*Know Your Veterans*

What a privilege to share the story.of the CO who raised 8 ASSAM , *Headhunters* ‘ on solid foundations.

My first CO in the Regiment and what lessons I learnt. Had the privilege of being his IO..

And what a story – a bit long but the tempo is great. And sequels to follow.

Over to *Col YP Singh* SM

I, Col Yogendra Pal Singh commonly addressed as Col YP was born on 03 May1940 at Agra Cantt Hospital.After graduation got selected via 14 NCC -29th Regular and got commissioned on 10 Jun 62 into 4th Bn the Assam Regt.

I remained with the Paltan up to Jun 1964.Participated in Indo China War 62.There after held a number of appointments as IO,RSO and QM.Took part in no of LRPs to ascertain presence of Chinese during and after the war and terrain familiarisation.Atended RSO and QM cources with 28 days leave.

After about 2 yrs with Paltan I was posted to Assam Rifles (Details later)

The HQ IGAR Shillong posted me to 8 Assam Rifles at Tuensang. I lost my Capt rank(Considered peace posting) and as Sub Wing Cdr took over charge of Nimi Post at Burma border a 5 days March from Tuensang. After about a week was again transferred to Kifre as Wing Cdr.Suddenly, after about 3 months was transferred to 3 A R at Kohima. I was told that my posting by I G had been approved earlier for 3AR only. And when I reported at Shillong I G was on tour and staff not knowing what to do had posted me to 8 AR. Good riddance. I G on return posted me back to 3AR.

I took over as Sub Wing Cdr at Mission Compound Kohima.How ever I could not fit in with bridge playing crowd so CO transferred me to Yankhulan a post about 100 KM by jeep and one day by foot.

I took two months leave and got married to Sandhya Rani on 10 Jan 1965.

In Apr my wife joined me and CO advised that for honeymoon we should go to a post.So was promoted and made Wing Cdr at Pulomi a Zeliang Naga Village. After doing a Mtn Warfare course in Apr 1966 took over as QM. Capt Anand who married Fijo’s daughter was adjt.

On posting in Sept 66 took over as Adm Offer of OTU (NCC) Lucknow. After about two years Director NCC asked my opinion about unit. In my opinion it was a total failure and recommended its closure. However this tenure gave me opportunity to visit all over UP Colleges and Universities for selecting and enrolling students. My CO Col Rattan Singh was my father’s class fellow. He had taken the first mule column of 5 GR to Ladakh in 1947 and was taken prisoner by Chinese at Bumla as CO of 5 AR in 1962.

In May 1966 after about 5 years joined 4 Assam. Lt Gen Ranbir Singh was CO and Maj J D Rai 2IC. Coy Cdrs were Brig Shivpuri, Brig Ramanan, Brig Khullar and self. Unit was under the tremors of Varansi incident.

Unit as part of 68 Bde as a Corps Res had to familiarize with entire J & K and do six monthly mov from Khrew and Jindra. As my reputation was , also carried out duties of QM specially during moves. (Details of this tenure later)

To my utter shock in Nov while being deployed at Atari and digging DCB defences during day and preparing for DSSC entrance exam in the night received posting as Trg Offr ARC.

To be honest felt relieved. I was Reserve Coy Cdr for counter attack in the entire Bde Sector. And it was biggest disappointment leaving unit at such a crucial moment.

On 14th Nov I reported at Centre. Was surprised to have married accn on very first day of arrival.

Next day before Comdt, Col S S Brar interview was asked to report to GOC 101 Com Zone . In his short and crisp interview he said in his entire Com Z, I was the only most qualified inf offr who had not gone into war. You move tomorrow. When I protested that did not even have a pair of uniform, he abruptly cut me short and ordered to go in civies.

On 24th Nov 71 with a rifle Coy consisting of a pl each of foot ballers, hockey players and instructional staff without any signal eqpt and dressed in different tribal dresses we entered East Pakistan and on 18 Dec 71 after surrender of Pakistan Army returned to Mother Land.

Generally narrations of Wars by victorius historians is not how the war was fought but how it should have gone. We must have done reasonably well as the Coy earned 3 SM for gallantry and one mentioned in dispatch. (Its account later)

At Centre life was of routine trg and occasional inspections. I had the privilege of serving under Col SS Brar, Gen Ramkrishan and Brig N S Surrey. Centre went through lot of changes during each Comdt. We renovated Offrs Mess, started a Cinema and constructed a retaining wall to save quarter gd and stores.This retaining wall also served as a stadium for drill ground. Lt Gen J R Mukherjee from Area HQ was a great help in progressing these works. Our Trg Centre was also judged as best Inf Trg Center

In 1974 attended DSSC , Wellington and was posted back to 4 Assam.

