Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid Param Vir Chakra (PVC)
Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid was born on July 1, 1933. at Dhamupur village of Ghazipur District in Uttar Pradesh. His father Usman Farooqi was a Policeman. on 27 December 1954 Abdul Hamid enrolled in the 4 Grenadiers.
According to the divisions defense plan the 4 Grenadiers captured a crucial position ahead of the village Chima along Khem Karan-Bhikhiwind road. It was important that Indian Troops attain a strong hold in that area to sustain divisional defense strategy. On the night of September 8th Pakistani forces made repeated attacks on the Grenadiers positions with no success. Frustrated Pakistanis attacked with a regiment of Patton tanks on September 10th at 0800 hours. The Pakistani attack was preceded by heavy artillery fire. The shelling was so strong that a shell littered every yard of ground under battalion's occupation.
The Pakistani tanks penetrated Indian forward positions by 0900 hrs. During this critical hour Abdul Hamid in command of a recoilless gun detachment. Understanding the gravity of the situation Abdul Hamid came out to a flank with his gun mounted on a jeep. Heavy enemy fire and tank shelling did not deter his courage. Hamid knocked out a leading enemy tank from his new position with accuracy. Then he changed position and took out another tank. Soon enemy troops spotted his position and showered down on him with high explosive and machine gun fire. But even that didn't stop him. As he took down yet another enemy tank, a highly explosive shell fatally wounded him. During the entire course of the action Abdul Hamid motivated his fellow soldiers to put up a strong fight to defeat enemy tanks.
Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid was awarded with the highest war time gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra, posthumously for his sustained act of bravery and disregard for personal safety, in the face of constant enemy fire, were a shining example, not only to his unit but also to the whole division and were in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
Major General Ian Cardozo SM, in his book "Param Vir – Our heroes in Battle" highlights the irony related to his award. Apparently, the recommendation for the Param Vir Chakra was sent on the evening of September 9, by when Abdul Hamid had personally destroyed three enemy tanks. By September 10, Abdul Hamid had destroyed three more, and was killed in the process of destroying a seventh tank. A follow up message was sent for correcting the previous citation. His award was changed to a ‘posthumous' one but the record about the number of tanks destroyed was never amended to this date.
According to the divisions defense plan the 4 Grenadiers captured a crucial position ahead of the village Chima along Khem Karan-Bhikhiwind road. It was important that Indian Troops attain a strong hold in that area to sustain divisional defense strategy. On the night of September 8th Pakistani forces made repeated attacks on the Grenadiers positions with no success. Frustrated Pakistanis attacked with a regiment of Patton tanks on September 10th at 0800 hours. The Pakistani attack was preceded by heavy artillery fire. The shelling was so strong that a shell littered every yard of ground under battalion's occupation.
The Pakistani tanks penetrated Indian forward positions by 0900 hrs. During this critical hour Abdul Hamid in command of a recoilless gun detachment. Understanding the gravity of the situation Abdul Hamid came out to a flank with his gun mounted on a jeep. Heavy enemy fire and tank shelling did not deter his courage. Hamid knocked out a leading enemy tank from his new position with accuracy. Then he changed position and took out another tank. Soon enemy troops spotted his position and showered down on him with high explosive and machine gun fire. But even that didn't stop him. As he took down yet another enemy tank, a highly explosive shell fatally wounded him. During the entire course of the action Abdul Hamid motivated his fellow soldiers to put up a strong fight to defeat enemy tanks.
Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid was awarded with the highest war time gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra, posthumously for his sustained act of bravery and disregard for personal safety, in the face of constant enemy fire, were a shining example, not only to his unit but also to the whole division and were in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
Major General Ian Cardozo SM, in his book "Param Vir – Our heroes in Battle" highlights the irony related to his award. Apparently, the recommendation for the Param Vir Chakra was sent on the evening of September 9, by when Abdul Hamid had personally destroyed three enemy tanks. By September 10, Abdul Hamid had destroyed three more, and was killed in the process of destroying a seventh tank. A follow up message was sent for correcting the previous citation. His award was changed to a ‘posthumous' one but the record about the number of tanks destroyed was never amended to this date.
