Piru Singh

Company Havildar Major Piru Singh Shekhawat (20 May 1918 – 18 July 1948) was a soldier in the British Indian Army. He died in service during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest award for valour in the face of the enemy.

Citation
COMPANY HAVILDAR MAJOR PIRU SINGH  6th BATTALION THE RAJPUTANA RIFLES (NO 2831592)

"South of Tithwal, ‘D’ Company, of which No 2831592 Piru Singh, was Havildar Major was detailed to attack and capture an enemy occupied hill feature. The enemy had well dug in positions and had sited his MMGs so as to cover all possible approaches.  As the attack advanced, it was met with heavy MMG fire from both flanks.  Volleys of grenades were hurled down from enemy bunkers.  Company Havildar Major Piru Singh was then with the forward most Section of the company."

"Seeing more than half of the Section killed or wounded, he did not lose courage. With battle cries he encouraged the remaining men and rushed forward with great determination onto the nearest enemy MMG position.  Grenade splinters ripping his clothes and wounding him at several places, he continued to advance without the least regard for his safety.  He was on top of the MMG position wounding the gun crew with Sten gun fire.  With complete disregard to his bleeding wounds he made a mad jump on the MMG crew bayoneting them to death, thus silencing the gun.

"By then he suddenly realized that he was the sole survivor of the section, the rest of them either dead or wounded. Another grenade thrown at him wounded him in the face.  With blood dripping from his face wounds in his eyes, he crawled out of the trench, hurling grenades at the next enemy position."

"With a loud battle cry, he jumped on the occupants of the next trench bayoneting two to death. The ‘C’ Company Commander who was directing fire in support of the attacking company witnessed this action."

"As Havilder Major Piru Singh emerged out of the second trench to charge on the 3rd enemy bunker, he was hit in the head by a bullet and was seen dropping on the edge of the enemy trench.  There was an explosion in the trench, which showed that his grenade had done its work.  By then Company Havildar Major Piru Singh’s wounds had proved fatal."

"He had paid with his life for his singularly brave act, but he had left for the rest of his comrades an unique example of single-handed bravery and determined cold courage."