Major M. S. Bal was an officer of the Indian Army's Armoured Corps and served with the 7th Cavalry, also known as the 7th Light Cavalry. His service number was IC-7363 and his recorded place of birth was Delhi.
Major Bal came from a distinguished military family. He was the son of Major General Tara Singh Bal, a senior Indian Army officer who had also served with the 7th Cavalry. His younger brother, Amarjit Singh Bal, later served with The Poona Horse and was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his actions during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
During the Indo-Pak War of 1965, 7 Cavalry was deployed on the western front and operated in support of Indian infantry formations. The regiment was undergoing conversion to PT-76 tanks when the war began, but it was committed to operations as the situation developed.
In the Khem Karan–Asal Uttar sector, 7 Cavalry supported infantry operations and took part in actions against Pakistani positions. In mid-September, a coordinated Indian attack was planned against entrenched enemy positions in the Chathanwala area. A composite force consisting of elements of 19 Maratha Light Infantry and 7 Cavalry was tasked with the operation.
On 19 September 1965, the attacking force encountered strong Pakistani resistance. Enemy tanks occupied hull-down positions and the Indian force came under intense artillery and mortar fire. Major M. S. Bal led his troops from the front during the engagement and continued directing the attack despite the heavy enemy fire.
Major Bal was grievously wounded during the fighting but refused to withdraw and continued to lead his men and support the infantry. His leadership and determination helped maintain the momentum of the attack under extremely difficult battlefield conditions.
In the final hours of the 1965 war, Major M. S. Bal made the supreme sacrifice. He was killed on 23 September 1965, approximately thirty minutes before the ceasefire came into effect.
Major M. S. Bal is commemorated among the Indian Army personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during the Indo-Pak War of 1965. His name is also inscribed at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.