On 5th December 1971, in the Chhamb Sector, Point 303 was once again, for the third time, in the hands of Pak. The previous two times A Squadron Deccan Horse led by Major (Brigadier) Iesh Rikhye had counter attacked and recovered the company position. The company commander was Major Devinder Singh ‘Dove’ Pannu of 5 Sikh, a friend and coursemate of Iesh, both of 19th NDA Course. Dove had been killed that morning and so had his dog (Dove was awarded the VrC). In the afternoon of 5 December, Captain Surendra ‘Batsy’ Batra with two troops of A Squadron, Deccan Horse countereattacked at Point 303 and recovered the comapany position. That evening orders were received from HQ 191 Infantry Brigade to withdraw East of the Mannawar Tawi. The order was received with astonishment and anger as this comapany had been recovered three times! A Squadron had one officer killed, one wounded; one JCO killed and several OR including Amar Singh, the reigning pole vault champion of the Regiment; Nanna the washerman, the fearsome left back of the squadron in hockey who followed the simple dictum ‘gitta nan rawwe te banda nan jawe’ had also been killed. The squadron withdrew at night. Lt Col Batsy Batra (SS, 1966) has written a book of Hindi poetry that will soon be released and available on Amazon; I have attached the cover. M