| Lieutenant colonel Harbans Singh Virk MVC, DSO | |
|---|---|
| Died | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Service |  Indian Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Service number | IEC-801 |
| Unit | 3 PARA (Martha Light Infantry) |
| Battles / wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 |
| Awards |  Mahavir Chakra |
Lieutenant Colonel Harbans Singh Virk, MVC, DSO (1912–?) was an army officer who served in the British Indian army and later the Indian Army.
Background
Virk was born in village Chuhar Kanan, Sheikhupura, Punjab Province, British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan). After India's Partition, he appears to have settled in Kaithal, Haryana.
Military career
World War II
Virk was commissioned in the Maratha Light Infantry, British Indian Army, on 4 August 1941.
There is some uncertainty regarding his service number, as British records state it as 'IEC-801', while Indian records state it as 'IC-656'.
Virk was awarded a Distinguished Service Order for gallantry in displayed in Burma in March 1945, as a Major commanding a company in the 4th Battalion (Sikhs) of the 12th Frontier Force Regiment, 17th Indian Division.
Post-Independence
Virk was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra on India's first Republic Day, 26 January 1950, for his leadership and gallantry at Naushera and Jhangar during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48 in Jammu and Kashmir.
In 1953, he took command of 6 Kumaon Regiment.
References
- ^ "Virk, Harbans Singh". TracesOfWar.com. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ Recommendation for Award for Harbans Singh Virk. National Archives. 1945.
- Yadav, Atul (2022). Valour Unlimited : Haryana and the Indian Armed Forces (1914-2000). K.K. Publications. p. 114.
- ^ Chakravorty, B. (1995). Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. Allied Publishers. ISBN 978-81-7023-516-3.
- ^ "Gallantry Awards – Ministry of Defence, Government of India". gallantryawards.gov.in. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- "Supplement to the London Gazette, 20 September 1945" (PDF).
- Samota, Jai (2023). Major Shaitan Singh, PVC: The Man In Half Light | A Complete Biography: Major Shaitan Singh, PVC: The Man In Half Light | A Complete Biography: Tribute to a War Hero. Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN 978-93-5562-609-7.