 Captured Pakistani boat renamed LOLLIPOP
I must apologise for not abiding by a request from the Deputy Commandant to keep the Colonels of the Regiment, the Regimental Centre and Battalions informed of our activities through the medium of regular liaison letters. We have been rather busy over these last few weeks. As you know we were destined for GULMARG, but were diverted to 26 Infantry Division at the very last moment.
We arrived and formed part of 162 Infantry Brigade on 18 Aug 65. Shortly after arrival we found ourselves holding/strengthening border posts astride the JAMMU-SIALKOT axis in home territory. We drew `first blood' for the Division within days of our arrival; when we shot two PAKISTANI infiltrators who crossed over from SIALKOT.
As tension mounted and the situation worsened we were deployed as part of the greater plan. I was informed on the night 4/5 Sep that we were to lead the attack into PAKISTAN on the night 6/7 Sep. I considered this a very great honour as we were just transients at the time and the 6 and 7 JAT are permanent units of the formation, the former having been with the Brigade for a considerable time.
In a conference which I called on my return from Brigade Headquarters, I impressed on all officers and JCOs the great honour conferred on us and the tremendous responsibility the Battalion had to bear as our success would determine the success of the Brigade, Division and Corps plans. Also and of no lesser importance, we had a score to settle with those bastards for the dirty trick they played on the 6th Battalion when they crossed the International Border in the CHHAMB sector and over ran them with Pattons.
To their lasting credit I am proud to record that all ranks rose to the occasion. We spent two nights in the concentration area, the first of which was wholly engaged in digging. For every four trenches dug only one was good for use as the ground had a very high level of sub soil water. It was an open area and we spent the following two days in the blazing sun. A good deal of time was spent on reconnoitering and the plan.
We were expected to attack on the night 6/7 but this was postponed by 24 hours. On the 7th morning while having breakfast we were entertained to a spot of aerial combat - 4 Hunters vs 2 F-86 Sabres. At that stage of the proceedings I can honestly say that none of us - `CO sahib se lekar - sabh se baen wale jawan tak' knew the difference between Hunter, Sabre, Mystere or MiG (True to form, charts depicting own and enemy aircraft arrived after the cease fire), However, having a sharper eye than some of the others, I spotted the PAF markings and in accordance with the pamphlet dived into the nearest trench, only to emerge a little later soaked to the skin. My example was of no avail as I saw the men hanging around gazing in awe at what I am sure they thought was a wonderful tamasha. They came down to earth in the literal sense, when a Sabre jettisoned its drop tank and every one thought it was a bomb! The transition from peace to war was certainly sudden and in cases like mine very unceremonious!
We left the concentration area at 1900 hours and marched in the gathering darkness to the Assembly Area, arriving there at 2100 hours. All officers wore pagries and I guess I was an amusing figure because my presence did cause a smile or raise a laugh.
We left the Assembly area at 2130 hours and in accordance with the plan arrived at Forming Up Place at 2230 hours. It took about 30 minutes to get the Battalion into the area and settle them down, as we were knee deep in water; the area given to us being some water logged fields.
Exactly at 2300 hours- H hr - our guns opened up. The distance from the start line to the objective was 1500 yards. A company was given the left objective, a bit of high ground (or what looked like high ground from that distance. It is actually only 2 feet higher than the surrounding area) and a village, while C Company had to capture an area to the right of the village including a graveyard. 500 yards to their right was the objective for Phase II of the Brigade attack. We had a good deal of distance to cover but the fire plan catered for this.
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