These were celebrations so different from what we are used to on daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly basis. The 26 Div General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major General Mukesh Bhanwala was grinning from ear to ear as he heard an Army veteran who turned 100 on Wednesday. The GOC was listening to Lt Col Sharak Dev Singh Jamwal (retired) who has an unparalleled record as he was a young Captain who fought on the icy heights of Jozila in 1947-48 war. A senior officer from 7 Cavalry travelled to Jammu to take part in the celebrations which were organised at the Gandhi Nagar residence of the veteran.
Surrounded by family, friends and admirers, Lt Col SDS Jamwal donned a black and golden P cap his unit had specially sent to him. His son Kuldeep Singh Jamwal, a nephew and ladies of the family sat around the centurion as he wielded the knife to cut the cake on which was written 100 Happy Birthday Lt Col SDS Jamwal. It needs to be mentioned here that 26 Div based in Jammu Cantonment is called the Tiger Division, and its logo is a Tiger indeed.
Pakistan invaded the princely state of J&K spread over a vast area in October 1947. Lt Col SDS Jamwal, a Dogra hailing Jammu city, was a young officer in 7 Cavalry who had taken part in World War II in Burma and was called upon to fight for the motherland. One of his most daring success was achieved in opening the Jozila Pass single handedly, thereby enabling safe passage for military deployment Ladakh, including Gilgit-Baltistan.
He was born on August 13,1926 (27 Sawan 1936) to Colonel Prasidh Singh of State Forces which served under Maharaja Hari Singh at one time. His father had taken part in World War I and was awarded a jagir (land) as was the custom then. A nephew of legendary Brigadier Ghansara Singh, SDS Jamwal was educated in Doon School from where he was selected for ‘Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, Dehra Dun (now RIMC Dehra Dun).
Like his father, SDS Jamwal always wanted to be an Army officer and he became one when the time came. Once in the Army, he showed exemplary leadership and professionalism in Burma, at Jozila and Bomdila in the North-East. Speaking of the centurion in glowing terms, Col J P Singh (retired) says that there was a lot to learn from him. SDS Jamwal was commissioned during WW II in 7 Cavalry and deputed to Japan from where he was diverted to Burma. As part of the British Indian Division, he performed gallantly and served in British Commonwealth as part of the ‘Allied Occupation Forces in Japan’.
After returning to India, the young officer took part in action against the Pakistani invaders at Mendhar. Later, he was sent to Srinagar and onwards he was pressed into the battle to clear Jozila Pass using Stuart tanks his unit was equipped with. Dismantling Tanks and lugging them on civil trucks to achieve surprise was a difficult task which he performed diligently. His moments of glory came on 1st November 1948. Maj Gen K S Thamiya, the GOC, called him at 10 AM and told, “advance across Zojila, if possible capture Gumri across Zojila”. Zojila was strongly held by the enemy.
Undeterred, the roaring Tanks waded through the enemy trenches making them flee for life. By 3 PM Gumri was under Capt Jamwal’s feet. His radio message was, “Hello Victor 15, Gumri captured, enemy on the run”. At 5 PM, when it was getting dark, Gen Thamiya arrived at Gumri, Col J P Singh (retired) wrote about the Jozila action.
Detailed accounts of Lt Col SDS Jamwal’s glorious past find mention in various books written on Burma Campaign, Pak Aggression 1947-48 and Indo-China War 1962. Stories of his achievements often appear in military journals, magazines and periodicals. 7 Cavalry’s history book, ‘We Lead’ is a befitting tribute to him. Snippets of his tactical achievements have been discussed in professional courses.
