THE ONLY OFFICER TO SERVE IN THE INDIAN NAVY, INDIAN AIR FORCE & INDIAN ARMY.
Col Prithipal Singh Gill turned 100 on 11 Dec 2020.
Col Prithipal Singh Gill (without the consent of the family) joined the Royal Indian Air Force and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and stationed at Karachi, flying Howard aircraft. Flying was then considered unsafe and his family did not want their son to live the life of a Pilot. This is when a British General, known to the Gill family, Gen Savoy, came to his help and was able to have Pilot Officer Prithipal Singh transferred to the Indian Navy, where he served on a minesweeping ship and later on INS Teer which was a Navy escort Ship for cargo ships during World War 2. As a Naval Officer, Sub Lt Prithipal Singh was detailed to attend the Long Gunnery Staff Course at School of Artillery, Devlali, and he qualified as an Instructor in Gunnery (IG). He then sought a transfer to the Army, which was approved, and he was posted to “Gwalior Mountain Battery” equipped with 5.4-inch Howitzers.
He later served with 34 Medium Regiment and later raised and Commanded 71 Medium Regt. During the 1965 Indo-Pak War four guns of his Regt were cut off by enemy action. Lt Col Prithipal Singh Gill personally led a successful mission to retrieve the four guns.
On promotion to the rank of Col, Pirthipal Singh, Commanded an Assam Rifles Sector in Ukhrul, Manipur.
After his exceptionally chequered career in the Royal Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and the Indian Army (Artillery), Col Prithipal Singh Gill finally retired to farming the family lands at his native village Pakhi in Faridkot District.
A farmer’s son had come full circle.
It is a most unique (and maybe the only case of its kind), that a Military career of someone that started as a pilot in the Royal Indian Air Force, later sailed the High Seas with Indian Navy, and finally saw action as a Gunner Officer with the Indian Army in the 1965 War, finally culminated as an Assam Rifles Sector Commander in Manipur.
An exceptional life indeed.
AN INSPIRING STORY OF A RARE OFFICER OF ALL THREE SERVICES..
