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| − | {{short description|Indian army officer}} |
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{{Infobox military person |
{{Infobox military person |
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| honorific_prefix = [[Colonel (India)|Colonel]] |
| honorific_prefix = [[Colonel (India)|Colonel]] |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1920|12|11|df=yes}} |
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1920|12|11|df=yes}} |
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| death_date = |
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| − | | birth_place = [[Patiala State]], |
+ | | birth_place = [[Patiala State]], British Raj<br>(now in Punjab, India) |
| death_place = |
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| placeofburial_label = |
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| placeofburial = |
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| − | | allegiance = {{flag|British India}}<br>{{flagicon|India}} |
+ | | allegiance = {{flag|British India}}<br>{{flagicon|India}} India |
| branch = {{air force|India}}<br>{{navy|India}}<br>{{army|India}} |
| branch = {{air force|India}}<br>{{navy|India}}<br>{{army|India}} |
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| unit = [[34 Field Regiment (Cassino-II)]]<br>''[[HMIS Tir]]'' |
| unit = [[34 Field Regiment (Cassino-II)]]<br>''[[HMIS Tir]]'' |
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Gill transferred to the [[Royal Indian Navy]], and was commissioned a temporary sub-lieutenant in the gunnery branch of the Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RINVR) on 25 January 1943.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Navy List: July 1945 |publisher=HM Government, UK |date=1945 |chapter=The Royal Indian Navy - Officers of the Royal Indian Navy|url=https://archive.org/details/navylistjul1945v2grea/page/2118/mode/2up|pages=2119}}</ref><ref name="veteran">{{cite news |title=War veteran who served in Air Force, Navy & Army turns 100|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/war-veteran-who-served-in-air-force-navy-army-turns-100-183065|date=11 December 2020|work=Tribune (Chandigarh) |access-date=21 February 2021}}</ref> For the remainder of the Second World War, Gill served on minesweepers and escort vessels, serving on convoy duties protecting shipping in the Persian Gulf. He was subsequently sent to attend the Long Gunnery Staff Course at the Army School of Artillery in Deolali, qualifying as an instructor. He ended his naval service in September 1948, and briefly served as a civil servant.<ref name="veteran"/> |
Gill transferred to the [[Royal Indian Navy]], and was commissioned a temporary sub-lieutenant in the gunnery branch of the Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RINVR) on 25 January 1943.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Navy List: July 1945 |publisher=HM Government, UK |date=1945 |chapter=The Royal Indian Navy - Officers of the Royal Indian Navy|url=https://archive.org/details/navylistjul1945v2grea/page/2118/mode/2up|pages=2119}}</ref><ref name="veteran">{{cite news |title=War veteran who served in Air Force, Navy & Army turns 100|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/war-veteran-who-served-in-air-force-navy-army-turns-100-183065|date=11 December 2020|work=Tribune (Chandigarh) |access-date=21 February 2021}}</ref> For the remainder of the Second World War, Gill served on minesweepers and escort vessels, serving on convoy duties protecting shipping in the Persian Gulf. He was subsequently sent to attend the Long Gunnery Staff Course at the Army School of Artillery in Deolali, qualifying as an instructor. He ended his naval service in September 1948, and briefly served as a civil servant.<ref name="veteran"/> |
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| − | In April 1951, Gill joined the Indian Army. Though he had initially hoped for assignment to his father's former battalion, the 1st [[Sikh Regiment]],<ref name="express"/> he was instead posted to the [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]] due to his prior experience with gunnery.<ref name="veteran"/> His initial posting was with the Gwalior Mountain Battery, equipped with 5.4 inch guns.<ref name="express"/> Gill later served with 34th Field Regiment and was promoted major on 13 May 1956.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=258 |date=22 December 1956 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1956/O-2166-1956-0051-98889.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |
+ | In April 1951, Gill joined the Indian Army. Though he had initially hoped for assignment to his father's former battalion, the 1st [[Sikh Regiment]],<ref name="express"/> he was instead posted to the [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]] due to his prior experience with gunnery.<ref name="veteran"/> His initial posting was with the Gwalior Mountain Battery, equipped with 5.4 inch guns.<ref name="express"/> Gill later served with 34th Field Regiment and was promoted major on 13 May 1956.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=258 |date=22 December 1956 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1956/O-2166-1956-0051-98889.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |
| ⚫ | Promoted lieutenant-colonel on 2 August 1962,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=193 |date=17 April 1965 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1965/O-1730-1965-0016-79060.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> Gill raised and commanded 71 Medium Regiment during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. Seeing action in the Sialkot sector, during a battle he personally led a mission to retrieve four of his guns which had been cut off by the enemy.<ref name="express"/> He was promoted colonel on 19 June 1968 (seniority from 24 May),<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=291 |date=28 February 1970 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1970/O-1389-1970-0009-62652.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was appointed a sector commander in the [[Assam Rifles]], stationed at [[Ukhrul]] in Manipur.<ref name="express"/> He took early retirement from the army, relinquishing his commission on 1 December 1970.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=252 |date=6 March 1971 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1971/O-1354-1971-0010-60724.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |
