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{{Short description|Recipient of Maha Vir Chakra}} | {{Short description|Recipient of Maha Vir Chakra}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=October | {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=October | {{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
| honorific_prefix = [[Major General]] | | honorific_prefix = [[Major General]] | ||
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[[Major General]] '''Anant Singh Pathania''' [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]], [[Military Cross|MC]] (25 May 1913 – 19 December 2007) was a decorated [[Indian Army]] general; the first Indian to receive a [[Military Cross]] in the Second World War, he was also the first Indian commanding officer of the Gorkha Rifles.<ref name=soldier_core>{{cite news|title=Soldier to the core|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080109/himplus1.htm|access-date=2 September 2018|newspaper=The Tribune (Chandigarh)|date=9 January | [[Major General]] '''Anant Singh Pathania''' [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]], [[Military Cross|MC]] (25 May 1913 – 19 December 2007) was a decorated [[Indian Army]] general; the first Indian to receive a [[Military Cross]] in the Second World War, he was also the first Indian commanding officer of the Gorkha Rifles.<ref name=soldier_core>{{cite news|title=Soldier to the core|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080109/himplus1.htm|access-date=2 September 2018|newspaper=The Tribune (Chandigarh)|date=9 January 2008}}</ref> During the [[Sino-Indian War]] of 1962, he commanded the [[4th Infantry Division (India)|4th Infantry Division]] during a critical stage of the conflict where his leadership was criticised.<ref name="poor_leadership_report"/> | ||
==Early life and career== | ==Early life and career== | ||
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Pathania had two elder brothers, Baldev Singh Pathania (1897-1985), who served as Military Secretary to Maharaja [[Hari Singh]] and who eventually retired as ''dewan'' of the [[princely state]] of Poonch, and Harnam Singh Pathania (1900-?), who became Chief Conservator of Forests in the state.<ref name= "pathania_clan">{{cite book |editor1-last=Brentnall |editor1-first=Mark |title=The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire (Volume I: Himachal Pradesh) |year=2004 |publication-date=2004 |page=360 |isbn=81-7387-163-9}}</ref> | Pathania had two elder brothers, Baldev Singh Pathania (1897-1985), who served as Military Secretary to Maharaja [[Hari Singh]] and who eventually retired as ''dewan'' of the [[princely state]] of Poonch, and Harnam Singh Pathania (1900-?), who became Chief Conservator of Forests in the state.<ref name= "pathania_clan">{{cite book |editor1-last=Brentnall |editor1-first=Mark |title=The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire (Volume I: Himachal Pradesh) |year=2004 |publication-date=2004 |page=360 |isbn=81-7387-163-9}}</ref> | ||
Pathania was educated at Ranbir High School in Jammu.<ref name="war_decorated">{{cite web |url=http://twdi.in/node/1224|title=Maj Gen Anant Singh Pathania, MVC, MC (now deceased)|website=The War Decorated India & Trust |access-date=11 November | Pathania was educated at Ranbir High School in Jammu.<ref name="war_decorated">{{cite web |url=http://twdi.in/node/1224|title=Maj Gen Anant Singh Pathania, MVC, MC (now deceased)|website=The War Decorated India & Trust |access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref> Commissioned into the [[13th Frontier Force Rifles]] on 1 February 1936, he served on the North-West Frontier during the [[Waziristan campaign (1936–1939)|Waziristan campaign]].<ref name="soldier_core"/> As a temporary captain during the [[East African Campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]], he fought in the [[Battle of Keren]] as a company commander and was awarded a [[Military Cross]] (MC) for his heroism.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35221|date=15 July 1941 |page=4110|supp=y}}</ref> According to author Antony Brett: "Although wounded in the face and in both legs, he collected his company headquarters and any other men he could muster, and pushed the enemy out with the bayonet. Only then, and under orders, did he hand over the company to his second-in-command, but the latter, too, was wounded by bomb splinters."<ref name="soldier_core"/> | ||
The citation recommending Pathania for a Military Cross runs as follows:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7363124|title=Recommendation for Award for Anant Singh Pathania |website=The National Archives (UK)|publisher=UK Government |access-date=5 September | The citation recommending Pathania for a Military Cross runs as follows:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7363124|title=Recommendation for Award for Anant Singh Pathania |website=The National Archives (UK)|publisher=UK Government |access-date=5 September 2018}}</ref> | ||
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His battalion was sent to Kashmir during the 1947-49 Indo-Pakistan War, where in November 1948, the Indian Army’s advance towards Drass and Kargil was being halted at Pindras gorge. As part of [[Operation Bison (Jammu & Kashmir 1948)|Operation Bison]], 1/5 Gorkha Rifles was deployed to capture the ridge ahead of Pindras, on the north of Gumri Nala; the resulting battle was reportedly the hardest ever fought during the Jammu and Kashmir operations.<ref name="soldier_core"/> Anant not only led several reconnaissance missions but also pressed home the attack on the enemy on 14 November 1948. Despite heavy enemy machine gun fire the 1/5 Gorkhas achieved their objectives and inflicted heavy casualties. The victory was attributed to Pathania’s daring reconnaissance of enemy positions on the eve of battle. In tribute to Pathania, the strategically important mountain top he captured was named "Anant Hill."<ref name="soldier_core"/> | His battalion was sent to Kashmir during the 1947-49 Indo-Pakistan War, where in November 1948, the Indian Army’s advance towards Drass and Kargil was being halted at Pindras gorge. As part of [[Operation Bison (Jammu & Kashmir 1948)|Operation Bison]], 1/5 Gorkha Rifles was deployed to capture the ridge ahead of Pindras, on the north of Gumri Nala; the resulting battle was reportedly the hardest ever fought during the Jammu and Kashmir operations.<ref name="soldier_core"/> Anant not only led several reconnaissance missions but also pressed home the attack on the enemy on 14 November 1948. Despite heavy enemy machine gun fire the 1/5 Gorkhas achieved their objectives and inflicted heavy casualties. The victory was attributed to Pathania’s daring reconnaissance of enemy positions on the eve of battle. In tribute to Pathania, the strategically important mountain top he captured was named "Anant Hill."<ref name="soldier_core"/> | ||
Pathania was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) for his efforts. The official citation reads:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/anant-singh-pathania-mc |title=Maha Vir Chakra - Lt. Col. Anant Singh Pathania, MC |website=Gallantry Awards (Ministry of Defence)|publisher=Government of India |access-date=3 September | Pathania was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) for his efforts. The official citation reads:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/anant-singh-pathania-mc |title=Maha Vir Chakra - Lt. Col. Anant Singh Pathania, MC |website=Gallantry Awards (Ministry of Defence)|publisher=Government of India |access-date=3 September 2018}}</ref> | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||