Long live the Tradition of Soldiering. !
The readers who are following my Blogs may recollect my accidental entry into Army and my unparallel activities there. I sincerely feel that a complete transformation of my "Personal self " took place there and it is only due to long years of tradition that is followed in the Army.
I was not knowing the "Officer-other Ranks " relationship and what a "Divine "respect the other ranks show to their officers.This was demonstrated to me by my first independent unit "44 Field Park Company" during 1965 Indo-Pak war.
After the war independent Field Companies were merged into a group and Engineer Regiments were formed. We moved from 6 Mountain Division (UP-Tibet Border ) to 23 Inf Division (Rangya-Assam ).On 02 Jun 1966 13 Field Company.32 Fd Coy,56 Fd Coy and 44 Fd Pk Coy merged to form 4 Engineer Regiment.
Lt Col M K Basu,who was designated as Commander Engineer,23 Inf Div Engrs till then was re designated as Commanding Officer 4 Engineer Regiment.
There were 10 -12 young officers of the rank of Lts and most of them were honoured with three stars (Captains ) on the same day.Capt D K Sen who was doing as Adjutant was posted out after about a month and I was promoted as captain.But I did not put on the rank as I was waiting for my Company commander Major H S Grewal ,who was on temporary duty to return.
It was 15 Aug 1966.Sub Perumal of 13 Fd Coy was posted out on promotion as Sub Major and all officers were invited to 13 Fd Coy.Major S N Endley who was commanding 32 Fd Coy had come from Sela.
The party started at about 1930 Hrs and progressed.Suddenly the C O Lt Col M K Basu,said ,Hi,Suresh,this fellow Ganesan is improperly dressed.His Captaincy has come about a month before and he is still wearing only two stars.Are we not to punish him ?
I was not used to the military jokes and had no experience.I stood up and was in panic as to what the C O is going to do.He called me close.Maj S N Endley also came up and said ,sir, we will punish him today.In the meantime Capt M S Venkatraman ran and brought three stars aphlets.
Lt Col M K Basu on one side and Major S N Endley on the other side stood and gave me the first promotion in my Army career.
About 21 years later when I was Commanding 4 Engineer Regiment. I had invited my first C O Brig M K Basu for the Regimental day .look at his reply
Lt Col Basu after commanding 4 E R moved to IMA as Battalion Commander.Later retired as Brigadier.
The readers who are following my Blogs may recollect my accidental entry into Army and my unparallel activities there. I sincerely feel that a complete transformation of my "Personal self " took place there and it is only due to long years of tradition that is followed in the Army.
I was not knowing the "Officer-other Ranks " relationship and what a "Divine "respect the other ranks show to their officers.This was demonstrated to me by my first independent unit "44 Field Park Company" during 1965 Indo-Pak war.
After the war independent Field Companies were merged into a group and Engineer Regiments were formed. We moved from 6 Mountain Division (UP-Tibet Border ) to 23 Inf Division (Rangya-Assam ).On 02 Jun 1966 13 Field Company.32 Fd Coy,56 Fd Coy and 44 Fd Pk Coy merged to form 4 Engineer Regiment.
Lt Col M K Basu,who was designated as Commander Engineer,23 Inf Div Engrs till then was re designated as Commanding Officer 4 Engineer Regiment.
There were 10 -12 young officers of the rank of Lts and most of them were honoured with three stars (Captains ) on the same day.Capt D K Sen who was doing as Adjutant was posted out after about a month and I was promoted as captain.But I did not put on the rank as I was waiting for my Company commander Major H S Grewal ,who was on temporary duty to return.
It was 15 Aug 1966.Sub Perumal of 13 Fd Coy was posted out on promotion as Sub Major and all officers were invited to 13 Fd Coy.Major S N Endley who was commanding 32 Fd Coy had come from Sela.
The party started at about 1930 Hrs and progressed.Suddenly the C O Lt Col M K Basu,said ,Hi,Suresh,this fellow Ganesan is improperly dressed.His Captaincy has come about a month before and he is still wearing only two stars.Are we not to punish him ?
I was not used to the military jokes and had no experience.I stood up and was in panic as to what the C O is going to do.He called me close.Maj S N Endley also came up and said ,sir, we will punish him today.In the meantime Capt M S Venkatraman ran and brought three stars aphlets.
Lt Col M K Basu on one side and Major S N Endley on the other side stood and gave me the first promotion in my Army career.
About 21 years later when I was Commanding 4 Engineer Regiment. I had invited my first C O Brig M K Basu for the Regimental day .look at his reply
