Mohinder Singh Wadalia | |
---|---|
Born | [1] | 30 November 1908
Died | 20 May 2001 New Delhi, India | (aged 92)
Allegiance | British India (1929-1947) India (1947-1965) |
Service/ | British Indian Army Indian Army |
Years of service | 1929–1965 |
Rank | Lieutenant-General |
Service number | AI-947 |
Unit | Hyderabad Regiment 16th Light Cavalry |
Commands held | Commandant of the Indian Military Academy |
Battles/wars | World War II
Indo-Pakistan War of 1947 |
Awards | Mentioned in dispatches |
Lieutenant-General Mohinder Singh Wadalia (30 November 1908 – 20 May 2001) was an Indian Army general.[2]
A King's Commissioned Indian Officer (KCIO), Wadalia was educated at Aitchison College and the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College,Dehra Dun.[3] He subsequently attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the British Indian Army on 31 January 1929, passing out fifth in the order of merit from 37 successful cadets.[4][5] He was formally appointed to the Indian Army as an officer with the 4/19 Hyderabad Regiment (now 4 Kumaon Regiment) on 13 April 1930.[6] On 1 March 1934, he transferred to the 16th Light Cavalry and was appointed a squadron officer.[7] He was appointed the adjutant on 1 January 1937.[8]
During the Second World War, Wadalia was appointed a GSO 3 in the Directorate of Military Training on 27 June 1941, under Brigadier Francis Tuker.[9] Advanced to a GSO 2 on 26 September and promoted temporary major in December,[10] Wadalia was transferred to the Directorate of Armoured Fighting Vehicles on 26 May 1943.[11] He served on the headquarters staff in the Persia-Iraq theatre and was mentioned in dispatches.[3][12] On 13 August 1944, he was appointed a GSO 1 on the staff, with the acting rank of lieutenant-colonel.[13] He was promoted substantive major (temporary lieutenant-colonel) on 31 January 1946.[14] On 23 December 1949, he was promoted temporary brigadier and given command of a brigade.[15]
On 21 June 1951, Wadalia was appointed an area commander with the local rank of major general.[16] On 1 September, he was appointed Commandant of the National Defence Academy with the acting rank of major-general.[17] He was the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff between 27 January 1959 and 15 November 1964.[18]
Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
---|---|---|---|
Second Lieutenant | British Indian Army | 31 January 1929 | |
Lieutenant | British Indian Army | 30 April 1931[19] | |
Captain | British Indian Army | 31 January 1938[20] | |
Major | British Indian Army | 26 September 1941 (acting)[1] 26 December 1941 (temporary)[1] 31 January 1946 (substantive)[14] | |
Lieutenant-Colonel | British Indian Army | 13 August 1944 (acting)[1] 31 January 1946 (temporary)[14] | |
Major | Indian Army | 15 August 1947[note 1][21] | |
Colonel | Indian Army | ||
Brigadier | Indian Army | 1948 (acting) 23 December 1949 (temporary)[15][note 1] | |
Lieutenant-Colonel | Indian Army | 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)[21] | |
Brigadier | Indian Army | 31 January 1950 (substantive)[22] | |
Major General | Indian Army | 21 June 1951 (local)[16] 1 September 1951 (acting)[17] | |
Lieutenant-General | Indian Army |