Chawinda : The Last Stand
A Tribute to Riflemen | An Ode to Gunners
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A small town became 'the pivot' in Shakargarh Bulge
Once a Lieut in Sialkot I was always on recce
back then this area was on fingertips
In 1965 it saw a huge tank battle
This thread however is not about tanks

Almost in the heart of Chawinda, City Park is a memorial to 65 War
In the neighboring graveyard a walled compound houses some distinguished graves
A few belong to 11 Cavalry, others to 14 Baloch
Soldiers who fought to their death at this very ground defending Chawinda at all cost

An insignificant town in bigger operational picture somehow seduced the Indians into a series of deliberate attacks
Pakistani 24 Brigade's stronghold would prove to be a tough nut to crack
14-19 Sep with three attacks repulsed defenders of Chawinda prevailed
This is their story

It began on 14 Sep when 9 Dogra company with armour support attacked Wazirwali north of Chawinda
Piffers patiently awaited but in the nick of time their anti tank Cobra Missiles failed to secure a direct hit
Wazirwali was taken but an attack on Chawinda will take another two days

16 Sep saw 8 Garhwal Rifles uprooting 3 FF from their defences west of Chawinda Railway Station
Their courage for once shook 24 Brigade
8 Garhwal fought for two days without food and on person ammunition
They beat back two counter attacks and lost 28 soldiers including their CO

Lt Col Jirhad was wounded by shelling as the first assault wave progressed
Maj Abdul Rafey then took over and Buttar Dograndi was taken by last light in one fiercely fought contest of Chawinda battles
Maj Rafey would later succumb to a shell fired by 3FF tank hunting parties

A memorial raised by Ministry of Railways in Rampur remembers Maj Abdul Rafey Khan Vir Chakra
The valiant officer's body was left along with other soldiers as Garhwali's withdrew
He most likely lays buried in an unmarked grave on the same battlefield where he so valiantly fought

On 19 Sep Indian 6 Mountain division in a renewed attack crossed start line at 0100
14 Baloch closed ranks with 3 FF across Chawinda Railway Line and 25 Cavalry scored some fine tank hits
Gen Mahmud tells us it was Pakistan Artillery that disoriented and broke up these attacks

Gunners at Chawinda
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With Artillery IV Corps Headquarters at Pasrur, the real trick was a balanced mix of all caliber pieces and a forward bold deployment
Artillery Guns were deployed immediately south of Chawinda barely a thousand yards away from the infantry positions

Such was the effectiveness of Artillery fire that on 14 & 15 Sep more casualties were caused by Artillery and Air than in actual tank to tank battles
On 15 Sep while preparing for attack on Chawinda 20 Rajput while moving to Wazirwali suffered 27 casualties due to Artillery fire

During the attack on 19 Sep, Artillery support was phenomenal
In the words of Lt Gen Harbakhsh Singh "Enemy shelling created such confusion that all control was lost
Leading troops lost direction and 14 Rajput barged into our own neighboring position held by a company of 5 Jat

On the same night on 19 Sep, Indian 35 Infantry Brigade's Forming Up Place was effectively shelled by Pakistan Artillery
One of the attacking battalions was repulsed half way
After first light the other battalion that had reached Chawinda was also forced to withdraw

Chawinda bears witness,
to valiant attackers who came in waves
to fearless defenders who took the last stand
and brave sons of artillery who stood true to their salt "Izzat O Iqbal"
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A true defender never abandons his trench
He fights from it, he then sleeps in it

for my readers of interest, the story is also on MANI JUNCTION https://www.meemainseen.com/2019/09/chawinda-2/