In 1948 the battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Bashir Ahmad, was ordered into Kashmir to defend the area against the oncoming Indians. They were given both the Titwal and Uri axes to defend so as to prevent the enemy from capturing Muzaffarabad. Many irregular and volunteer forces, numbering some 6,000 in strength, were also placed under command of the battalion. The administration of such a large force, completely devoid of any sense of discipline, was a major task.
The enemy kept pressing and the battalion was subjected to heavy artillery fire. The battalion in turn was pushed back from the Urusa area and took up a defensive position in the Chakoti area. Meanwhile the Pakistan Army had reinforced this area and the high Pandu feature which dominates the other side of the river to Chakoti was also occupied by Pakistani troops.
It appeard that the enemy decided to launch an offensive on both sides of the river by the end of May. Enemy shelling and air raids increased and in one air raid near the Chakoti Rest House, Captain Slier Dad and Jemadar Mohammad Kapoor of Machine Gun Battalion were wounded. Separate actions took place at Gohslan, Chinal Don feature, Reward and Dherer. The Indians were stopped each time.
The enemy attacked the battalion on May 26th, 1948 at Chakoti from the Sugna area but the battalion fought back bravely, stopping the Indian attack. Our casualties were three killed and thirteen wounded, including Subedar Akbar Khan. However, on the other side of the Jhelum river, on the Pandu feature, things did not go too well and by the end of May it had been captured by the Indians.
From now until July the Coke's were subjected to intense artillery fire. Much of this artillery fire came after one of our own batteries had come into the battalion area and had carried out a destructive shoot. The enemy counter battery fire continued falling on the battalion even after the gunners had left! Such incidents often occur in battle and infantry know well what it is like to have artillery firing from their positions, especially when the enemy artillery is superior in numbers and range.
Naturally the Pakistan forces could not allow the enemy to retain the dominating Pandu feature and a counter-offensive was planned by Brigadier Akbar Khan, D.S.O. formerly 6 RFF Rifs) now 1 (FF) The plan was that basically the same troops that had been driven out of Pandu should recapture it and this, in turn, would help the Coke's to capture Sugna. The plan was a complete success.
The Coke's suffered, during the Kashmir operation in 1948. 21 killed and 102 wounded.
The following officers were serving with the battalion during the Kashmir operation;
Lieutenant-Colonel Bashir Ahmed
Major Mohammad Aslam Khan
Major Mohammad Sharif Khan
Major Saidan Gul
Captain Sher Dad Khan
Captain Riaz-ud-Din Shamim
Captain Zia Ul Haq
Captain Nisar Ahmed
Captain Mohammad Jan Khan
Captain A.H. Malik
Captain Mohammad Akbar Khan
Captain Mohammad Daud Khan
Captain A.R. Khan
Captain H.H. Khan
Captain. A. A. A. Naqvi
Lieutenant Gul Khan
Lieutenant C. J. Macleod
The enemy kept pressing and the battalion was subjected to heavy artillery fire. The battalion in turn was pushed back from the Urusa area and took up a defensive position in the Chakoti area. Meanwhile the Pakistan Army had reinforced this area and the high Pandu feature which dominates the other side of the river to Chakoti was also occupied by Pakistani troops.
It appeard that the enemy decided to launch an offensive on both sides of the river by the end of May. Enemy shelling and air raids increased and in one air raid near the Chakoti Rest House, Captain Slier Dad and Jemadar Mohammad Kapoor of Machine Gun Battalion were wounded. Separate actions took place at Gohslan, Chinal Don feature, Reward and Dherer. The Indians were stopped each time.
The enemy attacked the battalion on May 26th, 1948 at Chakoti from the Sugna area but the battalion fought back bravely, stopping the Indian attack. Our casualties were three killed and thirteen wounded, including Subedar Akbar Khan. However, on the other side of the Jhelum river, on the Pandu feature, things did not go too well and by the end of May it had been captured by the Indians.
From now until July the Coke's were subjected to intense artillery fire. Much of this artillery fire came after one of our own batteries had come into the battalion area and had carried out a destructive shoot. The enemy counter battery fire continued falling on the battalion even after the gunners had left! Such incidents often occur in battle and infantry know well what it is like to have artillery firing from their positions, especially when the enemy artillery is superior in numbers and range.
Naturally the Pakistan forces could not allow the enemy to retain the dominating Pandu feature and a counter-offensive was planned by Brigadier Akbar Khan, D.S.O. formerly 6 RFF Rifs) now 1 (FF) The plan was that basically the same troops that had been driven out of Pandu should recapture it and this, in turn, would help the Coke's to capture Sugna. The plan was a complete success.
The Coke's suffered, during the Kashmir operation in 1948. 21 killed and 102 wounded.
The following officers were serving with the battalion during the Kashmir operation;
Lieutenant-Colonel Bashir Ahmed
Major Mohammad Aslam Khan
Major Mohammad Sharif Khan
Major Saidan Gul
Captain Sher Dad Khan
Captain Riaz-ud-Din Shamim
Captain Zia Ul Haq
Captain Nisar Ahmed
Captain Mohammad Jan Khan
Captain A.H. Malik
Captain Mohammad Akbar Khan
Captain Mohammad Daud Khan
Captain A.R. Khan
Captain H.H. Khan
Captain. A. A. A. Naqvi
Lieutenant Gul Khan
Lieutenant C. J. Macleod