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{{Short description|Indian Army general and military historian (1923–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Major general|Major-General]]
| name = Lachhman Singh Lehl
| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1923|07|09}}
| birth_place = Lehl village, [[Hoshiarpur district|Hoshiarpur District]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British Raj]] (present-day Punjab, [[India]])
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2020|06|18|1923|07|09}}
| death_place = [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
| serviceyears = 1943–1978
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flag|British India}} {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{army|British Raj}} {{army|India}}
| rank = [[File:Major_General of the Indian Army.svg|15px]] [[Major general|Major-General]]
| servicenumber = IC-1461<ref name="Indian_Army_Special_List_47"/>
| unit = [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]]
| commands = 20 Mountain Division 301 Mountain Brigade 3 Field Regiment
|battles = {{tree list}}
*[[World War II]]
**[[Burma Campaign]]
***[[Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay]]
*[[Indonesian National Revolution]]
*[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948]]
*[[Annexation of Goa]]
*[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
*[[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]]
*[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
**[[Battle of Hilli]]
| awards = [[File:Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|35px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[File:Vir_Chakra_ribbon_bar.svg|35px]] [[Vir Chakra]]
}}

[[Major general|Major-General]] '''Lachhman Singh Lehl''' [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Vir Chakra|VrC]] (9 July 1923 – 18 June 2020) was a highly decorated [[Indian Army]] general and military historian noted for his command of the 20th Mountain Division in the [[Battle of Hilli]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].<ref name="war_decorated">{{cite news|date=18 June 2020 |title=War decorated General Lehl dies |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/war-decorated-general-lehl-dies-101113|work=Chandigarh Tribune |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="swordsman">{{cite news |last=Bajwa |first=Mandeep Singh |date=22 June 2020 |title=Military Digest: The Indian swordsman who struck in Bangladesh |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maj-gen-lachhman-singh-lehl-renowned-veteran-of-1948-1971-wars-dies-aged-97-6470026/|work=Indian Express |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref>

==Early life==
A native of Hoshiarpur district,<ref name="swordsman"/> Lehl was the youngest son of a prosperous Jat Sikh agricultural family, one of six siblings (four boys, two girls).<ref name="glory">{{cite book |last1=Khullar |first1=Darshan |date=2017 |title=Themes of Glory: Indian Artillery in War |location=New Delhi |publisher=Vij Books India Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=978-93-85563-97-3 }}</ref> His grandfather was the Lehl village headman, while his father was a lawyer who practised in the Hoshiarpur district court.<ref name="glory"/> He passed out from Khalsa High School with a high first division before joining the Government Intermediate College.<ref name="glory"/>

==Second World War==
On 12 October 1942, Lehl was selected for a temporary [[British Indian Army]] commission from the [[Indian Military Academy]].<ref name="glory"/><ref>{{cite news|date=21 June 2020 |title=War Hero Crucial To Pakistan's Surrender In 1971 Dies At 97 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/major-general-retd-lachhman-singh-lehl-war-hero-crucial-to-pakistans-surrender-in-1971-dies-at-97-2249623|work=NDTV |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> After training at the School of Artillery, Deolali, he received an emergency commission as a second lieutenant in the Royal Indian Artillery on 11 July 1943.<ref name="Indian_Army_Special_List_47">{{cite book|pages=269F (2)|title=Indian Army List Special Edition for August 1947|publisher=Government of India Press|year=1947}}</ref> His first posting was with the 2nd Indian Field Battery of 1 Indian Field Regiment, a motorised artillery regiment then at [[Peshawar]].<ref name="glory"/> He fought in the [[Burma Campaign]], including at the [[Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay]] as a gun position officer (GPO),<ref name="glory"/> and after the war saw action as an officer in the British occupation force during the [[Indonesian National Revolution]].<ref name="swordsman"/> After the war, Lehl's battery was incorporated into an all-Muslim unit, which was stationed at Rawalpindi in early 1947. He took his annual leave with effect from 12 August 1947, three days before Indian independence and the country's partition.<ref name="glory"/>