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| − | |||
| ⚫ | Promoted lieutenant-colonel on 2 August 1962,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=193 |date=17 April 1965 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1965/O-1730-1965-0016-79060.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> Gill raised and commanded 71 Medium Regiment during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. Seeing action in the Sialkot sector, during a battle he personally led a mission to retrieve four of his guns which had been cut off by the enemy.<ref name="express"/> He was promoted colonel on 19 June 1968 (seniority from 24 May),<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=291 |date=28 February 1970 |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1970/O-1389-1970-0009-62652.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was appointed a sector commander in the [[Assam Rifles]], stationed at [[Ukhrul]] in |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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| + | {{Wikipedia|Prithipal Singh Gill}} |
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| − | |||
[[Category:1920 births]] |
[[Category:1920 births]] |
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[[Category:Indian centenarians]] |
[[Category:Indian centenarians]] |
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[[Category:Indian Army officers]] |
[[Category:Indian Army officers]] |
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[[Category:Indian aviators]] |
[[Category:Indian aviators]] |
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| − | [[Category:Government College University, Lahore alumni]] |
+ | [[Category:Government College University, Lahore alumni]][[Category:Living people]] |
Revision as of 01:23, 22 February 2021
| Colonel Prithipal Singh Gill | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 December 1920 |
| Place of birth |
Patiala State, British Raj (now in Punjab, India) |
| Allegiance |
 British India India |
| Service/branch |
 Indian Air Force Indian Navy Indian Army |
| Years of service |
1942–1948 1951–1970 |
| Rank |
Pilot Officer (Indian Air Force) Lieutenant (Royal Indian Navy) Colonel (Indian Army) |
| Service number | IC-5571 |
| Unit |
34 Field Regiment (Cassino-II) HMIS Tir |
| Commands held | 71 Medium Regiment |
| Battles/wars |
Second World War Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Insurgency in Northeast India |
Colonel Prithipal Singh Gill (born 11 December 1920) is an Indian centenarian and the only officer of the Indian Armed Forces known to have served in all three of its branches.[1]
Career
Born in Patiala State, Gill studied at Government College Lahore. A passionate flyer, he earned a flying licence at Walton Airport in Lahore, and in 1942, without informing his family, joined the Indian Air Force.[1][2] Commissioned a pilot officer, Gill was training on Harvard aircraft at Karachi when his father Harpal Singh Gill, an army officer, arranged for his transfer from the IAF as the family considered flying unsafe.[2]
Gill transferred to the Royal Indian Navy, and was commissioned a temporary sub-lieutenant in the gunnery branch of the Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RINVR) on 25 January 1943.[3][4] For the remainder of the Second World War, Gill served on minesweepers and escort vessels, serving on convoy duties protecting shipping in the Persian Gulf. He was subsequently sent to attend the Long Gunnery Staff Course at the Army School of Artillery in Deolali, qualifying as an instructor. He ended his naval service in September 1948, and briefly served as a civil servant.[4]
In April 1951, Gill joined the Indian Army. Though he had initially hoped for assignment to his father's former battalion, the 1st Sikh Regiment,[1] he was instead posted to the Regiment of Artillery due to his prior experience with gunnery.[4] His initial posting was with the Gwalior Mountain Battery, equipped with 5.4 inch guns.[1] Gill later served with 34th Field Regiment and was promoted major on 13 May 1956.[5] Promoted lieutenant-colonel on 2 August 1962,[6] Gill raised and commanded 71 Medium Regiment during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. Seeing action in the Sialkot sector, during a battle he personally led a mission to retrieve four of his guns which had been cut off by the enemy.[1] He was promoted colonel on 19 June 1968 (seniority from 24 May),[7] and was appointed a sector commander in the Assam Rifles, stationed at Ukhrul in Manipur.[1] He took early retirement from the army, relinquishing his commission on 1 December 1970.[8]
Personal life
Gill married his wife Preminder Kaur (born 1927) on 24 December 1950.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Man Aman Singh Chhina (11 December 2020). "Aviator, sailor and soldier — Col Prithipal Singh Gill turns 100". Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aviator-sailor-and-soldier-col-prithipal-singh-gill-turns-100-7101285/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Prithipal Singh Gill: A warrior of all 3 Services turns 100". The Hindu. 11 December 2020. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/prithipal-singh-gill-a-warrior-of-all-3-services-turns-100/article33307763.ece.
- ↑ "The Royal Indian Navy - Officers of the Royal Indian Navy". The Navy List: July 1945. HM Government, UK. 1945. pp. 2119. https://archive.org/details/navylistjul1945v2grea/page/2118/mode/2up.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "War veteran who served in Air Force, Navy & Army turns 100". Tribune (Chandigarh). 11 December 2020. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/war-veteran-who-served-in-air-force-navy-army-turns-100-183065.
- ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 22 December 1956. p. 258. http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1956/O-2166-1956-0051-98889.pdf.
- ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 17 April 1965. p. 193. http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1965/O-1730-1965-0016-79060.pdf.
- ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 28 February 1970. p. 291. http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1970/O-1389-1970-0009-62652.pdf.
- ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 6 March 1971. p. 252. http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1971/O-1354-1971-0010-60724.pdf.
The original article can be found at Prithipal Singh Gill and the edit history here.