Abdul Hamid

Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, PVC (1 July 1933 – 10 September 1965) was an Indian Army soldier who posthumously received India’s highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, for his actions during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Abdul Hamid was born in Dhamupur village of Ghazipur district, United Provinces, British India, on 1 July 1933, into a Muslim family. His father was Mohammad Usman.

Abdul Hamid joined the The Grenadiers regiment of the Indian Army on 27 December 1954. He was later posted to the 4th battalion of the regiment, 4 Grenadiers, where he served for the rest of his life. During his service, Hamid served with his battalion in Agra, Amritsar, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, NEFA and Ramgarh. During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, Hamid’s battalion was part of 7th Infantry Brigade commanded by Brigadier John Dalvi, and participated in the battle of Namka Chu against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Surrounded and cut off, the battalion had made a fighting breakaway into Bhutan on foot and then to Misamari. A young officer of 4 Grenadiers, 2 Lt. G.V.P. Rao, was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his actions during the war – the medal highest gallantry award received by the battalion since Indian independence until Hamid’s own award eclipsed it.

After five years of service in the anti-tank section of 4 Grenadiers, Hamid was promoted and was given charge of the quartermaster stores for his company. As he was the best M40 recoilless rifle shot in the battalion, he was reverted to his former charge as the Non-commissioned officer commanding the battalion’s recoilless rifle platoon.