The victory of the 3rd Battalion of the Jat Regiment in Dograi was big, equally big it was a disaster for the Pakistanis especially for the 16th (Pathan) Batallion of Pakistan Punjab Regiment, which was wiped out. The famous “Battle of  Dograi”, is indeed described as “the Infantryman’s finest hour”.

When Pakistan started the war, 09 September brought about the surprise, it had not catered for. 11 Corps stormed into Pakistan in Amritsar-Khemkaran sector with an aim to secure the east bank of Ichhogil Canal on Lahore’s outskirts. The 11 Corps offensive was planned along three axis:-

• 15 Division on the Amritsar Lahore axis.
• 7 Infantry Division on Khalra-Barki axis.
• 4 Mountain Division along Asal Uttar-Khem Karan

Kasur axis.

Pakistan’s 10 Division was responsible for defence of Lahore.

Dograi is a sizeable town on the east bank of Ichhogil astride the Amritsar- Lahore Grand Trunk (GT) Road. It was prepared as a strong point to defend sustained attacks. There were well sited and camouflaged pill boxes sited in depth with minefields, minefield nests and contingency positions creating a false front. The enemy had well laid out plans to separate the Infantry from the Tanks to destroy it piecemeal in prepared killing areas.

15 Infantry Division with 38 and 54 Infantry Brigades was tasked to capture territory upto the East bank of Ichhogil Canal, with a Priority task of capturing and holding road and rail Bridges over the canal. 54 Infantry Brigade consisted of 13 PUNJAB Regiment, 3 JAT Regiment and 15 DOGRA Regiment and was supported by a Squadron of 14 (Scinde) Horse.

3 JAT commanded by Lt Col Desmond Hayde attacked and cleared Dograi by midday on 6 September and two of their companies crossed Ichhogil Canal; Lahore lay exposed a stone throw away. However there was no follow up support and the battalion had to fall back close to the International border as part of the Brigade Defended Sector around Santpura by the evening.

……… And now for Part II

On 17 September 3 JAT was ordered to once again capture Dograi by the morning of 22 September. The enemy after the first drubbing it got was now even more prepared and had strengthened his defences against all possibilities. In support of its aim, 3 JAT sent out probing attacks and fighting patrols to harass and gain information. By the evening of 21 September they were fully geared up for the attack.

The battalion left Santpura at 2300 hours as a part of the 54 Infantry Brigade attack plan with close support from the Brigade Artillery. By 0115 hours, they were in the Assembly Area to the North of Dograi in the general area of Lakhanke to attack along the canal. Here they were informed that 13 PUNJAB who had attacked MILE 13 as a part of the Brigade attack could not make much headway. This attack however had divided the enemy’s attention from 3 JAT which was to its tactical advantage.  The battalion was soon in the Forming Up Place for the assault which began at 0200 Hours with two companies (Charlie and Delta) ahead.

Delta Company found the old village empty and wheeled right to new Dograi. Charlie Company on the right came under intense fire from the canal bank and there was a brief pause. The leading platoon commander Subedar Pale Ram sensing the need for setting an example, stood up from his cover and charged into the hail of bullets shouting the Regiment’s war cry “Jat Balwan, Jai Bhagwan”. There was no further hesitation and the platoon rose as one to follow.  One platoon of Delta Company under Captain Kapil Singh Thapa, charged through to attack the depth positions. Soon the defender, a mixed company of 12 Punjab (Pakistan) and 18 Baluch (Pakistan) was routed. Sub Pale Ram had received six bullets to his body, fortunately he survived and was decorated with a Vir Chakra. Of the seventy-three men of Charlie Company who had charged the enemy, only twenty-seven were left on their feet.

This initial success was followed by a house to house clearance and a bloody mopping up operation. Bravo Company that was following Charlie Company passed through it to attack the demolished bridge on Ichhogil Canal. They faced intense fire from across and the leading section was completely wiped out. This however did not deter the Company and they soon ejected the enemy platoon guarding the near side of the canal.

Alfa Company under Major Asa Ram Tyagi was tasked to hit the enemy’s tank harbor. He dashed ahead to surprise the enemy even while the main attack was building up. Two bullets injured him in the right shoulder but he kept moving, soon he was struck by another bullet but did not waver from his objective; physically supported by his Company Havildar Major, he continued to lead the attack. The ferocity of the assault was such that two enemy tanks were captured while the crew was still trying to scramble into them. A hand to hand combat followed and Major Tyagi shot and bayoneted his opponent tank commander. He himself fell unconscious after two more bullets hit him. His men inspired by his courage succeeded in capturing the objective. Even while the fire fight was on, Sepoy Zile Singh of his company carried the critically wounded Tyagi to safety. Tragically Zile Singh died as soon as he put Tyagi down. Major Tyagi succumbed to his injuries in the hospital five days later and was decorated with a posthumous Maha Vir Chakra. There can be no better example of speed, audacity and bravery in face of a superior force than exhibited by the Alfa Company to marginalize the enemy armour.

During the bloody hand to hand fighting in the village while mopping through the narrow streets and rubble, Captain Kapil Singh Thapa went about his task in a very surgical manner and was injured many times. During these encounters it was not always that an enemy came into the weapon sights, it was often a Jat from another assaulting section. Only their loud rustic shouting prevented a serious clash.

