Lieutenant Colonel Narain Singh Sambyal, OBE, was born on 11 March 1907 in the Samba area of Jammu and Kashmir. He was the son of Shri Hira Singh and attended Boys High School in Samba before entering military service.
He was commissioned into the 7th Jammu and Kashmir State Forces on 14 June 1924. During his military career, he served in the Second World War and took part in the Burma campaign, including operations associated with Kennedy Peak and the defence of Meiktila. In recognition of his military service, he received the Order of the British Empire in 1946.
By October 1947, he was commanding the 4th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces, also associated with the historic name Fateh Shibji. During the invasion of Jammu and Kashmir, his battalion was involved in the defence of Muzaffarabad and Domel.
On 22 October 1947, Lieutenant Colonel Sambyal and a small party set out on a mission to demolish the Kohala Bridge, an important crossing on the route from Muzaffarabad towards the Kashmir Valley. Their vehicle was ambushed near Domel, and Lieutenant Colonel Sambyal was killed. His actions formed part of the wider resistance that sought to delay the advancing forces during the opening days of the First Kashmir War.
He is remembered for his leadership in the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces and his service during the Second World War and the 1947 conflict.