On May 23rd, 1948 3 RFFR moved to the Titwal sector from Abbottabad. The move was an urgent one in order to check the Indian advance from Titwal along the Kishen Ganga River towards Muzaffarabad. While 3 RFFR fought many other actions with valor, the two major battles are given below in more detail:
Takia Sera Ridge (Chirban)
On June 19th, 1948 at about 0330 hours the Indians, guided by local spies, launched an attack with a full infantry battalion supported by artillery, mortars and machine guns, directly on Battalion Headquarters which was located at Takia Seru Ridge. Battalion Headquarters at this time only had its own defense platoon and one other rifle platoon for its protection. It was fortunate that the latter platoon from B Company happened to be near Battalion Headquarters for it was merely stopping for the night before proceeding on to Kafar Khand Ridge.
The rest of the battalion was spread over an area of some miles. While the overall defense operations were personally directed by the C.O., Lieutenant-Colonel Aziz Ud Din, gallant parts were played by the Adjutant, Captain Mohammad Hussain, and Jemadar Feroze Khan of the defense platoon. These two officers moved under heavy enemy firing and shelling, round each trench and gave heart to the men in position. Where required they adjusted the fire of the defenders with devastating effect. Captain Mohammad Hussain was killed during the action.
The operation continued for about seven hours and each one of the defenders can well be proud of the part they played in the defense of Battalion Headquarters. At about 1030 hours the enemy, having suffered very heavy casualties, withdrew. They left behind some 27 dead and it is presumed that they managed to take away many more.
It was later ascertained that Battalion Headquarters with its two rifle platoons had repulsed a well supported battalion attack. In fact it was another `Royal' battalion that attacked this headquarters of the Royal Frontier Force Regiment. The Indian battalion was 3/18 Royal Garhwal Rifles.
The Indian attack was perhaps the first phase in their brigade plan. The Indian plan was to capture Takia Seru Ridge and then gain control of the direct and shortest footpath leading to Muzaffarabad. From here they would be able to move straight on to Muzaffarabad and gain a decisive victory.
3 RFFR records show that their ammunition during this action was almost finished and if they had had to fight for a few minutes more some types of ammunition would have been exhausted. Such are the fortunes of war and the battalion was lucky that the Indians cut off their action at the time they did.
Bani Wala Dana Ridge
On July 18th, 1948 at about 0115 hours, in good moonlight, the Indian Rajputana Rifles launched an attack against C Company which had previously been reinforced with an additional platoon. The company was commanded by Captain Mohammad Akbar and was holding Bani Wala Dana Ridge. The Indian battalion attack was fully supported by artillery, mortars and machine guns. The Indians attacked again and again, wave upon wave, very bravely but to no avail as C Company refused to budge.
The Indians actually broke into the position in some places and hand-to-hand fighting took place. Fighting went on until the early hours of the morning when the enemy withdrew, having suffered very heavy casualties. Their wounded and dead could be seen lying in heaps, the wounded crying for help. Neither the Indians nor the personnel from C Company could help the wounded as the area was covered with fire and the slightest movement attracted attention.
3 RFFR tried to contact the Indians on the wireless to persuade them to come to terms for the evacuation of their wounded but this was not to be. In this action the company captured:;
6 Bren Guns
6 Sten Guns
12 Rifles
2 2in. Mortars, and other arms.
A .38 pistol was recovered from a dead Indian Major.
The following awards for gallantry were received for these two operations:
Sitara-e-Jurat
Captain Mohammad Hussain (posthumous)
Captain Mohammad Akbar
Jemadar Feroze Khan
Tamgha-e-Gurat
Havildar Mian Khan
Sepoy Rahim Dad
Takia Sera Ridge (Chirban)
On June 19th, 1948 at about 0330 hours the Indians, guided by local spies, launched an attack with a full infantry battalion supported by artillery, mortars and machine guns, directly on Battalion Headquarters which was located at Takia Seru Ridge. Battalion Headquarters at this time only had its own defense platoon and one other rifle platoon for its protection. It was fortunate that the latter platoon from B Company happened to be near Battalion Headquarters for it was merely stopping for the night before proceeding on to Kafar Khand Ridge.
The rest of the battalion was spread over an area of some miles. While the overall defense operations were personally directed by the C.O., Lieutenant-Colonel Aziz Ud Din, gallant parts were played by the Adjutant, Captain Mohammad Hussain, and Jemadar Feroze Khan of the defense platoon. These two officers moved under heavy enemy firing and shelling, round each trench and gave heart to the men in position. Where required they adjusted the fire of the defenders with devastating effect. Captain Mohammad Hussain was killed during the action.
The operation continued for about seven hours and each one of the defenders can well be proud of the part they played in the defense of Battalion Headquarters. At about 1030 hours the enemy, having suffered very heavy casualties, withdrew. They left behind some 27 dead and it is presumed that they managed to take away many more.
It was later ascertained that Battalion Headquarters with its two rifle platoons had repulsed a well supported battalion attack. In fact it was another `Royal' battalion that attacked this headquarters of the Royal Frontier Force Regiment. The Indian battalion was 3/18 Royal Garhwal Rifles.
The Indian attack was perhaps the first phase in their brigade plan. The Indian plan was to capture Takia Seru Ridge and then gain control of the direct and shortest footpath leading to Muzaffarabad. From here they would be able to move straight on to Muzaffarabad and gain a decisive victory.
3 RFFR records show that their ammunition during this action was almost finished and if they had had to fight for a few minutes more some types of ammunition would have been exhausted. Such are the fortunes of war and the battalion was lucky that the Indians cut off their action at the time they did.
Bani Wala Dana Ridge
On July 18th, 1948 at about 0115 hours, in good moonlight, the Indian Rajputana Rifles launched an attack against C Company which had previously been reinforced with an additional platoon. The company was commanded by Captain Mohammad Akbar and was holding Bani Wala Dana Ridge. The Indian battalion attack was fully supported by artillery, mortars and machine guns. The Indians attacked again and again, wave upon wave, very bravely but to no avail as C Company refused to budge.
The Indians actually broke into the position in some places and hand-to-hand fighting took place. Fighting went on until the early hours of the morning when the enemy withdrew, having suffered very heavy casualties. Their wounded and dead could be seen lying in heaps, the wounded crying for help. Neither the Indians nor the personnel from C Company could help the wounded as the area was covered with fire and the slightest movement attracted attention.
3 RFFR tried to contact the Indians on the wireless to persuade them to come to terms for the evacuation of their wounded but this was not to be. In this action the company captured:;
6 Bren Guns
6 Sten Guns
12 Rifles
2 2in. Mortars, and other arms.
A .38 pistol was recovered from a dead Indian Major.
The following awards for gallantry were received for these two operations:
Sitara-e-Jurat
Captain Mohammad Hussain (posthumous)
Captain Mohammad Akbar
Jemadar Feroze Khan
Tamgha-e-Gurat
Havildar Mian Khan
Sepoy Rahim Dad