Siri Kanth Korla

{{Infobox military person

| honorific_prefix = Major General

| name = Siri Kanth Korla

| honorific_suffix = PVSM, DSO, MC

| image = Siri Kanth Korla.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1917|01|27}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2007|04|07|1917|01|27}}

| birth_place = Sihund, Kangra district, Punjab Province, British India

| death_place = Palampur, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India

| placeofburial =

| placeofburial_label =

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| allegiance = {{flag|British India}}
{{flag|India}}

| branch = {{army|British India}}
{{army|India}}

| serviceyears = 1937–1971

| rank = 20px Major General

| servicenumber = IC382

| unit = 7/10 Baluch
1st Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)

| commands = Dogra Brahmin Company, 7/10 Baluch
1st Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)
6th Mountain Division
Delhi Area

| battles = {{Tree list}}

| battles_label =

| awards = Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Mentioned in Dispatches (2)
Colonel of the Regiment, 1st Gorkha Rifles

| alma_mater = King George's Royal Indian Military School
Indian Military Academy
School of Infantry, Warminster
National Defence College, New Delhi

| spouse = Sarla Korla

| relations =

| laterwork = Director General, Home Guards

| signature =

}}

Major General Siri Kanth Korla, PVSM, DSO, MC (also spelled Sri Kanth Korla) (27 January 1917 – 7 April 2007) was a general officer in the Indian army who served in the Second World War and the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. He served in the British Indian Army from 1934 to 1947, and the Indian Army from 1947 to 1971. Korla was known as one of the great company commanders of the Burma Campaign, and among the most highly and heavily decorated Indian officers of the British Indian Army during the Second World War.{{Cite book |last=Randle |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SQv6zlCwxOYC |title=Battle Tales from Burma |date=2004-01-01 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=978-1-84415-112-7 |pages=126 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Lehl |first=Lachhman Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQhuAAAAMAAJ&q=Missed+opportunities+Indo+Pak+war+1965+(Lakshman+Singh+Lehl,+1997) |title=Missed Opportunities Indo-Pak War 1965 |date=1997 |publisher=Natraj Publishers |isbn=978-81-85019-62-8 |pages=233, 311 |language=en}}

Personal life

Korla came from a Dogra background and hailed from the Kangra Valley, India.{{Cite news |last=divyahimachal |date=29 August 2015 |title=मेजर कोरला ने पाक को याद दिलाया था छठी का दूध |work=Divya Himachal}} He did his schooling from the King George's Royal Indian Military School, Jullunder.{{Cite web |title=Distinguished Alumni |url=https://chailmilitaryschool.webs.com/distinguishedalumni.htm |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=Rashtriya Military School ChailAn institute of excellence}}{{Cite web |title=Rashtriya Military School Ajmer. |url=https://www.rashtriyamilitaryschoolajmer.in/d.alumni.html |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=www.rashtriyamilitaryschoolajmer.in}}{{Cite book |last=Mani |first=PRS |title=Indian Army Observer |publisher= |year=1945 |pages=17/3A, 1-2}}

He was married to Sarla Korla.{{Cite journal |last=Palmo |first=Tenzin |date=December 2007 |title=Sarla Korla: Our Gracious Chairperson Retires |journal=Gatsal |volume=20 |pages=2}} They got married while he was on a break from serving in Burma, around the time of the Battle of Imphal (summer of 1944).{{Cite book |last=Randle |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SQv6zlCwxOYC&q=battle+tales+from+burma |title=Battle Tales from Burma |date=2004-01-01 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=978-1-84415-112-7 |pages=118 |language=en}} Upon his death in April 2007, Korla was cremated with full military honours.

Military career

Korla joined the 10th Baluch Regiment in 1934, as a sepoy, and in a few years was promoted to havildar.{{Cite book |last=Carew |first=Tim |title=The Longest Retreat: the Burma Campaign 1942 |publisher=Hamish Hamilton |year=1969 |location=London |pages=91}} He participated in the Waziristan operations of 1936. He then joined the Indian Military Academy in 1939, and received his commission in 1940.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f2_R5FuR9JYC&q=siri+kanth+korla+national+defence+college |title=Sainik Samachar: The Pictorial Weekly of the Armed Forces |year=1971 |language=en}}

=World War II=

File:7-10 Baluch Burma, 1945 12x10.jpg

As a young officer of the 7/10th Baluch Regiment (17th Infantry Division) of the British Indian Army, Korla saw major action against the forces of the Imperial Japanese Army in various episodes of action across Burma.

