![]() ![]() Under close enemy fire and without food or rest, he worked for four days, clearing a total of 15 minefields over a distance of 55 miles.:286 After having another Bren carrier blown up under him on 2 February, which resulted in punctured eardrums, he was relieved of further duties and evacuated to Khartoum for treatment. Bhagat then continued in another carrier, defusing mines by hand as the column moved down the road. Bhagat's Bren carrier passed through a heavily mined stretch of road and detonated two mines, the second of which destroyed the carrier and killed the driver and a sapper. On 31 January 1941, a mobile column of 3/12 Royal Frontier Force Rifles, including a detachment of 21 Field Company under Second Lieutenant Bhagat, was sent on a reconnaissance mission towards Metemma. After the brigade was relieved by 9th Indian Infantry Brigade in mid-November, it readied for the Battle of Keren. For his heroism, he was recommended for a Military Cross, but this was downgraded to a Mentioned in dispatches. Bhagat dashed out from under cover and with bullets flying all around him, detonated the remaining explosives and collapsed the culvert. The charges were detonated, but one tank failed to explode and the culvert did not collapse. At one stage, two broken-down tanks were filled with explosives and placed on a culvert to collapse it and halt the enemy. ![]() The Sappers were tasked with obstructing the enemy to prevent them from following too closely. While Gallabat was captured, an enemy counter-attack forced the brigade to withdraw. Slim launched an attack on the fort of Gallabat, with the assault spearheaded by the 3rd Royal Garhwal Rifles under Lieutenant-Colonel S.E. The 10th Infantry Brigade was commanded by Brigadier William Slim, MC (later Field Marshal the Viscount Slim). On 23 September 1940, Bhagat's company was sent to East Africa as part of the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade, 5th Indian Division, Sudan Defence Force under the overall command of Lieutenant General William Platt. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |