Raghbir Singh Pathania
Raghbir Singh Pathania (sometimes erroneously spelled Raghubir), OBI was an Indian Lieutenant Colonel who was the primary commander of the 2nd Jammu and Kashmir Rifles during the Battle of Jassin, in which he was killed while defending a garrison of 4 Indian Brigades.
Raghbir Singh Pathania | |
|---|---|
 Raghbir Singh Pathania in his military uniform | |
| Born | 1874 Kangra, Chamba State, British Raj |
| Died | January 18, 1915 (aged 40 or 41) Jassin, German East Africa, German Empire |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch |  British Indian Army |
| Years of service | ??? – 1915 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands held | 2nd Jammu and Kashmir Rifles |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
BiographyEdit
FamilyEdit
Raghbir was born on 1874 as the son of Nihal Singh Pathania and the brother of Gandharb Singh.[1] On May 25, 1913, he was the father of Anant Singh Pathania.[2]
Military careerEdit
He enlisted into military service at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the 2nd Jammu and Kashmir Rifles which consisted of Muslims and Gurkhas.[3][4] During his military career, he earned the title of Sardar Bahadur, being promoted to Commander-in-chief as well as earning the Order of British India.[5]
Battle of JassinEdit
After the outbreak of World War I, the British Indian Army were initially sent to the East African Campaign and the 2nd Jammu and Kashmir Rifles were a part of the divisions sent to German East Africa. On January 18, 1915, the Germans attacked the village of Jassin to secure Tanga which had successfully repelled an Anglo-Indian Invasion. The garrison of the town was a weak and meager force of around 4 brigades commanded by Singh. He would be killed during the defense of the village which lead to the Germans capturing it.[6]
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ "Raghubir Singh (1874 - 1915) - Genealogy". Geni.com. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ↑ From a Family of Warriors. Vol. 1. The Friday Times. 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ↑ "LIEUTENANT COLONEL RAGHUBIR SINGH". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ↑ "Major General Anant Singh Pathania MVC, MC". brownpundits.com. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- ↑ "India and The Great War". indiaww1. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- ↑ P. K. Gautam. "Indian Army in the East African Campaign in World War". idsa.in. Retrieved January 29, 2022.