“Confusion in battle is what pain is in childbirth-the natural order of things” – General Maurice Tugwell

Despite being grievously injured Thapa went about flushing the hidden enemy. Well into the battle, as he bent down to change the empty magazine on his weapon, he was shot through the head and killed in action. Captain Thapa was decorated with Maha Vir Chakra for his inspiring leadership and bravado in the successful face off with a well entrenched enemy. By 0400 hours the Pakistani defenders were gripped by panic and started running away. JATs mounted their light machine guns on the rooftops of houses and picked off the fleeing Pakistanis and also regrouped quickly to face a counter attack.

Predictably, the first of the four counter attacks began with an intense barrage of artillery fire at about 0430 hours. The JATs who had reorganized themselves well were waiting and responded fiercely much to the horror of the attackers. The counter attack was decimated and even the Counter Attack Force Commander Major Karim Khan of 3 Baluch Regiment was killed.

The morning brought fresh surprises. Nearly two companies of 16 Punjab (Pakistan) were found to be still occupying their defences in the area of MILE 13 engaged in a firefight with 13 Punjab. Their presence was unnerving for the JATs who could easily be sandwiched between the expected counter-attacks and these companies. It was now time for the Cavalry to show its mettle, Capt Jagtar Sangha, the Squadron Commander of Scinde Horse appreciated the situation, lined up two troops abreast the GT Road and charged the defences at MILE 13 with guns and machine guns blazing. This audacious charge surprised the enemy who retaliated immediately. Two of his tanks were hit with Anti Tank Grenades but the charge was pressed home relentlessly. The defenders of 16 Punjab were so unnerved by this unexpected and unconventional charge that they could not even use their deadly Recoilless anti-tank guns (RCL) and simply broke ranks and ran. A number of prisoners were taken. Lieutenant Colonel JF Golewala Commanding Officer of 16 Punjab, known to be with them could not be found but was taken a prisoner later.

Dograi was finally captured by 0600 hours on 22 September, the fighting however did end not here and more counter attacks and firing by hidden elements and stay behind parties in the village continued to cause serious casualties. The second counter attack came by 0700 hours with intense shelling of Dograi and MILE 13. Swift and accurate retaliation with RCLs and Artillery firing in direct firing role unnerved the attackers and destroyed a number of their tanks. This attack too fizzled out sooner than it had begun.

The Pakistanis remained determined and counter attacked again at 1000 hours. A squadron of Pakistani tanks attempted to outflank the entire 54 Infantry Brigade from the North. RCLs of 1 JAT and 1/3 GORKHA of 38 Infantry Brigade deployed in the North were grouped to face the assault and an intense Infantry Tank battle ensued. While maneuvering, the enemy tanks charged through the defences of a forward company of 1 JAT, passing over their trenches. The men stood firm and did not run, in the bargain a whole Platoon is suspected to have been crushed under the tanks. After a fight of nearly an hour, the Pakistani tanks lost heart and withdrew leaving behind six burning hulks. Both battalions of 38 infantry Brigade suffered heavy casualties. 1 JAT alone had 65 dead.

There was however no respite, the enemy continued shelling and snipers made movement through the rubble of Dograi for the reorganizing parties and the casualty evacuation difficult. By the evening the 3 JAT was reinforced by a draft from the JAT Regimental Centre and two companies of 13 PUNJAB. The nightfall brought in ominous signs of a fourth counter attack. Alfa Company however discovered the enemy assembly area and using machine guns launched a scathing spoiling attack against the enemy assembling for the attack disintegrating his plans. The morning of 23 September revealed 65 bodies of soldiers from 8 Punjab (Pakistan); many more would have been wounded or even killed. Respite from fighting came only with the cease-fire in the early hours of 23 September.

The Battle of Dograi was fought in cold blood with unwavering determination and guts. Outstanding leadership, high morale and unflagging fighting spirit decided the final outcome. In both battles for Dograi, 3 JAT lost 5 officers killed and 9 wounded, 1 junior commissioned officer was killed and 8 wounded and 82 other ranks killed and 214 wounded. The enemy suffered even heavier casualties. Around 900 dead bodies of Pakistani soldiers were counted, and 108 soldiers, including the commanding officer of 16 Punjab captured. The casualty equation of eight Pakistani soldiers to one of the JATs was incredible, considering that the JATs were attacking and Pakistanis defending. Islamuddin a Pakistani soldier who had once served in 3 JAT came to the west bank of the Ichhogil canal on the afternoon of 23 September and shouted across, “Only my old battalion could have done this!” What better tribute to a magnificent effort by the battalion. The exceptional leadership and courage of the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Desmond Hayde was extremely motivating and was acknowledged with the award of a Maha Vir Chakra.

3 JAT was decorated with the following medals and Battle Honour Dograi:-

• Maha Vir Chakra – 3
• Vir Chakra – 4
• Sena Medal – 7
• Mention-in-Dispatches – 12
• Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation Card – 11

The casualty figures and the decorations bear ample evidence of the outstanding performance by the indomitable 3 JAT in face of heavy odds stacked against them.