21 October: initial Chinese attack On 21 October 1962, the battle began when Chinese 153rd Infantry Regiment launched their first attack on India's
Kibithu Post (40 km north of Walong) in Dhola sector in Arunachal Pradesh's Kameng Division. The battle started by Chinese machine guns and mortars fire from south of Sama, followed by infantry attacks on two platoons with over 3000 soldiers. It started at around midnight and went on for three hours. At about 5 am, the Chinese reinforced their assaulting troops and launched another fierce attack. About 60-70 Chinese soldiers died in that attack and four Indian soldiers were killed, including
Naik Bahadur Singh (later awarded Vir Chakra), who took over the
light machine gun (LMG) after his LMG detachment was killed, and kept firing till he was hit in the chest. The Indian defenders, consisting primarily of troops from the
4th Sikh Regiment and the
6th Kumaon Regiment, had prepared defensive positions along the ridges and valleys around Walong. The Indian forces put up a determined defense, engaging the Chinese in numerous skirmishes for nearly four weeks. Using the difficult terrain to their advantage, Indian troops created bottlenecks and ambushes to slow the advancing Chinese forces.
22 October: Indian withdrawal to Walong In the days to follow, multiple such skirmishes and change in deployments took place, both from the Indian and the Chinese side. Acknowledging that Kibithu could not be defended, 6 Kumaon was ordered to withdraw to Walong.
23 October: India's defensive win 23 October 1962 marks a landmark Indian win against the 153 Regt of PLA (Chengdu Sub area) when Delta Company of 6 Kumaon under Lt Bikram Singh Rathore (IC 11867) was ordered to establish screen position on Ashi Hill (NH 5484). Lt. Bikram Singh planned and executed a classic ambush at a small hanging bridge over Namti Nallah (5 km away from Walong). Lt Bikram removed the last few planks of the hanging bridge and positioned his men at various positions adjoining Namti Nullah and sighted the MMGs and Mortars of his men on spots likely to be enemy position and to bring down accurate fire. Lt Bikram Singh briefed his soldiers to hold fire until he fired the first 'Very Light'. At 3 a.m. on 23 October, the Chinese Army marching towards Walong walked down Ashi hill to reach the hanging bridge on Namti Nullah. The first Chinese soldier of 153 Regiment crossed the bridge and stepped on the last few plank and fell into the
nullah. The following Chinese soldiers milled around and Lt. Bikram Singh fired the first Very Light revealing the Chinese in a cramped path of a planned accurate fire of Indian MMG and Mortar fire. About 200 Chinese troops were killed or wounded in this action against nine Indian fatalities. At 4 a.m. the screen by Delta Company of 6 Kumaon was ordered to withdraw. After the success at Namti Nullah, The Delta Company of 6 Kumaon was tasked to occupy critical defenses on "West Ridge" overlooking the Advanced Landing Grounds, Walong.
24 October to 13 November: skirmishes On 5 November, there were multiple exchanges of fire between the Indian and the Chinese troops when a company under then Captain
Ravi Mathur (later awarded Vir Chakra) was asked to occupy Green Pimple and rescue an
Assam Rifles patrol which was ambushed in the area. On 29 October, due to the difficulties encountered by the China's 153rd Infantry Regiment,
General Staff Department of PLA ordered 130th Infantry Division to Walong direction in support of Chamdo Military sub-District, which arrived in the Walong sector on 8 November, and participated in the offensive from 14 November.
14-16 November: main battle On 14 November 1962, 6 Kumaon attacked and captured Chinese defenses in the Walong sector,
Arunachal Pradesh, without any
artillery or aerial support. This was the only battle of the war in which an
Indian unit attacked the Chinese, rather than defending. The attack continued until 15 November but the captured positions could not be sustained because of a lack of ammunition, heavy casualties and large enemy buildup. The main Battle of Walong was on 16 November, when a large number of soldiers of the PLA
130th Division (People's Republic of China) attack on approx. 100 soldiers of Delta Company of 6 Kumaon which were holding West Ridge. Lt. Bikram was tasked to hold this defense at all costs till 1100 hours and he promised Brigadier N.C. Rawley that he would never withdraw & hold on till his end. Waves of Chinese attacks came on his post one after the other. However, Kumaonis fought gallantly and repulsed the attack. Then the Chinese fanned out and the next attack came with an overwhelming superiority of numbers from three sides (the fourth side was a steep cliff) and was supported by machine gun fire & artillery bombardment. The tenacity of the troops still prevented the Chinese from capturing West Ridge, however at a heavy price in lives. By now, Lt Bikram Singh had held on to the post well beyond the assigned time of 1100 hrs. He was now left with a handful of troops, all their ammunition was exhausted and had no logistical support. They then engaged in hand-to-hand combat and fought to the last man and bullet. In the words of Brig. N. C. Rawlley, MC, "He (Lt. Bikram Singh) held on as long as humanly possible. Very few men from his Company managed to escape. The bulk of them being killed and wounded on the hill. Under his courageous and gallant leadership the men fought until all their ammunition was exhausted and they were completely overrun. Bikram's message to me over the wireless was that he would hold on and not withdraw. He has fulfilled these words to the limit." == Aftermath ==