Vir Chakra (VrC)

On 20 October 1962, the mortar position of a Rajput battalion in the Dhola area came under heavy artillery fire of the Chinese. Captain Gurcharan Singh Bhatia got out of his bunker, rushed to the mortar positions and got the mortars into action. The enemy was closing in under cover of artillery fire. When a shell landed close to one of the mortar pits and wounded the crew, he started firing the mortar himself His cool courage and personal example were a source of inspiration to the men handling the mortars. Captain Bhatia continued firing until a barrage of enemy shells silenced our mortars.

Captain Bhatia was killed in this action. He set an outstanding example of courage and leadership in the face of enemy