60 years later, Battle of Walong remembered

Tribune News Service

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, November 16

Sixty years after the lack of ammunition forced the Army to pull back from the ‘Battle of Walong’ in Arunachal Pradesh, the month-long ‘diamond jubilee celebrations’ culminated at the battle site on Wednesday.

It was on this day in 1962 that the Indian troops had to pull back. Some 2,500 troops were sent to the battle to counter the Chinese who were five times the number and were aided by artillery and automatic weapons.

The ‘Battle of Walong’ was to stop the Chinese and maintain control of lone mud-paved advanced landing ground (ALG) which was the only supply route to the eastern-most edge of Arunachal. Some 830 Indian soldiers were killed, captured or wounded. One Mahavir Chakra and 10 Vir Chakras were awarded.

The commander of the 11 Independent Brigade, Brigadier NC Rawlley, appointed on October 29, issued explicit orders on October 31,  “No withdrawal is to take place, let everyone get that straight.” He ordered the pullback on November 16.

The ‘History of the Conflict with China’ produced by the History Division of the Ministry of Defence describes the Battle of Walong, “A defensive battle against heavy odds, the troops fought bravely, but being out-numbered and out-weaponed in automatics and ammunition, suffered heavily.”

The Army faced the first assault on October 21. The first rush was halted; however, the enemy retaliated with greater force.       

The Chinese pressed forward and over the next three days made two unsuccessful attempts to capture Walong, each time repelled by the 4 Sikh and a company of 2/8 Gorkha Rifles. The Sikhs attacked the Chinese on October 26. The next day, a counter-attack was launched at ‘Mithun Track’. For this sepoy Kewal Singh of 4 Sikh was awarded the lone MVC. Each of the battles were fought to the last available bullet.

Lt Gen RP Kalita, the Eastern Army Commander, laid a wreath at the Walong War Memorial and paid homage to the heroes of the battle on Wednesday. During the ceremony, war veterans, their kin and locals who assisted in the war effort were honoured. Representatives of units which participated in the Battle of Walong were also present during the function and were felicitated.

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