For his leadership and personal valour in the Battle of Pa-an in February 1942, Lt. (acting Captain) Korla was awarded an immediate Distinguished Service Order (DSO), then the second highest wartime gallantry award of the British and Commonwealth forces.{{Cite book |last1=Grant |first1=Ian Lyall |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JPFmAAAAMAAJ&q=Siri+Korla+Mandalay |title=Burma 1942: The Japanese Invasion ; Both Sides Tell the Story of a Savage Jungle War |last2=Tamayama |first2=Kazuo |date=1999 |publisher=Zampi Press |isbn=978-0-9521083-1-3 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Distinguished Service Order (DSO) - TracesOfWar.com |url=https://www.tracesofwar.com/awards/9/Distinguished-Service-Order-DSO.htm |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.tracesofwar.com}} Lt. (acting Captain) Korla's DSO was announced alongside a Mention in Dispatches in The London Gazette on 23 April 1942.{{Cite web |date=23 April 1942 |title=Supplement to the London Gazette, 23 April, 1942. (DSO) |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35532/page/1796/data.pdf}}{{Cite web |date=23 April 1942 |title=Supplement to The London Gazette, 23 April, 1942. (Mention in Dispatches) |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35532/page/1797/data.pdf |access-date=23 August 2022}}

Another Mention in Dispatches for Lt. (acting Captain) Korla was announced in The London Gazette on 28 October 1942, for escorting a mule convoy without any losses for 57 miles, from Zigon to Prome in Burma, under hot pursuit from the Japanese.{{Cite web |date=28 October 1942 |title=Supplement to The London Gazette, 28 October, 1942 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35763/supplement/4690/data.pdf |access-date=23 August 2022}}

For his leadership and initiative at Taungtha in the Battle of Meiktila in early 1945, Major (temporary) Korla was awarded the Military Cross (MC) - the third highest wartime gallantry award of the British and Commonwealth forces.{{cite web |title=Korla, Siri Kanth on 'Traces of War' |url=https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/65953/Korla-Siri-Kanth.htm}}{{Cite web |title=Military Cross (MC) - TracesOfWar.com |url=https://www.tracesofwar.com/awards/4/Military-Cross-MC.htm |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.tracesofwar.com}} Korla's MC was announced in The London Gazette on 24 May 1945.{{Cite web |date=24 May 1945 |title=Supplement to The London Gazette, 24 May, 1945. |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37091/supplement/2651/data.pdf |access-date=23 August 2022}} He was also active in the main battle for Meiktila.

=Post-Independence=

After the Independence of India in 1947, Korla - then a lieutenant colonel - was given charge of the 2nd battalion, 1st Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment) (2/1 Gorkha Rifles) of the Indian Army.{{cite book |last1=Bellamy |first1=Chris |title=The Gurkhas |date=2011 |publisher=Hachette}}

Over 1951-52, Korla was on attachment to the School of Infantry at Warminster, United Kingdom, for a year.{{Cite book |last=Lewin |first=Ronald |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zqf9LSasekIC&dq=korla+school+of+infantry+Bill+Slim&pg=PA271 |title=Slim: The Standardbearer : a Biography of Field-Marshal the Viscount Slim |date=1999 |publisher=Wordsworth Editions |isbn=978-1-84022-214-2 |language=en}} From 1958 to 1959, in the rank of colonel, he served as the Deputy Commandant of the Indian Military Academy.{{Cite book |last1=Sinha |first1=B. P. N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3WYZAAAAIAAJ&q=korla |title=Valour and Wisdom: Genesis and Growth of the Indian Military Academy |last2=Chandra |first2=Sunil |date=1992 |publisher=Oxford & IBH Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-204-0678-0 |pages=309 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Explore Army/Training Establishment/Army Establishments/IMA/Commandants/Deputy Commandant |url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=h+wswVNsFvYpCksrOWvA9w==&ParentID=oS6hdMC6uUESPevh0AzjHg== |access-date=23 August 2022}} Then as a brigadier, he commanded a brigade in Kashmir. From 26 September 1961 till 6 June 1963, Korla served as the Commandant of the Infantry School at Mhow, also in the rank of brigadier.{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Hari Ram |title=India-Pakistan War 1965 (Vol. 1) |publisher=Hariyana Prakashan |year=1967 |pages=210}}{{Cite book |last=Raghavan |first=V. R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0CBuAAAAMAAJ&q=Infantry+School+Mhow+Korla |title=Infantry in India |date=1997 |publisher=Vikas Publishing House |isbn=978-81-259-0484-7 |pages=302 |language=en}} On 16 June 1963, he was appointed Brigadier General Staff of a Corps.{{Cite book |last= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DjU_Xb5_z2QC&q=SK+Korla+National+Defence+Academy |title=The Gazette of India |publisher=Govt. of India |year=1963 |language=en}} He was then selected for a National Defence College course, following which he was promoted to become the commander of a division. In May 1965, he was appointed as the ceremonial 'Colonel of the Regiment' of the 1st Gorkha Rifles.{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Gautam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ziDfAAAAMAAJ&q=SK+Korla+Punjab |title=Indian Army, a Reference Manual |date=2000 |publisher=Reliance Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7510-114-2 |language=en}}

