Lieutenant Colonel Sarbjit Singh Kalha | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1914-15 |
| Died | 11 January 1946 Surabaya,Java,Dutch East Indies |
| Allegiance |  British India |
| Branch |  British Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1936-1946 |
| Service number | IO.66 |
| Unit | Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 2/1Punjab Regiment |
| Commands | 2/1Punjab Regiment |
| Battles / wars |
|
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order |
| Alma mater | Khalsa College, Amritsar Indian Military Academy Staff College, Camberley |
Lieutenant ColonelSarbjit Singh Kalha,DSO (1914 or 1915[1] - 11 January 1946) was an officer of theBritish Indian Army, who saw action in theBurma Campaign duringWorld War II, and later in the British Occupation of theDutch East Indies. He was the firstSikh officer to be awarded theDistinguished Service Order (DSO), the first Sikh officer to attend theStaff College, Camberley, and the first Indian officer to lead a battalion of the1st Punjab Regiment.
Kalha hailed from Nawanpind,district Gurdaspur,Punjab Province, British India.[2] His father,Rai Sahib Sunder Singh, was an executive engineer in theBurma Railways, and had supervised the laying down of the first railway line fromMaungdaw toButhitdaung.[1] Three of Sarbjit Kalha's brother also served in the British Indian Army.[1]
Kalha graduated from theKhalsa College, Amritsar.[3] His wife was Mrs. Sarbjit Singh Kalha fromSarguja,Central Provinces, British India.[4]
Kalha was commissioned in 1935 at theIndian Military Academy, Dehradun.[1] His service number was IO. 66.[5] He gained his first combat experience in the1936-37 Waziristan Operations.[3] He was posted to the 2nd battalion of the 1st Punjab Regiment, after serving a year with theArgyll and Sutherland Highlanders.[6]
Kalha then served in the Burma Campaign of World War II. In 1944, Kalha became the first Indian officer to command a battalion of the 1st Punjab Regiment.[7] His battalion, the 2/1 Punjab Regiment, was a part of the5th Indian Division in Burma.[8]
In 1944, while holding the rank of a Major, Kalha was awarded the DSO for his actions in theBattle of the Ngakyedauk Pass in Arakan, during the Burma Campaign.[9] His 'skilful planning and bold execution' against the Japanese, for which he won the DSO, opened up the Ngakyedauk Pass to the besieged7th Indian Infantry Division.[1] His DSO was announced in theLondon Gazette on 22 June 1944.[5] A short clip of him just after receiving his DSO fromKing George VI is available fromBritish Pathe.[10] He was the first Sikh officer in the British Indian Army to be awarded the DSO.[2]
In May 1944, Kalha became the first Sikh Officer to attend the Staff College at Camberley. He returned to India in January 1945.[6]
Kalha again became the commanding officer of 2/1st Punjab Regiment in August 1945.[6] With this unit, he went toSingapore as part of the 123rd Brigade of the 5th Indian Division, which led the reoccupation of Singapore by the British.[11] He then got posted in the British Occupation of the Dutch East Indies (1945–46).[12]
On 11 January 1946, Lt. Col. Kalha was killed in an ambush on a convoy he was moving in through Soerabaja/Surabaya inJava, Dutch East Indies.[8][6][13]