Siri Kanth Korla
Allegiance | British India India |
---|---|
Service/ | British Indian Army Indian Army |
Years of service | 1937–1971 |
Rank | Major General |
Service number | IC382 |
Unit | 7/10 Baluch 1st Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment) |
Commands held | Dogra Brahmin Company, 7/10 Baluch 1st Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment) 6th Mountain Division Delhi Area |
Battles/wars |
|
Awards | Mentioned in Dispatches (2) Colonel of the Regiment, 1st Gorkha Rifles |
Alma mater | King George's Royal Indian Military School Indian Military Academy School of Infantry, Warminster National Defence College, New Delhi |
Spouse(s) | Sarla Korla |
Other work | Director General, Home Guards |
Personal life
Korla came from a Dogra background and hailed from the Kangra valley, India.[4]
He did his schooling from the
He was married to Sarla Korla.[8] They got married while he was on a break from serving in Burma, around the time of the Battle of Imphal (summer of 1944).[9]
Upon his death in April 2007, Korla was cremated with full military honours.[8]
Military career
Korla joined the 10th Baluch Regiment in 1934, as a sepoy, and in a few years was promoted to havildar.[7][10] He participated in the Waziristan operations of 1936. He then joined the Indian Military Academy in 1939, and received his commission in 1940.[7][11]
World War II
As a young officer of the
For his leadership and personal valour in the Battle of Pa-an in February 1942, Lt. (acting Captain) Korla was awarded an immediate Distinguished Service Order (DSO), then the second highest wartime gallantry award of the British and Commonwealth forces.[7][12][13] Lt. (acting Captain) Korla's DSO was announced alongside a Mention in Dispatches in The London Gazette on 23 April 1942.[14][15][16]
Another Mention in Dispatches for Lt. (acting Captain) Korla was announced in The London Gazette on 28 October 1942, for escorting a mule convoy without any losses for 57 miles, from Zigon to Prome in Burma, under hot pursuit from the Japanese.[7][17]
For his leadership and initiative at Taungtha in the Battle of Meiktila in early 1945, Major (temporary) Korla was awarded the Military Cross (MC) - the third highest wartime gallantry award of the British and Commonwealth forces.[7][18][16][19] Korla's MC was announced in The London Gazette on 24 May 1945.[20] He was also active in the main battle for Meiktila.[7]
Post-Independence
After the
Over 1951-52, Korla was on attachment to the School of Infantry at Warminster, United Kingdom, for a year.[22] From 1958 to 1959, in the rank of colonel, he served as the Deputy Commandant of the Indian Military Academy.[23][24] Then as a brigadier, he commanded a brigade in Kashmir.[18] From 26 September 1961 till 6 June 1963, Korla served as the Commandant of the Infantry School at Mhow, also in the rank of brigadier.[18][25] On 16 June 1963, he was appointed Brigadier General Staff of a Corps.[26] He was then selected for a National Defence College course, following which he was promoted to become the commander of a division.[18] In May 1965, he was appointed as the ceremonial 'Colonel of the Regiment' of the 1st Gorkha Rifles.[27]
In the
From 28 February 1968 to 19 January 1971, Maj Gen Korla served as the
Awards and decorations
Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Samar Seva Star | India Independence Medal | |
Distinguished Service Order | Military Cross | India General Service Medal (1936) | 1939–45 Star
|
Africa Star | Burma Star | War Medal 1939–1945 with a bronze oak leaf | India Service Medal |
Post-retirement
After retiring from the army, from 1972 to 1976, Korla served as the Director General of the Home Guards in Delhi.[32] In May 1975, he relinquished his post as the ceremonial Colonel of the 1st Gorkha Rifles.[33][27]
In the early 1980s, Korla served as a member of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education.[34]
References
- ^ a b Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India (25 January 1971). "Gallantry and distinguished service awards for defence personnel" (PDF). Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-84415-112-7.
- ISBN 978-81-85019-62-8.
- ^ divyahimachal (29 August 2015). "मेजर कोरला ने पाक को याद दिलाया था छठी का दूध". Divya Himachal.
- ^ "Distinguished Alumni". Rashtriya Military School ChailAn institute of excellence. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ "Rashtriya Military School Ajmer". www.rashtriyamilitaryschoolajmer.in. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Mani, PRS (1945). Indian Army Observer. pp. 17/3A, 1–2.
- ^ a b Palmo, Tenzin (December 2007). "Sarla Korla: Our Gracious Chairperson Retires". Gatsal. 20: 2.
- ISBN 978-1-84415-112-7.
- ^ Carew, Tim (1969). The Longest Retreat: the Burma Campaign 1942. London: Hamish Hamilton. p. 91.
- ^ Sainik Samachar: The Pictorial Weekly of the Armed Forces. 1971.
- ISBN 978-0-9521083-1-3.
- ^ "Distinguished Service Order (DSO) - TracesOfWar.com". www.tracesofwar.com. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ "Supplement to the London Gazette, 23 April, 1942. (DSO)" (PDF). 23 April 1942.
- ^ "Supplement to The London Gazette, 23 April, 1942. (Mention in Dispatches)" (PDF). 23 April 1942. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Korla, Siri Kanth on 'Traces of War'".
- ^ "Supplement to The London Gazette, 28 October, 1942" (PDF). 28 October 1942. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d Gupta, Hari Ram (1967). India-Pakistan War 1965 (Vol. 1). Hariyana Prakashan. p. 210.
- ^ "Military Cross (MC) - TracesOfWar.com". www.tracesofwar.com. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Supplement to The London Gazette, 24 May, 1945" (PDF). 24 May 1945. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ Bellamy, Chris (2011). The Gurkhas. Hachette.
- ISBN 978-1-84022-214-2.
- ISBN 978-81-204-0678-0.
- ^ "Explore Army/Training Establishment/Army Establishments/IMA/Commandants/Deputy Commandant". Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ISBN 978-81-259-0484-7.
- ^ The Gazette of India. Govt. of India. 1963.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-7510-114-2.
- ^ Major General Deva, Yashwant (2015). "The saga of grit and cold courage: tribute to the fighters of 35 Infantry Brigade in 1965 War: a first hand account" (PDF). Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Entry in Sainik Samachar, 1971 (issue 18)". Sainik Samachar (18): 14. 1971.
- ^ Sainik Samachar. Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence. 1995.
- ^ Sainik Samachar. Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence. 1970. p. 23.
- ^ "'Roll of Honour' on the website of the Delhi Home Guards". Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "The Gazette of India". The Gazette of India, Part 1 - Section 4: 789. 14 June 1975.
- ISBN 978-81-7024-425-7.