The Army felicitated Lt Col (Retd) Kartar Singh, who celebrated his 100th birthday today, by declaring him 'first citizen' of the Western Command of Armed forces.
As part of the 'decade of veterans', a 'super' veteran felicitation function was organised at Chandimandir Cantonment near here, jointly by the Western Command and the Mahar Regiment.
The event was unique of its kind to felicitate the 'super' veterans who dedicated the prime of their youth serving the Indian Army and continue to lead a retired life with elan and pride in the society, a defence spokesman said.
Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra, GOC-in-C Western Command and Lt Gen Gyan Bhushan, GOC-in-C South Western Command and Colonel of Mahar Regiment were present on the occasion.
Singh was commissioned into Licters British Infantry Unit in 1937 and was nominated for foreign mission service in Egypt and Sudan in 1940 during World War II.
He was the first Indian Commanding Officer of 1 Mahar Regiment (a Machine Gun Battalion) from 1947 to 1951 and commanded the battalion during 1947-48 Indo-Pak operations in Jammu and Kashmir, and under his stewardship earned the first Maha Vir Chakra of Independent India.
He later commanded 6 Mahar (Borders) from 1956 to 1958.