In the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, as a major general, Korla commanded the 6th Mountain Division, part of the I Corps. The division saw action in the Battle of Chawinda.{{cite web |last=Major General Deva |first=Yashwant |date=2015 |title=The saga of grit and cold courage: tribute to the fighters of 35 Infantry Brigade in 1965 War: a first hand account |url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/archives/downloads/The-Saga-of-Grit-and-Courage.pdf |access-date=17 August 2022}}

From 28 February 1968 to 19 January 1971, Maj Gen Korla served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Delhi Area, and retired from the army at this post in 1971.{{cite journal |date=1971 |title=Entry in Sainik Samachar, 1971 (issue 18) |journal=Sainik Samachar |volume= |issue=18 |page=14 |access-date=}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_S_fAAAAMAAJ&q=SK+Korla+Punjab |title=Sainik Samachar |date=1995 |publisher=Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence. |language=en}} He commanded the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on 26 January 1970.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DdohlIUDakUC&dq=SK+Korla+National+Defence+Academy&pg=RA2-PA23 |title=Sainik Samachar |date=1970 |publisher=Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence |pages=23 |language=en}} On 26 January 1971, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) by the then President of India, V. V. Giri.{{Cite web |last=Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India |date=25 January 1971 |title=Gallantry and distinguished service awards for defence personnel |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/FEATURE/1971%20REP%20DAY%20IND%20DAY/PDF/FEA-1971-01-25_039.pdf |access-date=17 August 2022}}

Awards and decorations

style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

|colspan=4|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Samar_Seva_Star_Ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Indian_Independence_medal_1947.svg|width=106}}

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award‐star|ribbon=Dso-ribbon.png|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Military cross BAR.svg|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=India General Service Medal (1936).png|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_1939-45_Star.png|width=106}}

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_Africa_Star.png|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_Burma_Star.png|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_War_Medal_&_MiD.png|width=106}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_India_Service_Medal.png|width=106}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

Param Vishisht Seva Medal

| colspan="2" |Samar Seva Star

|India Independence Medal

Distinguished Service Order

|Military Cross

|India General Service Medal (1936)

|1939–45 Star

Africa Star

|Burma Star

|War Medal 1939–1945 with a bronze oak leaf

(Mention in Dispatches)

|India Service Medal

Post-retirement

After retiring from the army, from 1972 to 1976, Korla served as the Director General of the Home Guards in Delhi.{{cite web |title='Roll of Honour' on the website of the Delhi Home Guards |url=http://delhihomeguards.nic.in/content/organisation-dgs-districts-0 |access-date=17 August 2022}} In May 1975, he relinquished his post as the ceremonial Colonel of the 1st Gorkha Rifles.{{cite journal |date=14 June 1975 |title=The Gazette of India |journal=The Gazette of India, Part 1 - Section 4 |volume= |page=789}}

In the early 1980s, Korla served as a member of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education.{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Om Parkash |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lJLHYpQqfLIC&dq=h+p+board+of+school+education+april+1984&pg=PA43 |title=Administration of Education Boards in India |date=1991 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-7024-425-7 |pages=43–44 |language=en}}