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War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965
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War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965 Hardcover - 1991

by Harbakhsh Singh

From the publisher

The conflict was short and limited, packed with intense activity, major movement, heavy fighting and crucial decisions. The initiative rested with Pakistan to commence hostilities, which they did with a mix of irregular and regular troops and tactics. This is a story of anticipation, of impending actions, of virtual equality of forces engaged in a savage battle of attrition in which no quarters were given or asked. The author, GOC-in-C Western Command during those fateful days provided an unflappable presence under whose command the Army imposed unacceptable levels of losses on the enemy, first toning down their rhetoric, then their confidence, and lastly their ability to sustain very high levels of material losses. There is very little material or records to draw upon for our military studies of warfare in and around the Indian subcontinent. War Despatches narrates for the first time the inside story through original despatches field by the Army Commander from the war zone. To maintain the authenticity of the Despatches, the military style of writing has been followed in the text as far as possible.

Details

  • Title War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965
  • Author Harbakhsh Singh
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First edition
  • Pages 230
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Lancer Publishers LLC, New Delhi
  • Date 1991
  • ISBN 9788170621171 / 8170621178
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 91904978
  • Dewey Decimal Code 954.904

About the author

Born on 1 October 1913, Lt Gen Harbakhsh Singh was among the first batch of officers commissioned from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. His military career of nearly 35 years was acknowledged for his distinguished service of exceptional order at various rungs of the ladder.He commanded the 1st Battalion the Sikh Regiment during operations in Jammu & Kashmir in 1947-48. The historic battle of Shalateng in November 1947, which proved to be the turning point in the Army's operations against the raiders, was fought under his command. In May 1948 he commanded 163 Infantry Brigade and led his troops on an independent mission to destroy the enemy strongly established in Pahalgam, and after a long and arduous pursuit captured the enemy base at Tithwal and recovered nearly 6000 sq miles of J&K state. He was awarded the Vir Chakra for this gallantry and outstanding leadership.During his long service with the Army, he had the rare distinction of having had combat experience in command of troops of, or against, many nationalities, at all levels of command, from a platoon of 40 men to an Army Group consisting of 400,000 military personnel. He started his military career as a 2nd Lieut. In a war zone in the North Western Frontier Province of erstwhile British India, in what were known as MOHMAND OPERATION, in 1935.He attended the Imperial Defence College, London in 1958. Thereafter, he held almost all important and key command and staff appointments in Western Command and, in November 1964 finally took over as Army Commander.In 1962, during the Chinese invasion he was posted as the Corps Commander NEFA and later on in the Sikkim Sector.In 1965 as Army Commander Western Command, it was under his leadership and overall command of the Western Army, both in Jammu & Kashmir and the Punjab theatre, that the Pakistani attacks were successfully repulsed. This earned him the award of the Padma Bhushan.Lt Gen Harbakhsh Singh retired from the Army in September 1969. He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in recognition of his meritorious service.

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