==Kashmir 1947-1948 and Vir Chakra==
Following Partition, Lehl was reassigned to 11 Field Artillery. During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948]], by then serving with 11 Field Artillery under the 50th Para Brigade, Lehl fought as an acting captain in the battles of Chhamb, Naushera, Jhangar, Rajauri, Uri and Zoji La, and was wounded at Zoji La.<ref name="glory"/><ref name="swordsman"/><ref name="war_decorated"/> As the forward observation officer at Jhangar, he accurately directed his battery's artillery fire. On 15 March 1948, his actions resulted in the successful extrication of a company of the 3rd [[Maratha Light Infantry]] which had been pinned down by enemy fire. Disregarding his own safety, he engaged the enemy troops for eight hours, and continued to effectively support the 3rd Marathas in pursuing their objectives on 16 March. For his gallantry, Lehl was decorated with the [[Vir Chakra]] (VrC).<ref name="swordsman"/> He later attended the [[Defence Services Staff College]] at Wellington.<ref name="glory"/>

==Commands==
In 1960, Lehl became the CO of [[3 Medium Regiment|3 Field Regiment]]. The regiment participated in the Goa operations the following year, as well as in the 1962 [[Sino-Indian War]] in the Sikkim sector, but saw no action.<ref name="glory"/> He was assigned as a GSO 1 with 6 Mountain Division in the NEFA in 1963,<ref name="glory"/> and was posted to the Military Operations Directorate at army headquarters during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].<ref name="swordsman"/> On 16 November 1966, he was given command of 301 Mountain Brigade.<ref name="actg_brig">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=13 |date=7 January 1967 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> After completing the National Defence College (NDC) course in 1969,<ref name="glory"/> Brigadier Lehl was appointed Deputy Director of Military Training (DDMT-A) on 9 January 1970.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=288 |date=28 February 1970 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He took command of the 20th Mountain Division on 13 October 1970, with a promotion to acting major-general.<ref name="GOC">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1556 |date=26 December 1970 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> The division was then at Binaguri in [[West Bengal]], and Lehl was advised that due to poor relations between the Eastern Army Commander [[Jagjit Singh Aurora]] and the XXXIII Corps Commander Mohan L. Thapan, he would be undertaking a difficult assignment.<ref name="glory"/> In January 1971, his division took part in actions against the Naxals in West Bengal and was subsequently involved in monitoring the state elections.<ref name="glory"/>

==1971 war and Battle of Hilli==
At the outset of the 1971 war, the Indian Army planned a four-pronged attack, with a thrust from the north-west into East Pakistan spearheaded by XXXIII Corps under Lt-Gen Thapan, to be directly undertaken by 20 Mountain Division under Lehl along with 71 Mountain Brigade. The operation would cut off the Hili-Gaibanda line to capture Bogra and Rangpur.<ref name="glory"/> Though Lehl felt a frontal attack on the well-fortified town of Hili would incur heavy casualties, he was overruled by Lt-Gen Aurora.<ref name="glory"/> Despite heavy casualties, Lehl's forces were nonetheless victorious. He took the surrender of Major-General Pir Nazar Hussain Shah, commander of Pakistan’s 16 Division on 18 December 1971.<ref name="swordsman"/> He was awarded the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] (PVSM) for his services.<ref name="swordsman"/>

==Subsequent career and later life==
On 21 October 1972, Lehl was promoted substantive major-general,<ref name="GOC_subs">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=407 |date=31 March 1973 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was appointed Chief of Staff (COS) I Corps on 19 September 1973.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=212 |date=16 February 1974 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref><ref name="glory"/> On 21 March 1974, only six months later, he was transferred to Delhi HQ as Deputy Quartermaster-General (DQMG), a clear signal he had been passed over for promotion to lieutenant-general.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=979 |date=24 August 1974 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref><ref name="glory"/> Though he accepted his expected supersession in 1976 with grace, it shocked many of those who knew him and his career.<ref name="swordsman"/> He superannuated from the Army on 31 July 1978 after 35 years of service.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=975 |date=7 October 1978 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

In retirement at Delhi, Lehl became a military historian, writing a number of highly acclaimed books and articles on Indian Army campaigns. He also served as vice-president of the "War Decorated India Trust."<ref name="swordsman"/> Lehl died on 18 June 2020, aged 96.<ref name="war_decorated"/> He was married, with one son.<ref name="glory"/>

==Bibliography==
*''Indian Sword Strikes in Bangladesh''<ref name="glory"/>
*''Victory in Bangladesh''<ref name="glory"/>
*''Missed Opportunities in the 1965 Indo-Pak War''<ref name="glory"/>

