CQMH Abdul Hamid of 4 Grenadiers engaged Patton tanks from a jeep-mounted recoilless gun near Chima on 10 September 1965 and died in the action.
Patton Tanks Ahead of Chima
At 0800 hours on 10 September 1965, a regiment of Pakistani Patton tanks attacked ahead of the village of Chima, on the Bhikkiwind road in the Khem Karan sector. By 0900 the tanks were through the forward positions.
Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid of 4 Grenadiers commanded a recoilless gun detachment. He moved his jeep-mounted gun to a flanking position under shelling and tank fire, knocked out the leading tank, shifted position and set a second on fire.
The tanks then found him and turned machine gun and high explosive fire on the jeep. He kept firing at a third tank until a high explosive shell mortally wounded him.
Two Tanks or Seven
The Gazette citation describes two tanks hit and a third under fire when he was struck. The National War Memorial and the Ministry of Defence portal both credit him with seven. This article follows the citation and records the difference.
In the Grenadiers Since 1954
The portal says Abdul Hamid was born on 1 July 1933 to Sakina Begum and Mohammad Usman. He joined the Grenadiers on 27 December 1954, and served in the 4th Battalion for the rest of his career. His service number was 2639985.
The citation
At 0800 hours on the 10th September 1965, the Pakistani forces launched an attack with a Regiment of Patton tanks on a vital area ahead of village Chima on the Bhikkiwind road in the Khem Karan sector. The attack was preceded by intense artillery shelling. The enemy tanks penetrated the forward positions by 0900 hours. Realising the grave situation Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid, who was commander of a recoilless gun detachment, moved out to a flanking position, with his gun mounted on a jeep, under intense enemy shelling and tank fire. Taking an advantageous position, he knocked out the leading enemy tank and then swiftly changing his position, he sent another enemy tank up in flames. By this time the enemy tanks in the area spotted him and brought his jeep under concentrated machine gun and high explosive fire. Undeterred, Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid kept on firing on yet another enemy tank from his recoilless gun. While so doing he was mortally wounded by an enemy high explosive shell.
Havildar Abdul Hamid's brave action inspired his comrades to put up a gallant fight and to beat back the heavy tank assault by the enemy. His complete disregard of his personal safety during the operation and his sustained act of bravery in the face of constant enemy fire were a shining example not only to his Unit but to the whole Division and were in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
Source: Gazette of India. Reproduced as printed, including any errors in the original.
Cover image: Krishna Chaitanya Velaga, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized for this page. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CQHM_Abdul_Hamid_statue_at_Param_Yodha_Sthal_Delhi.jpg