Page 154 - Leadership in the Indian Army

enemy attack, its timing and quantum of force used surprised him. He had
foreseen the possibility of an attack on Tain Dhar and had catered for
reinforcements. The Gujar company of 3 Para Rajput under Major Gurdial

Singh had been pre-positioned halfway up the Tain Dhar slopes, with the
task of reinforcing the main position on orders from him. Starting at first
light, wave after wave of hostiles hurled themselves against the defences.
The brunt of the attack was borne by picket number 2, of 1 Rajput. The
picket comprised 27 men, of whom 24 lost their lives or were severely
wounded. The three surviving soldiers continued to fight gallantly hand-to-
hand, till another two were fatally wounded, and there was only one

survivor left. It was at this critical moment that reinforcements arrived and
the situation was saved.
At about 0715 hrs, Usman ordered Gurdial to move forward and reinforce
the picket. The company reached the Tain Dhar picket just as it was about
to be annihilated. Its timely arrival proved to be the turning point of the
battle. Had the company reached even a few minutes later, Tain Dhar would

have been lost, rendering the defence of Naushera untenable. While the
attacks on Tain Dhar and Kot were still underway, a horde of about 5,000
Pathans attacked the positions from the west and south-west. The tribesmen
were engaged by artillery, mortars and machine-guns, all of which
combined to bring down deadly fire on the attackers. However, their
numbers appeared to be inexhaustible and they continued the attack for
almost four hours before calling it a day.

In the event, the attacks failed and the enemy was beaten back, leaving
2,000 dead. Most of the casualties inflicted on the Indian side—33 dead and
102 wounded—were suffered by the dauntless Rajputs, whose valour in
battle was in keeping with the highest traditions of the regiment. It was in
this battle that Naik Jadunath Singh was posthumously awarded the Param
Vir Chakra (PVC). In addition, the battalion won two MVCs, one of which

was awarded to the company commander, Lieutenant Kishen Singh
Rathore, and four Vir Chakras (VrCs). Apart from the heroic Rajputs, it was
the artillery that played a decisive role in the action, and Naushera is often
referred to as the ‘gunners battle’. After this failure, the enemy withdrew,
and the tide turned. The tribesmen lost the will to fight and were replaced
by regular troops.
However, it was not only combatant soldiers who displayed gallantry in

the action. A non-combatant sweeper of 1 Rajput also showed tremendous