Lachhman Singh Lehl
Lachhman Singh Lehl | |
---|---|
Born | Lehl village, Hoshiarpur District, Punjab Province, British Raj (present-day Punjab, India) | 9 July 1923
Died | 18 June 2020 New Delhi, India | (aged 96)
Allegiance | British India India |
Service/ | British Indian Army Indian Army |
Years of service | 1943–1978 |
Rank | Major-General |
Service number | IC-1461[1] |
Unit | Regiment of Artillery |
Commands held | 20 Mountain Division 301 Mountain Brigade 3 Field Regiment |
Battles/wars |
|
Awards | Param Vishisht Seva Medal Vir Chakra |
Early life
A native of Hoshiarpur district,[3] Lehl was the youngest son of a prosperous Jat Sikh agricultural family, one of six siblings (four boys, two girls).[4] His grandfather was the Lehl village headman, while his father was a lawyer who practised in the Hoshiarpur district court.[4] He passed out from Khalsa High School with a high first division before joining the Government Intermediate College.[4]
Second World War
On 12 October 1942, Lehl was selected for a temporary
Kashmir 1947-1948 and Vir Chakra
Following Partition, Lehl was reassigned to 11 Field Artillery. During the
Commands
In 1960, Lehl became the CO of
1971 war and Battle of Hilli
At the outset of the 1971 war, the Indian Army planned a four-pronged attack, with a thrust from the north-west into East Pakistan spearheaded by XXXIII Corps under Lt-Gen Thapan, to be directly undertaken by 20 Mountain Division under Lehl along with 71 Mountain Brigade. The operation would cut off the Hili-Gaibanda line to capture Bogra and Rangpur.[4] Though Lehl felt a frontal attack on the well-fortified town of Hili would incur heavy casualties, he was overruled by Lt-Gen Aurora.[4] Despite heavy casualties, Lehl's forces were nonetheless victorious. He took the surrender of Major-General Pir Nazar Hussain Shah, commander of Pakistan's 16 Division on 18 December 1971.[3] He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for his services.[3]
Subsequent career and later life
On 21 October 1972, Lehl was promoted substantive major-general,[9] and was appointed Chief of Staff (COS) I Corps on 19 September 1973.[10][4] On 21 March 1974, only six months later, he was transferred to Delhi HQ as Deputy Quartermaster-General (DQMG), a clear signal he had been passed over for promotion to lieutenant-general.[11][4] Though he accepted his expected supersession in 1976 with grace, it shocked many of those who knew him and his career.[3] He superannuated from the Army on 31 July 1978 after 35 years of service.[12]
In retirement at Delhi, Lehl became a military historian, writing a number of highly acclaimed books and articles on Indian Army campaigns. He also served as vice-president of the "War Decorated India Trust."[3] Lehl died on 18 June 2020, aged 96.[2] He was married, with one son.[4]
Bibliography
- Indian Sword Strikes in Bangladesh[4]
- Victory in Bangladesh[4]
- Missed Opportunities in the 1965 Indo-Pak War[4]
Decorations
Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Vir Chakra | ||
Wound Medal | General Service Medal 1947 | Samanya Seva Medal | Samar Seva Medal |
Poorvi Star | Raksha Medal | Sangram Medal | Sainya Seva Medal |
Indian Independence Medal | 25th Anniversary of Independence Medal | 30 Years Long Service Medal | 20 Years Long Service Medal |
9 Years Long Service Medal | 1939-1945 Star
|
Burma Star | War Medal 1939–1945 |
Dates of rank
Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
---|---|---|---|
Second Lieutenant | British Indian Army | 11 July 1943 (emergency)[1] 9 January 1946 (substantive)[1] | |
Lieutenant | British Indian Army | 11 January 1944 (war-substantive)[1] 30 January 1947 (substantive)[1] | |
Lieutenant | Indian Army | 15 August 1947[note 1][13] | |
Lieutenant | Indian Army | 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)[13][14] | |
Captain | Indian Army | 11 April 1950[15] | |
Major | Indian Army | 11 April 1957[16] | |
Lieutenant-Colonel |
Indian Army | 21 December 1963[17] | |
Colonel | Indian Army | 22 May 1968[18] | |
Brigadier | Indian Army | 16 November 1966 (acting)[6] 23 May 1968 (substantive)[19] | |
Major General | Indian Army | 13 October 1970 (acting)[8] 21 October 1972 (substantive)[9] |
Notes
- Ashoka Lionreplaced the crown, with a five-pointed star being substituted for the "pip."
References
- ^ a b c d e f Indian Army List Special Edition for August 1947. Government of India Press. 1947. pp. 269F (2).
- ^ a b c "War decorated General Lehl dies". Chandigarh Tribune. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bajwa, Mandeep Singh (22 June 2020). "Military Digest: The Indian swordsman who struck in Bangladesh". Indian Express. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-93-85563-97-3.
- ^ "War Hero Crucial To Pakistan's Surrender In 1971 Dies At 97". NDTV. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 7 January 1967. p. 13.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 28 February 1970. p. 288.
- ^ a b "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 26 December 1970. p. 1556.
- ^ a b "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 31 March 1973. p. 407.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 16 February 1974. p. 212.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 24 August 1974. p. 979.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 7 October 1978. p. 975.
- ^ a b "New Designs of Crests and Badges in the Services" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 11 February 1950. p. 227.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 15 November 1952. p. 252.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 1 June 1957. p. 139.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 30 October 1965. p. 559.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 18 January 1969. p. 52.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 19 April 1969. p. 376.