Subedar Joginder Singh, PVC, was a Junior Commissioned Officer of the Indian Army's Sikh Regiment and served with the 1st Battalion, Sikh Regiment (1 Sikh). His service number was JC-4547.
He was born on 26 September 1921 in Mahla Kalan village of Moga district, Punjab. He was enrolled in 1 Sikh on 28 September 1936 and served in the Indian Army through the Second World War, the 1947-48 Indo-Pak conflict and the post-Independence period.
During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, 1 Sikh was deployed in the Tawang sector of the North-East Frontier Agency. Subedar Joginder Singh commanded a platoon holding a defensive position on a ridge near Tongpeng La on the Bum La axis.
On 23 October 1962, at approximately 0530 hours, Chinese forces launched a major attack along the Bum La axis with the intention of breaking through towards Tawang. The enemy advanced in successive waves, supported by artillery and mortar fire.
Subedar Joginder Singh and his platoon resisted the first wave and inflicted heavy casualties, forcing the attackers to fall back. The enemy regrouped and launched another attack under artillery cover. The Sikh platoon continued to hold its position despite suffering heavy casualties.
During the fighting, Subedar Joginder Singh was wounded in the thigh. He refused evacuation and continued to lead his men. As the battle progressed, the platoon lost approximately half of its strength, but the remaining soldiers continued to resist the advancing enemy.
During the final attack, when only a few men remained in the position, Subedar Joginder Singh personally manned a light machine gun and continued engaging the enemy. When the position became untenable and ammunition was running low, he and the remaining soldiers fixed bayonets and charged the advancing Chinese troops.
Subedar Joginder Singh and his remaining men fought at close quarters before being overwhelmed. He made the supreme sacrifice on 23 October 1962 during the defence of the Bum La axis.
For his exceptional courage, inspiring leadership and devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming enemy forces, Subedar Joginder Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest wartime gallantry award.