Hoshiar Singh (Brigadier)

Brigadier General Hoshier Singh was the commander of the Indian 62 Brigade stationed at Se La. During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the 62 Brigade was scattered under the PLA onslaught. According to Chinese report, a three-men PLA group led by a PLA squad-leader named Pan Gaoshou ran into Brigadier Singh's group with about 150 men in a dense forest area. In the heat and confusion of the ensuing battle, Brigadier Singh was killed, along with a few dozen Indian troops. However, the PLA soldiers only learned that general Singh was killed a week later from Indian sources. They returned to the area and identified his body and buried him with military honors.

Brigadier General Hoshier Singh was commended for his bravery in the war.

Details of the battle from some Chinese Source.

Sergeant Pan Gaoshou was leading a recon-team of 3 soldiers 1 or 2 Km ahead of the company. Pan was holding a kalashnikov and the other two privates had riffles on their hands.

It was a small stony bridge that he was about to cross when he saw, face to face, an Indian Machine-gunner on the other side of the creek just about to step on the bridge. The Indian Machine_gun reacted fast, within a second, the guy was in combat position and started firing. Pan and his teammates had to roll over to hide themselves behind big rocks. And then, started firing back.

The forest was so dense that the Indians didn't know how many Chinese soldiers were attacking them. Sergeant Pan knew that as soon as the enemy realize only 3 Chinese soldiers were on their way, they would rush over and kill the 3 men team before any reinforcement arrived. He must bluff. The Machine-Gun was causing most trouble, so he asked the other two help him divert the machine-gun from two sides, and he found a time slot to take out the machine-gun. The next step, he ordered the two men to rush to the other side while he provided cover with his kalashnikov. And then, it was his turn. With covering fire provided by only two self-loaded rifle, this race for Pan was a death gamble. Fortune once again chose him. Bullets penetrated his pants, coats, but not his body. Although trembling with his gun at hand, he made it to the other bank.

It was now more than ten minutes passed. and Pan had changed four magazines. He estimated that the company should have arrived by then, and launched final blow with his last magazine. He was luckily right. His attack along with Hundred other Chinese soldiers overwhelms enemy, including Brigadier Singh.

After the Battle, the death were buried. And Pan was surprised that there were actually over 150 enemy soldiers in the field. They were probably holding back by the forest. because they cannot see what's behind it. Perhaps being a little bit aggressive, they would have crashed the 3 men recon-team and escaped the siege intact.

The Chinese Army did not know about the death of Brigadier Singh till the Indian Government announced so. Pan and his Unit, 154 Regiment, returned to the battle field, and searched all over again. They found Brigadier Singh's body stuck in between tree trunks, facing down. “such delicate uniform”, Pan said decades later, "especially the eagle on his chest, so beautiful."

Pan was now retired as a worker in south-west China. He has never mentioned this to his family. War is a burden for everyone involved.

After all, Only thru war, did people learn the value of peace.