BRIGADIER DESMOND E HAYDE MVC
The braveheart Commander (1926-2013)
BRIGADIER Hayde was born on 28 November 1926 in Exeter, UK in an Anglo-Indian family of Irish lineage with an old tradition of soldiering. He studied in Asansol and Bangalore. He joined the IMA, Dehradun on 20 January 1947 and was commissioned into 3 Jat Regiment on 12 September 1948. He assumed command of the battalion a few hours before the unit marched into Pakistan at 4 a.m. on 6 September 1965.
The unit reached village Ghosal- Dial, not aware that a company of three Baluch had arrived in the village. Hayde intercepted an officer asking for fire support and took the first prisoner. The village was cleared by 6 a.m. Twenty one enemies were killed and 17 taken prisoners. Subedar Khazan Singh received shrapnel in his skull but refused to be evacuated. He was later rewarded with the Vir Chakra. Hayde and placed two companies across the canal over a partly demolished bridge. The radio sets of the battalion and artillery officer providing link to brigade head quarters were damaged. The troop of Scinde Horse (a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army) got orders to fall back. Due to lack of artillery support and withdrawal of own tanks, 3 Jat too had to fall back to village Dial. The attack on Dograi had failed due to lack of coordination. Pakistan then occupied Dograi in strength and the second attack by 15 Dogra and 13 Punjab on 7 September failed.
The period of 11 to 18 September was utilised for regrouping. Information of enemy’s dispositions was obtained by intense patrolling which also hardened the troops to enemy fire. On 21 September, Hayde took his officers to within 500 yards of enemy defences to recce and observe. Hayde received shrapnel in the thigh and Subedar Khazan Singh was injured by a deflected bullet. Khazan Singh insisted on staying on in the unit. Hayde and officers talked to the men to follow the glorious traditions of the Regiment. The men extracted promise from their buddies that if wounded they should not be left behind but taken forward to the objective.
At 1.30 a. m. on 22 September, 523 Jats rose as one man and moved forward. Subedar Pale Ram shouted the Battle Cry, “Jat Balwan, Jai Bhagwan” and called upon the men to follow him. They charged into the hail of enemy bullets and routed him. Pale Ram received six bullet wounds but survived to be decorated with Vir Chakra. Similar activity was enacted by other companies. It can be said that every soldier displayed gallantry at some time or the other with acts of blowing bunkers with pole charge, lobbing grenades into defences and close quarter combat. By 4 a.m. the Pakistanis ran away. Lance Naik Om Prakash hoisted the tricolour on the canal. By mid-day of 22 September, three counterattacks had been foiled. While charging an enemy group, 2/Lt Kartar Singh saw a tall man diving under a tank. Kartar pulled him out. He was Colonel Golewala, the commanding officer 16 Punjab of Pakistan. Next day on 23 September attack by 8 Punjab of Pakistan Army was beaten back. The pledge of not being left behind when wounded was not an empty rhetoric. Major Vatsa and Naik Sri Ram carried on to the objective with help from comrades after having received bullet injuries. Vatsa succumbed at the objective.
Lt. Gen Harbaksh Singh, the Army Commander called it the toughest battle of all times. The most glowing tribute was paid by Subedar – Major Isslamuddin of Pakistan “Only my old battalion could have done it.” Hayde was awarded the second highest gallantry medal MVC. He commanded a brigade in Jammu sector in the 1971 War. The unit had the distinction of being addressed by Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Dograi and it was during that address that Shastri gave the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.”
After retirement, Brigadier Hayde took up assignment of IG Mizoram. His son joined the same battalion. Brig Hayde passed away on 25 September 2013.