CQMH Abdul Hamid: Destroyer of Patton Tanks in 1965 War

Company Quarter Master Havildar (CQMH) Abdul Hamid, a celebrated war hero, was born on July 1, 1933, in Dhamupur village, Ghazipur district, Uttar Pradesh. Son of Mohammad Usman and Sakina Begum, he came from a modest background and had three brothers and two sisters. Hamid completed his education up to Class VIII at Junior High School, Deva, before joining his father’s tailoring shop. He married Rasoolan Bibi at a young age, and the couple had a daughter and four sons.

In 1953, at the age of 20, Abdul Hamid joined the Indian Army in Varanasi. His basic training at the Grenadiers Regimental Centre in Nasirabad over, he joined the 4 Grenadiers Battalion in 1955, first serving in a rifle company and then being transferred to the recoil-less (RCL) gun platoon. Hamid served in Agra, Amritsar, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, NEFA, and Ramgarh during his service. During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, it took part in the Namka Chu battle, and it withdrew into Bhutan before regrouping in Misamari. Thereafter, in Ambala, he was appointed Company Quarter Master Havildar.

Indo-Pak War: Battle of Khem Karan 

CQMH Abdul Hamid was transferred back to the RCL gun platoon as its commander due to his exceptional skill with the 106 mm RCL rifle. In early September 1965, during the Indo-Pak war, 4 Grenadiers was deployed in the Khem Karan sector as part of 4 Mountain Division’s defensive strategy. Positioned near Cheema village, the battalion dug trenches and camouflaged itself in the cotton and sugarcane fields. The battalion was tasked with defending the Khem Karan-Amritsar road against repeated enemy attacks.

On September 8, 1965, Pakistan launched probing attacks on the 4 Grenadiers’ position. Hamid, mounted on a Jeep with an RCL gun, boldly maneuvered through the sugarcane fields to target enemy tanks. He destroyed two Patton tanks that day, forcing the enemy to abandon several others. By the end of September 9, his company had neutralized two more tanks despite air strikes by Pakistani jets.

On September 10, Pakistani forces launched a fierce assault with Patton tanks and artillery support. In a daring move, Hamid flanked the advancing tanks and destroyed three more. While targeting the next tank, his Jeep was hit by an enemy shell, killing him instantly. His fearless actions turned the tide of the battle, contributing to India’s victory in Khem Karan.

For his unparalleled bravery and sacrifice CQMH Abdul Hamid was posthumously awarded India’s highest military honor, the Param Vir Chakra.