Page 23 - seniors today november 2020
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Pakistani columns. Capt Chaturvedi was
wounded and was bravely carried by Capt
Gill and others till they finally made their
way back.
Enemy Reactions
As visualised, the Garibpur position
outflanked the Pakistani battalion at
Chaugacha and there was violent response
by Pakistani 107 Infantry Brigade at first
light November 21 to 14 Punjab’s entry across
Memorial in the premises of the mango orchard which
bears witness to the Battle of Garibpur the Bayra salient. It became known later
through the prisoners taken that Pakistan’s
approach with elements of armour. Charlie 6 Punjab, elements of 21 Punjab, 22 Frontier
Company under Maj NJS Bains, with a Force and 3 Independent Armoured
section of MMGs occupied a company Squadron of Chaffee tanks made up the
defended locality further North at Track attacking force.
Junction near Pitambarpur. At about 3.30am on November 21, our
Alpha and Bravo Companies under Commando patrol deployed near Singajhuli
Majors Vishwanathan and KM Machiah passed on a message regarding roaring
occupied the gap between Çharlie and Delta sound of tanks from the direction of Jessore.
Companies. Battalion Headquarters was At 5.30am, Capt Gill reported on radio
located near Garibpur. By 3am on the 21st, link that he could see enemy armour and
the battalion was in position and the men infantry lining up for assault in the Forming
were feverishly at work to get the defences Up Place (FUP). All companies were warned
ready by daylight. to be ready for the impending enemy attack.
Enemy artillery guns opened up and
Bold Deployment of Protective Patrol started pounding our defences to support
A patrol with Capt GS Gill, the Commando their assaulting armour and infantry. As
Platoon Commander and the artillery dawn broke out on November 21, the enemy
observer Capt PP Chaturvedi from 6 Field launched a brigade-size attack supported by
Regiment had been moved North towards a squadron of armour equipped with M24
Singhajhuli-North Jagannnathpur to cover
the enemy movement on road axis Jessore-
Chaugacha. In the cold and foggy early
hours of November 21, Capt Gill heard
the unmistakable sounds of enemy tanks
moving south from the Chaugacha-Jessore
road. The fog and poor visibility allowed
the patrol to remain close to the enemy
columns and report on them accurately.
Capt Chaturvedi, provided with a fine
opportunity, brought down some good
concentrations on the closely massed Mortar Platoon of 14 Punjab in action during the Battle of
Garibpur
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #17 | NOVEMBER 2020 23
