Major Abhey Singh Hada

Major Abhey Singh was an officer of the Poona Horse regiment, originally from a respected family in Palaita village, Kota, Rajasthan. Though retired, he volunteered to rejoin his regiment during the 1971 war against Pakistan. Commanded by Hanut Singh Rathore at the time, the regiment accepted his request, making his participation a unique example in Indian military history. He fought in the famous Battle of Basantar in the Sakargarh sector of Pakistan.

Early Military Career and World War II

Abhey Singh was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 18th King Edward’s Own Cavalry on 1 December 1941. His regiment was part of the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade, which fought in the North African Campaign under General Ritchie’s 8th Army. During the Battle of Gazala in May 1942, his brigade was overrun by Italy’s Ariete Armored Division.

Following this defeat, Abhey Singh was taken as a prisoner of war and interned in Italy. He escaped from a POW camp in Avezzano with Maj PP Kumaramangalam and Lt Sahabzada Yakub Khan by receiving help from local Italians. However, they were later recaptured by German forces. He spent the rest of the war in Oflag 79 near Braunschweig until the camp was liberated by the U.S. 9th Army.

Role in Operation Polo

On 6 September 1948, during the police action to annex Hyderabad, Major Abhey Singh Hada led a squadron of the Poona Horse and a company of the 2/5 Gurkha Rifles to respond to an attack by Razakar forces near Chillakallu village. After being fired upon, his forces pursued the Razakars to Kodar in Hyderabad territory, where they encountered resistance from the 1 Hyderabad Lancers armored cars. In the brief battle, the Poona Horse destroyed one armored car and forced the surrender of the state garrison at Kodar.