Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore, PVC
Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore, PVC was an ace Battle Tank Commander like General Montgomery, and was greatly loved by the men that served under him, as he cared for them to the best of his ability. Though he was a very calm person, he was very fierce in fire fights, when it came to war. He sacrificed his life for India. He was a real soldier of soldiers.
| Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Tarapore PVC |
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| Born | August 18, 1923 Bombay, Bombay Presidency,British India |
| Died | 6 September 1965 (aged 42) Chawinda, Pakistan |
| Allegiance |  Hyderabad State Republic of India |
| Service/branch |  Hyderabad Army Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1940-1951(Hyderabad Army) 1951-1965(Indian Army) |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | Hyderabad Lancers 17th Poona Horse |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Chawinda Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 |
| Awards |  Param Vir Chakra |
Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore, PVC was born on August 18, 1923 in Mumbai. The original family came from Tarapore and hence the last name Tarapore comes for the same reason. Later his grandfather relocated to Hyderabad and started working under the excise department of Nizam ofHyderabad. After his death Burzonji took up his father’s job and was comparatively successful due to his hardwork.
From the young tender age Ardeshir showed his courage when he saved his sister, Yadgar, from a family cow that had broken loose. By the time he was seven years old he was sent to the Dastur Boys’ Boarding School, Pune. He completed his matriculation in the year 1940. After school he applied for the army and was selected. He did his initial training in the Officers’ Training School at Golconda and on completion was sent to Bangalore. He saw himself commissioned in the 7th Hyderabad Infantry as a Second Lieutenant.
Hyderabad State Force[edit]
He was popularly known as “Adi”. Adi was not very happy joining the infantry, instead he wanted to join an armoured regiment. On one fine day his battalion was inspected by Major General El Edroos, theCommander-in-Chief of the state forces. At the grenade throwing range due to an accident a grenade fell into the bay area. Adi was quick to jump and throw it. However the grenade exploded in the middle which left him injured as the flying shrapnel hit his chest. Major General Edroos, was a witness to this event which kept him spellbound. He was impressed by the exemplary courage displayed by Ardeshir. Major General Edroos summoned Ardeshir to his office and congratulated him for his efforts. Ardeshir took this as an opportunity and requested that he be transferred to an armoured regiment. The General accepted this and he was transferred to the 1st Hyderabad Imperial Service Lancers. Interestingly, 1st Hyderabad Lancers fought with The Poona Horse in Operation Polo.
He also saw active service in West Asia during World War-II during this part of his career.
Indian Army[edit]
Later Hyderabad was merged with Union of India. This eventually amalgamated the Indian Army. Ardeshir was shifted to The Poona Horse and was commissioned in Poona Horse on 1 April 1951. He rose to become Commanding Officer (CO) and commanded his very own regiment in the Poona Horse in the 1965 war against Pakistan and while leading his regiment in securing a major objective in Pakistan, Lieutenant Colonel A B Tarapore went down fighting on board his Centurion tank in the highest tradition of the army and recognised as the bravest of the brave to be awarded Param Vir Chakra for his action in the battle.
Military action[edit]
On 11 September 1965, the 17 Horse regiment launched attack on Phillora in the Sialkot sector at the Battle of Chawinda. The southern thrust of the attack, commanded by Lt. Col. Tarapore advanced on the right flank. Between Phillora and Chawinda, the attack met with the Pakistani Army‘s heavy armour charge from Wazirwali. Lt. Col. Tarapore held his ground and gallantly attacked Phillora under continuous enemy tank and artillery fire. When wounded, he refused to be evacuated. He led his regiment to capture Wazirwali on 14 September, and Jassoran and Butur-Dograndi on 16 September 1965.[1]
Though his own tank was hit several times, he maintained his pivots at both these places and thereby helped the supporting infantry attacking Chawinda. Inspired by his leadership, the regiment fiercely attacked the enemy armor and destroyed approximately sixty Pakistani Army tanks, suffering only nine tank casualties. However, Lt. Colonel Tarapore’s tank was hit and was enveloped in flames and he died a hero’s death.[1]
Though his own tank was hit several times, he maintained his pivots at both these places and thereby helped the supporting infantry attacking Chawinda. Inspired by his leadership, the regiment fiercely attacked the enemy armor and destroyed it. He had scored the highest number of KILLS of Pakistani Patton Tanks. After the war the captured and destroyed Patton Tanks were kept at a place in India known as Patton Nagar, and he was popularly known in the military circles as “PATTON TANK KILLER”
Over 97 Pakistani tanks were either destroyed or captured by India during the Battle of Asal Uttar, UNDER THE COMMAND OF
Lieutenant Colonel A. B. Tarapore.
