Annexation of Goa

Brigadier Singh was the commander of the 48th infantry brigade, which was responsible for surrender of the Portuguese Army including Governor-General Manuel António Vassalo e Silva, attacking from East Goa and coordinating to enclose the area by use of the Indian Navy's ships.^[1] He was also in charge of the Portuguese prisoners of war after the war had been put to an end.^[1]

1962 Sino-Indian War

During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, he commanded Bomdila, although was told it had no importance, political or military.^[2] All eyes at the time were on Sela.^[2][3] In a 16-company brigade position, he was left with four companies; his other troops were milked despite his protests.^[4] Brigadier Gurbux Singh stated that fighting running battles rather than holding the fortresses, which were Sela and Bomdila, and that sending troops out in penny packets from prepared positions rather than concentrating them in defence led to the Indian Army's undoing.^[4][5]

They caught a battalion of the People's Liberation Army's special forces in a classic killing ground scenario and with guns of 6 Field Regiment and 22 Mountain Regiment firing at intense rates killed some 300–400 Chinese soldiers.^[5][6] However, the battalion on running out of ammunition was allowed to withdraw.^[6] Inexplicably, 5 Guards apprehending that the Chinese had inserted themselves between them and Bomdila made for the plains and safety, and one battalion was sent on the road to Bhutan.^[6][7]

Right after the action Singh was recalled to General Kaul, and his hurried departure from Bomdila created a great deal of confusion.^[7] While his party was on its way to Rupa, the main body of 3 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles was making for Bomdila by a different route, only to be fired upon by the Chinese.^[8][3]

Henderson Brooks Report

He resigned from the Indian Army after the Henderson Brooks Report for unknown reasons.^[9] The report was not released to the public, although it was leaked much later, after he had resigned from the Indian Army. Subsequent Governments have refused to declassify the report over the decades.