Bishan Singh (soldier)

Subedar Bishan Singh, MVC, Sardar Bahadur OBI, MC (14 January 1917 – 12 December 1947) was a highly decorated Indian soldier who was the recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra, Sardar Bahadur Order of British India and the Military Cross for acts of gallantry in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 and World War II.

Subedar

Bishan Singh

MVC, Sardar Bahadur OBI, MC
Born(1917-01-14)14 January 1917
Purain village, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
Died12 December 1947(1947-12-12) (aged 30)
Uri, Kashmir †
Allegiance British India
 India
Service/branch British Indian Army
 Indian Army
Rank Subedar
Unit1 Sikh
Battles/warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1947
World War II
Awards Maha Vir Chakra[1]

Sardar Bahadur OBI

Military Cross

Early Life

Subedar Bishan Singh was born in Purain village, Ludhiana, Punjab on 14 January 1917. His father's name was Shri Santa Singh.[2]

Military career

Subedar Bishan Singh joined the Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army on 14 January 1933.

World War II

During the Second World War, Subedar Bishan Singh was awarded with the Sardar Bahadur Order of British India and the Military Cross for acts of gallantry.

Indo-Pakistan War of 1947

On India's gaining independence on 15 August 1947, Subedar Bishan Singh was absorbed into the Indian Army.

His unit 1 Sikh was the first to be involved in the Jammu & Kashmir Operations or Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 which began in October 1947 as Indian troops went into action to repel a planned invasion of J&K by raiders from Pakistan.

On 12 December 1947 at Uri Kashmir, his battalion was out on a patrol when the battalion encountered a large number of Pakistani raiders, resulting in a fierce hand-to-hand fight. During the close-in battle, Subedar Bishan Singh was wounded in the right arm. Despite his wounded right arm, he personally led his company, bayoneted two of the Pakistani raiders with his own hands. When another wave of enemy attacked, Subedar Bishan Singh was wounded for a second time, but with utter disregard for his life he led his men on. He bayoneted and killed another couple of the enemy. The enemy were demoralised, causing them to flee. Shouting his battalion battle cry of "Sat Sri Akal" Subedar Bishan Singh gave chase to the fleeing enemy. In the ensuing battle, he was shot in the chest by a bullet and succumbed to his injuries.

For displaying gallantry and leadership and making the supreme sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry honour.[3]

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References
  1. "SUB BISHEN SINGH BAHADUR O.B.I, MC, MAHA VIR CHAKRA (Posthumous)". Indian Army, Govt of India official website.
  2. Chakravorty, B. (1995). Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. 119: Allied Publishers. p. 387. ISBN 9788170235163.CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. "Sub Bishan Singh, MVC, Sardar Bahadur OBI, MC". The War Decorated India & Trust.
  • History of Operations in Jammu & Kashmir 1947-48 by Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India, New Delhi 1987
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