Page 216 - Leadership in the Indian Army

the help of his team of officers, especially Major F.P. Stewart, who had
replaced Apar Singh as his second-in-command, and his Adjutant, Gordon
Nation. Force 401 was entrusted with the task of protecting the British oil-

fields in Iran from a communist take-over. Fighting an imaginary enemy did
not appeal to the battle-hardened troops and their resentment was
understandable.
The Force Commander, Major General F.J. Loftus Tottenham, was
impressed by Raj. After only three months of observation, he wrote in his
confidential report, on 3 January 1947:

Exceptionally strong character. Knows his job inside out and has plenty of energy, determination
and resourcefulness. A bit impulsive, but thinks things out and certainly knows what he wants.
Leadership and drive to a marked degree. He inspires confidence and would carry heavy
responsibility well. Among Indian officers I know I consider him outstanding and he should be
marked for further advancement.

General Tottenham’s belief was not misplaced. Raj did rise to high ranks
and more than justified his commander’s assessment. The remarks about his
strength of character and impulsive nature echoed earlier assessments of
him, and continued to appear in future reports throughout his service.
In May 1947, Raj returned to India on a month’s leave. But before he

could return to Basra, he was informed that Force 401 was on its way to
India for demobilisation, and that he had been posted to take over command
of 7 Infantry Divisional Signal Regiment at Rawalpindi. In July 1947, he
relieved Lieutenant Colonel Crichton, who was going back to England. By
now, the exodus of British officers and men—barring a few who had
volunteered to stay on after Partition—had begun. Up until then, very few
Indians had been taken into Signals owing to the sensitive nature of the job

and the sudden departure of the British created a vacuum that was difficult
to fill. The task before the few Indian officers in Signals was thus a very
difficult one, and it is to their credit that they performed magnificently.
Shortly after he took over, Raj’s cousin Mohinder, or Major (later
Lieutenant General) M.N. Batra, joined him as his second-in-command.
The day he joined, Raj told him:

Mini, you have come as my 2ic, but I am not going to show you any favours just because you
happen to be a close relation of mine. In my office we will have a very professional relationship.
After office hours it is a different matter.

There were several British Other Ranks in the regiment at that time, and Raj
always referred to them as ‘my BORs’. Some of them still recall the