==Decorations==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|
|[[File:Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:Vir_Chakra_ribbon_bar.svg|105px]]
|
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Wound Medal-India.svg|width=106}}
|[[File:India_General_Service_Medal_1947.svg|100px]]
|[[File:IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|100px]]
|[[File:IND Samar Seva Star Ribbon.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:IND_Poorvi_Star_Ribbon.svg|100px]]
|[[File:IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg|100px]]
|[[File:IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg|100px]]
|[[File:IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:Indian Independence medal 1947.svg|100px]]
|[[File:IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|100px]]
|[[File:IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|100px]]
|[[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|100px]]
|-
|[[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|100px]]
|[[File:Ribbon_-_1939-45_Star.png|100px]]
|[[File:Ribbon_-_Burma_Star.png|100px]]
|[[File:Ribbon_-_War_Medal.png|100px]]
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|
|[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|[[Vir Chakra]]
|-
|[[Wound Medal (India)|Wound Medal]]
|[[General Service Medal 1947]]
|[[Samanya Seva Medal]]
|Samar Seva Medal
|-
|[[Poorvi Star]]
|Raksha Medal
|Sangram Medal
|[[Sainya Seva Medal]]
|-
|[[Indian Independence Medal]]
|25th Anniversary of Independence Medal
|30 Years Long Service Medal
|20 Years Long Service Medal
|-
|9 Years Long Service Medal
|[[1939-1945 Star]]
|[[Burma Star]]
|[[War Medal 1939–1945]]
|-
|}

==Dates of rank==
{|class="wikitable" style="background:white"
! Insignia !! Rank !! Component !! Date of rank
|-
|align="center" |[[File:British_Army_(1920-1953)_OF-1a.svg|35px]] || [[Second lieutenant#United Kingdom & other Commonwealth countries|Second Lieutenant]] || [[British Indian Army]] || 11 July 1943 (emergency)<ref name="Indian_Army_Special_List_47"/> 9 January 1946 (substantive)<ref name="Indian_Army_Special_List_47"/>
|-
|align="center" |[[File:British_Army_(1920-1953)_OF-1b.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|Lieutenant]] || [[British Indian Army]] || 11 January 1944 (war-substantive)<ref name="Indian_Army_Special_List_47"/> 30 January 1947 (substantive)<ref name="Indian_Army_Special_List_47"/>
|-
|align="center" |[[File:British_Army_(1920-1953)_OF-1b.svg|35px]] || Lieutenant || [[Indian Army]] || 15 August 1947<ref name="insignia" group="note">Upon independence in 1947, India became a [[Dominion of India|Dominion]] within the British [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. As a result, the rank insignia of the [[British Army]], incorporating the [[Tudor Crown]] and four-pointed [[Order of the Bath|Bath Star]] ("pip"), was retained, as [[George VI of the United Kingdom|George VI]] remained Commander-in-Chief of the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. After 26 January 1950, when India became a [[Republic of India|republic]], the [[President of India]] became Commander-in-Chief, and the [[Lion Capital of Asoka|Ashoka Lion]] replaced the crown, with a five-pointed star being substituted for the "pip."</ref><ref name="insignia_designs"/>
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Lieutenant_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant]] || Indian Army || 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)<ref name="insignia_designs">{{cite web|title=New Designs of Crests and Badges in the Services|url=http://pib.nic.in/archive/docs/DVD_38/ACC%20NO%20807-BR/HOM-1950-01-06_484.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India - Archive|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808193914/http://pib.nic.in/archive/docs/DVD_38/ACC%20NO%20807-BR/HOM-1950-01-06_484.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=227 |date=11 February 1950 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Captain_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] || Indian Army || 11 April 1950<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=252 |date=15 November 1952 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Major_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Major]] || Indian Army || 11 April 1957<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=139 |date=1 June 1957 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Lieutenant_Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] || Indian Army || 21 December 1963<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=559 |date=30 October 1965 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Colonel]] || Indian Army || 22 May 1968<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=52 |date=18 January 1969 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Brigadier_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Brigadier]] || Indian Army || 16 November 1966 (acting)<ref name="actg_brig"/> 23 May 1968 (substantive)<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=376 |date=19 April 1969 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
|-
|align="center" |[[File:Major_General_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Major general#India|Major General]] || Indian Army || 13 October 1970 (acting)<ref name="GOC"/> 21 October 1972 (substantive)<ref name="GOC_subs"/>
|-
|}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian generals]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Indian military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:Generals of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
[[Category:Generals of the Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Indian military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
[[Category:People of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]
[[Category:People of the 1947 Kashmir conflict]]
[[Category:Indian Military Academy alumni]]

Lachhman Singh Lehl - Revision history

Bot at 05:57, 12 September 2022