hand-to-hand fight. On the night of 2 November 1965, Lieutenant Colonel Sant Singh was given the task of clearing an objective, which notwithstanding the cease-fire had been encroached upon by Pakistani forces. This was a difficult feature & strongly defended by the enemy. Despite enemy mines and artillery fire, Lieutenant Colonel Sant Singh moved forward with his men, charged the enemy and, after a bitter hand-to-hand fight, cleared the objective. Later, taking advantage of his position, Lieutenant Colonel Sant Singh moved from bunker to bunker in the face of heavy artillery and automatic fire encouraging his men and cleared another objective, which also had been encroached upon by Pakistani forces. Throughout, Lieutenant Colonel Sant Singh displayed conspicuous gallantry and leadership of a high order.

Commanding the Punjab regiment in the eastern sector during the 1971 war with Pakistan, Brigadier Singh was entrusted with the task of capturing Mymensingh, a well defended enemy stronghold. But Pakistan aware of an impeding Indian attack had deployed a strong force to hold back any Indian advance.The experienced Brigadier, however failed their plans by his tactics and resourcefulness and Mymensingh was easily captured. The Brigadier marched ahead another 60km. to capture Madhopur, a vital town on the road of Dhaka.All through these operations, the Brigadier led from the front, ably directing his troops. His gallantry encouraged the Indians to advance rapidly despite strong Pakistani resistance. For his inspiring leadership, the Brigadier was awarded the bar to the Mahavir Chakra.
Medals:
MVC, Operation: 1971 Cactus Lily, Date of Award: 02 Jan 1972
Bar MVC, Operation: 1965 Riddle, Date of Award: 02 Nov 1965
Brig Sant Singh was born in Village Panjgrain near Kotkapura and currently lives in Chandigarh.