Ladian is Maj Aziz Bhatti's village near Gujrat
That night we drove from Mangla Cantt reaching the gallant officer's tomb by sunrise, lines on headstone glowing

Surkhuroo ho kay Jihad e Fi-Sbilillah say
Mard e Momin le raha hay khwab-e-shireen ke mazay
___
Defence Day Special

From Ladian a 100 miles down south as the crow flies Maj Bhatti defended the bridge on BRBL near Barki offering supreme sacrifice earning Nishan e Haider
That day he was covering 12 Punjab's daring counter attack led by Maj Habib, a gallant officer forgotten to foggy mist of war

In PAF Chaklala Graveyard, among AirForce eagles lies buried a Man in Khaki, Maj Muhammad Fazil of 11 FF
On the morning of 6 Sep he was among the first elements to check Indian advance at Ichogill
He survived the first day of battle, embracing Shahadat on BRBL banks 2 days later

Maj Arif Jan of 11 FF in the first brief but intense action of 6 Sept met 3 Jat near village Dial
No one from his company survived to tell the heroics
It was much later, after the war was over that his body was recovered on 2 Mar 66
Maj Arif lies buried in RA Bazar Graveyard

Where BRBL Canal intersects GT Road stands 'Batapur Monument'
It remembers the heroics & martyrs of 3 Baloch and 3 Jat
It reminds that despite their sensational dash Indian Advancing Divisions were denied to secure a foothold on BRBL, the formidable defensive line of Lahore

Southeast of Lahore, across the border from sleepy town of Khem Kharan a road leads to Bhikiwind
Astride this road a little short of the Cheema Khurd is CQMH Abdul Hamid's grave
The mythical 'Tank Buster' of Patton Tanks from 4 Grenadiers whose heroics earned him Param Vir Chakra

A pillar on Abdul Hamid's shrine has few familiar names
Bhura Khuna, Cheema Khurd, Asal Uttar, Valtoha & more
This was the very killing ground where Pakistan’s 1st Armd Div met its Waterloo
It was at Asal Uttar that Indians built a graveyard of tanks and named it Patton Nagar

In the Pakistani counter attack marred by hesitation and lack of fighting spirit a remarkable show was put up by 6 Lancers with their CO leading from front with a fearless dash onto Valtoha
Lt Col Sahibzad Gul was martyred on 9 Sep on his tank and was awarded Sitara e Jurrat

Lahore Front of #SeptemberWar has stories to tell
Heroics of 3 Baloch, 3 Jat, 17 Punjab, 4 Sikh, 6 Lancers, 4 Grenadiers, and many more

my readers are invited to the full story at MANI JUNCTION https://www.meemainseen.com/2017/10/aziz-bhatti/

On 6 September we commemorate the bravery and undaunted courage with which the soldiers stood up and fought
We remember these fearless souls every year so that their names live on
Lest we forget …