Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore was born on August 18th, 1923 in Bombay. He belongs to the family of General Ratanjiba who led the army of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who was awarded 100 villages of which Tarapore was main village. The name Tarapore comes for the same reason. Later his grandfather relocated to Hyderabad and started working under the excise department of Nizam of Hyderabad. After his death Burzonji took up his father's job and was comparatively successful due to his hardwork. Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Lt_Col_A_B_Tarapore. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... The Poona Horse is a Indian army Regiment. ... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri Harbakhsh Singh Ayub Khan Musa Khan Casualties 3,264 killed[1] 8,623 wounded[1] (From July to ceasefire) 3,800 killed[2] (September 6 - 22) 4,000 - 8,000 killed/ captured[3][4][5] (July to September 6) The Indo-Pakistani War... The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... Shivaji Bhosle, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजीराजे भोसले) (Born:February 19, 1627, Died: April 3, 1680) was the founder of Maratha empire in western India in 1674. ... For other uses, see Hyderabad. ... Flag Capital Hyderabad Language(s) Dakhni , later Urdu Government Monarchy Nizam  - 1720-1748 Qamar-ud-din Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah I  - 1869-1911 Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI History  - Established 1720  - Operation polo 1948 Qamaruddin Khan,Asaf Jah I Nizam, a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulk, meaning Administrator... Flag Capital Hyderabad Government Principality Nizam  - 1720-48 (first) Asaf Jah I  - 1911-48 (last) Asaf Jah VII History  - Established 1724  - Annexed by India September 18, 1948 Hyderābād and Berar   (Telugu: హైదరాబాదు Urdu: حیدر آباد) under the Nizams, was the largest princely state in India. ...

From the young tender age Ardeshir's showed his courage when he saved his sister, Yadgar, from a family cow that had broken loose. By the time he was seven years old he was sent to the Sardar Dastur Boy's Boarding School, Pune. He completed his matriculation in the year 1940. After school he applied for the army and was selected. he did his initial training in the Officers' Training School at Golconda and on completion was sent to Bangalore. He saw himself commissioned in the 7th Hyderabad Infantry as a Second Lieutenant. For the sport which developed into badminton, see Poona (sport). ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Golconda is a ruined city and fortress 11 km west of the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh state, India. ... , For other uses, see Bangalore (disambiguation). ... Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ...

Hyderabad State Force

He was popularly known as "Adi". Adi was not very happy joining the infantry, instead he wanted to join an armoured regiment. On one fine day his battalion was inspected by Major General El Edroos, the Commander-in-Chief of the state forces. At the grenade throwing range due to an accident a grenade fell into the bay area. Adi was quick to jump and throw it. However the grenade exploded in the middle which left him injured as the flying shapnel hit his chest. Major General Edroos, was a witness to this event which kept him spellbound. He was impressed by the exemplary courage dispalyed by Ardeshir. Major General Edroos summoned Ardeshir to his office and congratulated him for his efforts. Ardeshir took this as an opportunity and requested that he be transferred to an armoured regiment. The General accepted this and he was transferred to the 1st Hyderabad Imperial Service Lancers. Interestingly, 1st hyderabad Lancer fought with The Poona Horse in operation polo. Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ... Grenade may refer to: The well-known hand grenade commonly used by soldiers. ... Grenade may refer to: The well-known hand grenade commonly used by soldiers. ... Grenade may refer to: The well-known hand grenade commonly used by soldiers. ... The Poona Horse is a Indian army Regiment. ... Combatants Union of India State of Hyderabad Commanders Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri S.A. El Edroos #, Qasim Razvi # Strength 35,000 Indian Armed Forces 40,000 Hyderabad State Forces est. ...

He also saw active service in West Asia during World War-II during this part of his career.

Indian Army

Later Hyderabad was merged with Union of India. This eventually amalgamated the Indian Army. Ardeshir was shifted to The Poona Horse and was commissioned in Poona Horse on 01 April 1951. He rose to the position of a commandant and commanded his very own regiment in the Poona Horse in the 1965 war against Pakistan and while leading his regiment in securing a major objective in Pakistan, Lieutenant Colonel A B Tarapore went down fighting on board his Centurion tank in the highest tradition of the army and recognised as the bravest of the brave to be awarded Param Vir Chakra for his action in the battle. This article is about the post-independence Indian Army. ... The Poona Horse is a Indian army Regiment. ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... Look up Centurion in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ...

