Exemplary leadership (1920-1994)
Kunwar Zorawar Singh was born in Jaipur on 14 February 1920. His father, Maj. Gen. Bharion Singh of Jaipur State Forces was a keen player of polo. Zorawar studied at the Royal Indian Military School (RIMC) and then joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA). He graduated in 1941 and was awarded the Sword of Honour and commissioned into 16 Cavalry. He was keen to take part in the war and was transferred to Central India Horse (CIH), which was then deployed in Italy. He was posted as secondin- command of B squadron under Major (later Lt. Col.) Gordon Laverick. The regiment went through rigorous training and was allotted to 4 Indian Division for reconnaissance and patrolling tasks. His thirst for action was soon to be satisfied. He took out a patrol on 3 August 1944 towards Casale Vecchia, North West of Arezzo. The area lay between the two frontlines and the objective of the patrol was to determine the location of the German troops. They encountered a German reconnaissance force. The sharp engagement resulted in two enemy dead and three taken prisoners. Zorawar Singh was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his dashing leadership. In October 1944, the division was moved to Greece to stabilise the situation caused by the withdrawal of German forces. There he met and fell in love with Maria Trichipolous and married her later.
After the war, CIH moved to Ahmednagar and was re-equipped with Stuart tanks. He was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel and took over the command of the regiment. One squadron was moved to Jallandhar in Punjab for the protection of refugees and quelling of riots. They carried out the duties without any communal discrimination. In October 1947, a large number of tribal warriors from Pakistan supported by their army attacked Jammu & Kashmir. Immediate airlift of Indian Army troops to Srinagar saved the Kashmir Valley. Large tracts of land were lost to the raiders in Naushera- Poonch region. By end February, Kot and Jhangar were liberated after fierce battles and repeated attacks on Naushera were beaten back. CIH was concentrated in Naushera for liberating Rajouri. The 28 miles long fair weather road from Naushera to Rajouri had been badly damaged by felled trees and boulders. Sections of the road had been narrowed. The diversions were mined. He undertook a reconnaissance by air along with an Engineer officer and concluded that clearing the road would take an unusually long time. Zorawar Singh decided to advance along the River Tawi which was parallel to the road. He carried out a reconnaissance by wading through four feet deep ice cold water and located several crossing places for the tanks.
The advance commenced on 10 April and Chingas, which was half way to Rajouri was cleared by 11 April. Lt. Rane was awarded the PVC for clearing the road blocks and mines under enemy fire. The enemy attack at 5.30 pm was beaten back and Zorawar Singh resumed the advance next morning with one company of 1 Kumaon under his command, and with support of the Indian Air Force. The column reached Rajouri by 5.30 pm. The enemy was confused and bewildered by the arrival of tanks. In the gruelling six hour drive, the tanks had to cross the river eight times. Rajouri was soon cleared. Even our own brigade HQ found it difficult to believe that Rajouri was in our hands now and the message had to be repeated twice more. Whatever could be burnt had been torched. Zorawar Singh had carried out a brilliant tank operation by using the river as an axis of advance. He was the youngest commandant of the regiment and it was to his credit that he demonstrated how mobile and flexible these light tanks could be in a difficult terrain.
In 1948, he was detailed on the Command and General Staff Course at Leavenworth, USA, and after the course, was posted as instructor at the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington. His next assignment was as commander of the tactical wing at the Armoured Corps Centre, and school at Ahmednagar. Upon promotion to the rank of Brigadier, he was appointed military attaché in France. He commanded 20 Mountain Division and the IMA with distinction, and retired in 1969. He passed away on 24 December 1994.