Shamsher Singh, VrC

Biography

Lance Naik Shamsher Singh hailed from Sangrur district of Punjab and was born on 30 April 1969, the son of Shri Bikar Singh and Smt Surjit Kaur. Drawn to a life of service in uniform from his younger days, like many young men of Punjab, he joined the Army after completing his school education and was recruited into 24 Punjab of the Punjab Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its intrepid soldiers and numerous battle and theatre honours. In August 1997, his battalion was deployed in the Uri sector of Jammu & Kashmir under the operational control of 12 Infantry Brigade, manning forward posts along the Line of Control in high-altitude, rugged terrain and facing frequent unprovoked cross-border firing. As part of Delta Company, Lance Naik Shamsher Singh was deployed on the 'Nanak' post in the north Jhelum sector of Uri. On 23 August 1997, the enemy opened indiscriminate fire on 24 Punjab posts from the morning, and an isolated forward post came under intense mortar, artillery and heavy machine-gun fire. Manning the 106-mm recoilless gun, Shamsher Singh, together with his Company Commander Major Deepender Bhuchar, engaged and destroyed an enemy bunker, killing two enemy soldiers. In the ensuing battle he was grievously wounded by the splinters of an enemy mortar shell, but refused evacuation. Assuming control of the 84-mm rocket launcher detachment, he destroyed another enemy bunker that had been bringing down heavy fire on the post, killing one more enemy soldier. Displaying an unyielding fighting spirit, the valiant NCO kept firing until he breathed his last, aged just 26. For his conspicuous gallantry and supreme sacrifice, Lance Naik Shamsher Singh was awarded the Vir Chakra on 26 January 1998.