C’est Vraiment Arrive – Deuxieme Partie

The English tranltion of the French tittle is ‘This Really Happenened – Part Two’.

Almost all Battalions or Regiments normally follow the tradition in various form and method of “breaking in a subaltern” when he first joins his unit. The breaking in is primarily to integrate the individual with his unit, the men, officers, its ethos and culture. It leads to an emotional and sentimental life long union. The men, the officers therafter become a family, the unit is their permanent address, abode.
In seventies I was serving in an Engineer Regiment located at Leh when “This Really Happened”
As per the SOP of our Regiment a soldier on arrival by an aircraft at Leh had to undergo acclimatisation for a week before he was exposed to his normal duties. We were instructed, that for the first three days, to acclimatise our selves by walking approximately 1000 yds a day and ascend from reasonable heights and thereafter gradually descend to 9000 ft and return. During this period we were to rest in a bunker. The meals for the first two days was served in the bunker for all, however from the third day the Jawans ate in the Langar and the officer had it in his bunker. It was only on the seventh evening that the officer was permitted in the Mess.
Lt Rakesh arrived after completing the Young Officer’s course and was received at the Leh air port by Capt Murthy , the senior subaltern of our Regiment. He was taken to the bunker and briefed, a sewadar was given to him to assist him. Rakesh underwent the acclimatazation as laid down, however barring Murthy he could not meet any other officer. The officers too avoided him.
The ‘break’ in’ ‘of Lt Rakesh happened on seventh night; Let me go through it.
Our Regiment Adjutant had tied up with his counterpart of a Gorkha Battallion to send four men to the snowy slopes pf Darbuk, where this Battalion was located. The task that these men were to perform was explained to him.

On the seventh day Murthy met Rakesh in his bunker in the morning after the latter had returned from his walk.
“To night you are to lead a patrol to a location on Chinese border for an important task. Get ready and meet me in the Company dining hall,” he told Rakesh.
An hour later, Rakesh entered the Dining Hall and noticed Murthy and a section strength Jawans fully armed and equipped waiting for him.
“You will lead this Section and your 2i/c is Hav More. You will leave at last light and return before first light. Your task is to get as close to the Chinese post as marked on this map and plant this box,” Murthy said, pointing towards a mettalic box placed on the table.
“This box has a device for recording verbal communication that the Chinese have at their post. We have the means to listen to the recorded conversations and their translations in Engish as well as in Hindi, as and when and where we desire. Be careful with it, only two countries have it, we and USA. At no cost should it fall in Chinese hands,” Murthy said.
The road to Darbuk was well maintained and the distance was covered in the one ton vehicle in two and half hours. The sky was clear with stars brighttening the darkness. Rakesh checked the map and asked the driver to halt the truck. He asked his men to disembark and told the driver to park the truck at the edge of the road.
He faced the snow covered slopes of the hill in front and proceeded to climb it. His men followed him in a row, one of them carrying the box on his shoulder. The snow was fresh, their feet sank in it, making the climb streneous and slow.

Midway as he paused to rest, a volley of bullets from top of the hill greeted them. Spontaenously within seconds they dropped on the snow and lay down. The bullets hit the snow and came closer and closer every second. The men stood up and ran back. Surprised and dismayed Rakesh got up, looked towards them and shouted, waving his arm. He asked them to return and face the enemy. More caught Rakesh’s arm and dragged him down the slope. They reached the road and found the truck at the centre of the road with it’s engine running, ready to go.
Without waiting the men got into the truck with More following them, The driver opened the cabin door and literally pushed Rakesh on to the seat. He pressed the accelerator and headed towards the Regiment.
On arrival they found Murthy waiting for them.
“You have returned early, did you complete your mission?” He asked Rakesh.
Crestfallen and dejected Rakesh narrated the mishap, mainly blaming his men for deserting him and not obeying his orders.
“Where is the box?” Murthy asked. Rakesh looked at More, who shrugged his shoulders and kept silent.
“I left it there in the snow,” a Jawan said, meekly.
“What!” Murthy gasped He paced silently in front of them for a while engrossed in deep thoughts, He called out in a loud voice, and promptly two Havildars appeared. He looked at Rakesh and with a serious composure addressed him in a stern voice.
“Lt Rakesh, you are under arrest. Your charges are desertion in the face of the enemy and losing a top secret valuable equipment which will fall in our enemy’s hands. You will remain detained in your bunker pending court martial. Capt Rohan will be your counsel. He will meet you shortly.”
Addressing the men he said,’ Go back to your barracks. You all will be dealt with later.” He looked at the Havildars, who on cue held Ralesh’s arm and escorted him towards the bunker.
Two hours later, when he entered the prefabricated room Rakesh’s body language indicated that he had met his nemesis. He was facing five very senior high ranking officers dressed in their official dress seated across an imposing table.
“This General Court Marial is convened to look into the charges against Lt Rakesh. We are to give verdict and accord punishment to the accused if found guilty,” the Presiding Officer said in a garrulous voice.
The trial commenced with Murthy stating the facts of the case and Capt Rohan struggling to defend his client. At the conclusion of the arguments the Presiding Officer addressed Rakesh.
“Do you plead guilty to both the charges?” He asked.
Rakesh looked towards Rohan, who looked away.
“No Sir!”
“Did you desert your patrol when you were fired upon?”
“I did not want to but I was made to,” Rakesh Replied.
“By whom?”
“By Havildar More,” he replied.
“Did you lose a Top Secret and valuable equipment which will now be in the hands of the enemy?”
“A Jawan from the patrol left it behind,” Rakesh said.
“In the Army officers do not blame our Iawans for our failures. We are leaders and accept the failures gracefully.” The Presiding Officer said.
The members conferred in voices inaudible to others. A member directed Rakesh to stand up from his chair.
“Lt Rakesh after hearing both the counsels and analysing the facts of the case, the Court Martial finds you guilty of both the charges. We hereby order that you be demoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant with immediate effect. The Adjutant will now perform this task” The Presiding Officer Ordered.
The Adjutant stepped forward and removed the cotton Lt epaulets from his shoulders and replaced them with 2Lts.
Rakesh spent the night in his bunker.
Next Day at lunch time Murthy escorted Rakesh to the Officer’s Mess. On entering the room, flabbergasted, totally confused and apparently shocked, Rakesh stood still for a long time before he uttered a word. The entire Court Martial members were looking at him with a smile on their faces.
“Welcome Rakesh to the Regiment,” the CO shook his limpid hand.
The Adjutant removed the 2Lt epaulets from his shoulders and replaced them with Lt’s.
The waiter handed a glass of beer to Rakesh. We all raised our glasses and said “cheers.”
All names are fictitous; however, yours truly was the Presiding Officer of the “General Court Martial.”

(Technical graduates are commisioned as Lt Rakesh is a Tech Grad.)