4 Assam was at Noora Nang ahead of Sela Pass and not a favorite Paltan of Bde Cdr. Brig Ramanan was Offg CO who with a skeleton staff had brought the Paltan from Kapurthala. Brig P Shivpuri was at helm of affairs when Col S K Sharma took over the Comd. We carried out long range patrolling to get familiar with the terrain and participated in various div level competitions.Soon Nooranang was abondoned and we moved to Rupa.The tenure was mostly moving up and down. We were responsible for the def of Sela Pass and stayed also at Baisakhi.

In Sep 1977 was posted to HQ Western Comd as GSO 2 Ops . Army Cdr was a famous paratrooper, Lt Gen Inder Gill.

It was a good tenure of great learning and social life of Gaity Theatre and Club.

After a short tenure was ordered to raise 8 Assam at Rangapahar.

On 1st Mar 78 at Dimapur stn we had our first assembly and dvr took us to Engineer Mess. We were allotted AT Coy accn at Rangapahar. For few days it was a tussle as to under whose comd this new raising will be completed.Under Sub Area Cdr Gauhati or local fmn. In the end proximity won and local fmn assumed the Comd. All of us know what problems are faced by CO, Offrs, JCOs and ORs. From the past association I new only Maj T K Bagati and Col Bala as Majs and later Col AKJ Nair, Col Promit Roy as Capts joined from 4th Assam . Col SK Sharma did not like losing Nair and Roy and remained annoyed for years. Soon arms and amn started pouring in. We did lots strengthening ex by long and short route marches . Sweltering weather, without accn, proximity of Dimapur for jawans for a little swig and Nagaland were limiting factors. Gen Kendith GOC IN C Eastern Comd attended a Bara Khana and also gave a generous cheque. GOC 8 Mtn Div also paid a visit. Brig NS Surrey Mikokchang Range Cdr also visited us and presented us a Silver trophy , replica of an ocean sailing ship of Ashoka period. It was made by a local gold Smith at Tuensang. Unfortunately we lost it in a fire accident. Brig Bajwa Centre Comdt was of great help in building up our manpower.

With a joint effort of all officers and men we completed the raising and moved to Brahmna di Bari a tentage camp a part of transit camp.

The other two bn of the bde were 24 Punjab, 16 Sikh and later Raj Rif. Raj Rif a more then 200 yrs old bn had not crossed the Brahmaputra River. It was a tough competion for us .We had not done even a bn level ex. We over a time won contest in most of the games and ex. In 1981 our div moved out from its permanent loc for a div level ex. Bn did well

(Details later)

On 01 May 81 I was posted out as GSO 1 (Int) , 54 Div.It was a peace posting.We moved out to Rajasthan and for months it entailed train journey, canal crossings, roaming in desert roads and div level attack across a canal .

The day I had laid down the Comd of bn I was diagnosed heart patient and placed in cat P3. However, GOC took me on all ex. He was fond of long walks in desert . When during one of walks I appraised him of my Cat he quietly said, “Dont worry I will leave you where ever and as an when you have a heart attack I will leave you there only”.There after our equation changed and till today we are friends .

My posting came to Army HQ as AAG,D&V, AGs Branch. During med check up for ACR , New Med Specialist at Secundrabd diagnosed that I had no heart problem and should be upgraded to Cat A. How ever I was happy to be Permanent P2 and joined my new appointment at AHQ.

(Details later)

It was a new environment working with civilians. It gave me opportunity to go through various Court Martial proceedings.Incl Court Martial records of Tatya Tope and one of the cavalry Regt which had refused to board the ship sailing to Africa during world War 2.

In 1984 I got upgraded to Med Cat A and on promotion took over duties of Director Q Central Comd .My work was appreciated and was awarded COAS Commendation Card.

(Details Later)

After about 3 yrs tenure at AHQ I was posted as Dy Cdr 12 Mtn Bde.It was a peaceful tenure at LOC, Uri, J&K. Our Cdr was Brig G S Sekhon ,son in law of a famous Army Cdr and Maj Surendra Nath, BM who retired as an Army Cdr.Our friend Col Kutty was also their as GSO 3.Over all it was a very satisfying tenure.

(Details Later)

In 1988 I took study leave and did a course as System Analyst with NIIT Delhi.

In may 1989 I was posted as OC Provost 57 Mtn Div. I vetted gallantry award recommondations, C of I , organised moves of Div while leaving Batticolava to Trincomalli and shipping to Madras harbor and def of Div adm areas . It was a very interesting and satisfying tenure.I also did a CMP course at Bangalore. After IPKF tenure we moved in to our permanent Loc at Silcher.

Retirement was approaching there fore I asked for a posting nearer home. First my application was rejected , however on my protest I was posted as Col GS Meerut Sub Area.It was a very satisfying tenure from where I retired on 01Jun 1992.

(Details later)