Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid Idrisi (1 July 1933 – 10 September 1965), was an Indian soldier.
Abdul Hamid was born on 1 July 1933 in a village in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh state.
His mother was Sakina Begum and his father was Mohammad Usman, a tailor.
Hamid would help his father's business by stitching clothes.
1954
Hamid joined the army in December 1954, and was posted to the 4th Battalion of the Grenadiers regiment.
During the Sino-Indian War, his battalion participated in the battle of Namka Chu against the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
He joined the Grenadiers regiment of the Indian Army on 27 December 1954.
1962
During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, Hamid's battalion was part of the 7th Infantry Brigade commanded by Brigadier John Dalvi and participated in the Battle of Namka Chu against the People's Liberation Army.
Surrounded and cut off, the battalion broke out on foot into Bhutan and on to Misamari.
Second Lieutenant G. V. P. Rao was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his actions during the war; it was the highest gallantry award received by the battalion since Indian independence, until Hamid's commendation.
As a prelude to Operation Gibraltar, Pakistan's strategy to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir, and start a rebellion against Indian rule, Pakistani forces attempted a series of incursions across the Jammu and Kashmir border.
1965
He was posthumously given India's highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, for his actions during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the 4 Grenadiers battalion was entrusted with a vital position before the village of Chima on the Khem Karan–Bhikhiwind line.
At the Battle of Asal Uttar on 9–10 September 1965, Hamid destroyed eight Pakistani tanks and was killed in action destroying the ninth tank.
From 5 to 10 August 1965, Indian troops uncovered a mass infiltration.
Captured documents and prisoners revealed Pakistan's plans to capture Kashmir with a guerrilla attack were brought to light; about 30,000 guerrillas were trained by the Pakistanis for this purpose.
For reasons which remain unknown, the guerrilla troops were dispersed, dissipated or destroyed and the action never took place.
Haji Phir and Phir Saheba were captured by India in an attempt to eliminate the guerrilla bases, and Pakistan launched an offensive which captured Chhamb and Jourian.
Indian Air Force bases in Amritsar were also attacked.
In a counter-offensive, India launched operations across the international border.
The 4th Infantry Division was charged with the capture of Pakistani territory east of the Ichogil Canal and the suppression of a possible attack along the Kasur–Khem Karan axis.
After reaching the canal, the division awaited a Pakistani assault.
4 Grenadiers was entrusted with a vital position before the village of Chima on the Khem Karan–Bhikhiwind line.
4 Grenadiers arrived at midnight on 7–8 September, and had dug 3 ft trenches by dawn.
At 7:30am they heard the first rumbles of Pakistani tanks, which straddled the road an hour and a half later.
Hamid led the Jonga-mounted recoilless rifle (RCLR) detachment of his battalion.
The battalion held their fire until a tank 30 ft away was hit by Hamid with his RCL gun, and Pakistani soldiers in the two following tanks fled.
The Indians experienced artillery shelling at 11:30am, followed by another armour attack.
Hamid knocked out another tank, and the Pakistani soldiers in the following tanks again fled.
By the end of the day, an engineering company had laid anti-personnel and anti-tank mines around the Grenadiers' position.
Their battalion was attacked by Pakistani Sabre jets at 9:00am on 9 September, with mass casualties.
The Pakistanis made armoured attacks at 9:30, 11:30am and 2:30pm.
By the evening, Hamid had knocked out four tanks.
The battalion destroyed a total of 13 tanks, and many were abandoned.
The Indians withdrew a squadron of Sherman tanks, which were ineffective against the US built Pakistani Patton tanks.
Centurion tanks were also withdrawn to deploy them in a position more suitable for a tank battle.
As a result, the 4 Grenadiers were left with only RCL guns and mines.
On 10 September at about 8:00 am the first wave of three tanks, one leading and the other two following at a 200 yd distance, arrived.
2010
He was later posted to the regiment's 4th Battalion (formerly the 109th Infantry), where he served for the rest of his career.
He served with the battalion in Agra, Amritsar, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, NEFA and Ramgarh.