Military Action

The biggest tank battle of the 1965 Indo-Pak War took place at Phillora in the Sialkot sector. During the southern thrust of the Indian Army on the Kaloi-Phillora axis the 17 Horse commanded by Lt. Col. Tarapore advanced on the right flank. On 11 September 1965, the regiment was assigned the task of delivering the main armoured thrust for capturing Phillora. It decided upon launching a surprise attack on Phillora from the rear. To achieve the surprise, when the regiment was thrusting forward between Phillora and Chawinda, it was suddenly counter-attacked by the Pakistani Army's heavy armour from Wazirwali. Combatants India Pakistan Commanders Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri Harbakhsh Singh Ayub Khan Musa Khan Casualties 3,264 killed[1] 8,623 wounded[1] (From July to ceasefire) 3,800 killed[2] (September 6 - 22) 4,000 - 8,000 killed/ captured[3][4][5] (July to September 6) The Indo-Pakistani War... Sialkot (Urdu/Punjabi: ), the capital of Sialkot District, is a city situated in the north-east of the Punjab province in Pakistan at the feet of the snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. ... This article is about the post-independence Indian Army. ... The Poona Horse is a Indian army Regiment. ... is the 254th day of the year (255th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Pakistan Army Coat of Arms Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistan Military responsible for land based military operations. ...

Lt. Col. Tarapore defied the Pakistani Army's charge, held his ground and gallantly attacked Phillora with one of his squadrons supported by an Infantry battalion. Though under continuous enemy tank and artillery fire, he remained unperturbed throughout this action. When wounded, he refused to be evacuated. On 14 September 1965, he led his regiment to capture Wazirwali. Pakistan Army Coat of Arms Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistan Military responsible for land based military operations. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ...

Unmindful of his injury, he again led his regiment and captured Jassoran and Butur-Dograndi on 16 September 1965. In this battle his own tank was hit several times. But despite the odds, he maintained his pivots at both these places and thereby helped the supporting infantry to attack Chawinda from the rear.

Inspired by his leadership, the regiment fiercely attacked the enemy armour and destroyed approximately sixty Pakistani Army tanks, suffering only nine tank casualties. However, Lt. Colonel Tarapore was enveloped in flames and died a hero's death. The valour displayed by him in this action, lasting 6 days, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Army. Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore was awarded with the highest war-time gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra, posthumously. Pakistan Army Coat of Arms Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistan Military responsible for land based military operations. ... This article is about the post-independence Indian Army. ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ...

Citation

The citation for the Param Vir Chakra awarded to him reads: The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ...

On 11 September 1965, the Poona Horse Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Ardeshir Burzarji Tarapore was assigned the task of delivering the main armoured thrust for capturing, Phillora in the Sialkot in Pakistan. As a preliminary to making a surprise attack on Phillora from the rear, the regiment was thrusting between Phillora and Chawinda when it was suddenly counter-attacked by the enemy’s heavy armour from Wazirwali. Lieutenant Colonel AB Tarapore who was then at the head of his regiment, defied the enemy’s charge held his ground and gallantry attacked Phillora with one of his squadrons supported by an infantry battalion. Though under continuous enemy tank and artillery fire, Lieutenant Colonel Tarapore remained unperturbed throughout this action, and when wounded refused to be evacuated. The Poona Horse is a Indian army Regiment. ...

On 14th September 1965, though still wounded he again led his regiment to capture Wazirwali. Such was his grit and determination that unmindful of his injury he, again gallantry led his regiment and captured Jassoran and Butur – Dograndi on 16 September. His own tank was hit several times, but despite the odds he maintained his pivots in both these places and thereby allowed the supporting infantry to attack Chawinda from the rear.

Inspired by his leadership, the regiment fiercely attacked the enemy’s heavy armour destroying approximately 60 enemy tanks at a cost of only 9 tank casualties, and when Lieutenant Colonel AB Tarapore was mortally wounded the regiment continue to defy the enemy.

The valour displayed by Lieutenant Colonel AB Tarapore in this heroic again, which lasted six days, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

See also

• Arun Khetarpal
• Param Vir Chakra
• The Poona Horse

2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC (1950-1971) 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (14 October 1950 - 16 December 1971) born in Pune, Maharashtra joined the 17 Poona Horse of the Indian Army on 13 June 1971. ... The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ... The Poona Horse is a Indian army Regiment. ...

External links

• Indian Army Webpage