Naik Jadunath Singh of 1 Rajput commanded a nine-man post at Taindhar on 6 February 1948 and was killed charging the third attack.
No. 2 picquet on Taindhar
Nine men held the forward section post at No. 2 picquet on Taindhar, a hill immediately overlooking Naushera, on 6 February 1948. Naik Jadunath Singh of 1 Rajput commanded them.
The first wave came up to the post and was driven back. Four of his men were wounded, and he reorganised the section for the next attack.
The second wave was larger, and reached the walls of the post. Every man was now wounded, Singh in the right arm. He took the Bren gun from the wounded gunner, and his fire turned the attackers back, leaving their dead and wounded on the ground.
The third charge
When the third attack came, all the men of the post were casualties. Singh left the sanghar firing his Sten gun and charged alone. The attackers fled. Two bullets, in the head and chest, killed him.
The citation records that the charge saved his picquet from being overrun at the most critical stage of the battle for the defence of Naushera.
Singh was born on 21 November 1916 in Khajuri village, Shahjahanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, and enrolled in the Rajput Regiment on 21 November 1941. In 1950 his battalion was converted to 4 Guards.
The citation
At No 2 picquet on Taindhar on 6 February 1948, No. 27373 Naik Jadunath Singh was in command of a forward section post, which bore the full brunt of the enemy attack. This little post was garrisoned by nine men against overwhelming odds. The enemy launched his attack in successive waves and with great ferocity to overcome this post. The first wave swept up to the post in a furious attack. Displaying great valour and superb qualities of leadership, Naik Jadunath Singh so used the small force at his disposal that the enemy retired in utter confusion.
Four of his men were wounded but Naik Jadunath Singh again showed his qualities of good leadership by reorganizing the battered force under him, for meeting another onslaught. His coolness and courage were of such an order that the men rallied and were ready for the second attack, which came with greater determination, and in larger numbers than the preceding one. Though hopelessly outnumbered, this post, under the gallant leadership of Jadunath Singh resisted. All were wounded, and Naik Jadunath Singh, though wounded in the right arm, personally took over the Bren-gun from the wounded brengunner. The enemy was right on the walls of the post, but Nk Jadunath Singh once again showed outstanding ability and valour of the highest order in action. By his complete disregard for his personal safety, and example of coolness and courage, he encouraged his men to fight. His fire was so devastating, that what looked like impending defeat was turned into a victory and the enemy retreated in chaos leaving the dead and wounded littered on the ground. With this act of supreme heroism and outstanding example of leadership and determination, Naik Jadunath Singh saved the post from the second assault.
By this time, all men of the post were casualties. The enemy put in his third and final attack in undiminished numbers and determined to capture this post. Naik Jadunath Singh, now wounded, prepared literally single-handed to give battle for the third time. With great courage and determination, he came out of the sanghar firing his Sten gun. He made a most magnificent single-handed charge on the advancing enemy, who was completely taken by surprise and fled in disorder. Naik Jadunath Singh, however, met his gallant death in his third and last charge when two bullets hit him in the head and chest. Thus, charging single-handedly at the advancing enemy, this Non-Commissioned Officer, performed the highest act of gallantry and self-sacrifice and by so doing saved his section-nay his whole picquet-from being overrun by the enemy at the most critical stage in the battle for the defence of Naushera.
Source: Ministry of Defence gallantry awards record. Reproduced as printed, including any errors in the original.
Cover image: Krishna Chaitanya Velaga (KCVelaga), own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized for this page. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Naik_Jadunath_Singh_statue_at_Param_Yodha_Sthal_Delhi.jpg