245 × 160 – bharat-rakshak.com
Param Vir Chakra Citation[edit]
The Param Vir Chakra citation on the Official Indian Army Website reads as follows:
CITATION
LIEUTENANT COLONEL A.B TARAPORE
POONA HORSE (17 HORSE) (IC-5565)
On 11 September 1965, the Poona Horse Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzarji Tarapore was assigned the task of delivering the main armoured thrust for capturing Phillora in the Sialkot Sector in Pakistan. As a preliminary to making a surprise attack on Phillora from the rear, the regiment was thrusting between Philloira and Chawinda when it was suddenly counter attacked by the enemy’s heavy Armour from Wazirali. Lieutenant Colonel A. B. Tarapore who was then at the head of his regiment, defied the enemy’s charge, held his ground and gallantly attacked Philloira with one of his squadrons supported by an infantry battalion. Though under continuous enemy tank and artillery fire, Lieutenant Colonel A B Tarapore remained unperturbed throughout this action and when wounded refused to be evacuated.On 14 September 1965, though still wounded he again led his regiment to capture Wazirali. Such was his grit and determination that unmindful of his injury, he again gallantly led regiment and captured Jassoran and Butur-Dograndi on16 September. His own tank was hit several times, but despite the odds he maintained his pivots in both these places and thereby allowed the supporting infantry to attack Chawinda from the rear.Inspired by his leadership, the regiment fiercely attacked the enemy heavy armour destroying approximately 60 enemy tanks at a cost of only 9 tank casualties, and when lieutenant Colonel A. B Tara pore was mortally wounded the regiment continue to defy the enemy.The valour displayed by lieutenant Colonel A.B. Tarapore in this heroic action, which lasted six days, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Army.[2]Courtesy : Pervin Mistry
pervin , lt.col. Tarapore ,this is fifty years back, but it still brought tears to me and pride. Are u able to bring more Valour filled parsee’s to light. nov24,2014
If only we had such Parsis, there would be no need for Parsis to get upset over some of these adds for ‘Jiyo Parsi’ schemes including the one by Cyrus Broacha on his TV show.
Yes, was still not 10 (during the war, in Sept1965 )but always felt sad whenever I heard of these brave Parsi men of India’s arm forces dying in the line of duty. Needless to say I was so proud of them as well.
I am so very sad, fills my heart with sorrow and pride. I salute Adi and my humble respects to all members of his family, where ever they might be. Lord Ahura bless his soul and be it known to him that we parsis are blessed with his Valour. Maneck.
Sahebjee,
not only Parsi’s,but all Indians are proud of him,and his POONA HORSE.
Parsi community no doubt is most minor community of India,but when it comes to their upright work we majority are nowhere close to them,except The President Of India,they have reached on all fronts flying Alpha,
Military services are no exception to it.All the three services had COS belong to community,Even BSF had Rustomjee,as their DG,
And not only to top posts and ranks,they laid down their life for nation where they lived as it’s respected nationals,
In fact it’s time to publish wall of fame for all community member who laid or lived their life serving for military services,make not only parsi but every true Indian sad and proud.
Those visiting Pune station must not forget to visit main porch EXIT,where on one side is marble ston is fixed to remember Lt.Col.AB TARAPORE,PVC(P),and other side is having marble stone to remember,Major RH Bajeena,MVC,he served 2nd Bn. of Mahar Regiment,and lived to become Brigadier and then he was the part of Ruby Hhall hospital till death.
Older times Parsis took pride in serving military services,and mostly as officer,with the population ratio,numbers served in military at par with majority is also wonder.
Now it’s time for young to remember old timers