Chapter 14 - The Western Sector: The

Ladakh Battle begins...

The Chinese attacked in Ladakh on 20th October, as in NEFA, but the effects were not as disastrous as in NEFA, mainly because the forward zone was being thinned out anyway due to the difficulties of maintenance in winter. The post of 14 J&K Militia at Chip Chap River in the north was forced to withdraw to Daulat Beg Oldi, and finally to Thoise.

The two posts of a company of 1/8 Gorkha Rifles at Sirijap held off two Chinese attacks, taking many casualties, and the only seven remnants fell back. A new divisional HQ, 3 Infantry Division, was

raised during the lull after 20th October-16th November 1962 for coordinating the defence of Ladakh. 114 Brigade’s responsibility was reduced to the defence of Chushul, the newly-inducted 70 Brigade was given the Dungti-Chumatang sector north of Chushul with two battalions.

Brigade moved up from the Kashmir valley with two battalions and was tasked with the protection of Leh. The Battle of Chushul, from 18th to 21st November, 1962, actually took place after most of the disastrous events of the eastern sector had already happened. When the Chinese attack was renewed in 1 November, 114 Infantry Brigade under Brigadier T.N. (‘Tappy’) Raina, holding nearly 40 km of frontage with three battalions, gave a very

good account of itself. He had deployed his brigade tactically, the two forward battalions which faced the Chinese attack fought with professional skill and bravery, losing most of their officers and men, but

not giving up.

To be continued......