Battle of Rezang La

01Guarding Chushul

In the war of October–November 1962 China attacked along the whole Himalayan border. Chushul, with its airstrip near the Pangong lake, was the key to eastern Ladakh. C Company of 13 Kumaon, commanded by Major Shaitan Singh of Jodhpur, held Rezang La, a pass on the ridge south-east of Chushul. The cold was bitter, the ground too hard to dig deep, and the position could get no artillery support because of a ridge in between.

02The morning of 18 November

Before dawn on 18 November 1962 the Chinese attacked in strength, with heavy mortar and artillery fire. The Kumaonis threw back the first assaults. As the attacks came again from front and flank, the platoons fought on until their ammunition ran out, and some went at the enemy with bayonets and bare hands. Shaitan Singh moved from post to post under fire until he was badly wounded; he sent away the men who tried to carry him, and died where he lay.

03Found in the snow

The ceasefire came three days later. In February 1963 a party reached the ridge and found the dead frozen at their posts, still holding their weapons, and Shaitan Singh where he had fallen. Accounts of the numbers differ slightly; the memorial at Chushul names 114 of the company as killed, and only a handful survived, most of them wounded or taken prisoner. Shaitan Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, and 13 Kumaon carries the battle honour Rezang La.