As he breathed his last at the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi on 1st March this year, Major General Julian Peter HI(M) leaves behind a shining legacy of what the white colour represents in the Pakistani flag.
Pakistan Army’s first Christian Major General Julian Peter attended St Mary’s Cambridge School on Murree Road in Rawalpindi and resided in Rawalpindi’s Gawalmandi. Many outside the military circles may not know that Maj Gen Julian Peter was an illustrious soldier who, as part of the gallant 4th Frontier Force Haidry Regiment, had played a major role in the defence of Hilli sector in erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). As the legend goes, the Hilli position was heavily shelled by the enemy’s divisional fire even before the formal declaration of war on November 22. The shelling continued sporadically throughout the night. This served as a buildup to a significant Indian assault in this sector. The enemy attacked Hilli, where D Company, led by Maj (later Maj Gen) Julian Peter was stationed, with a furious charge on the night between November 22 and 23. The enemy was superior to 4 FF in both troops and material, and had every strategic advantage. The right forward platoon of D Company was the target of the battalion assault. The platoon resisted the battalion attack with tenacity and was effective.
However, a new enemy battalion launched an even more determined second assault, which occurred within one hour of previous assault. With almost unstoppable power, the enemy hordes charged forward. The battleground was transformed into a mosaic of fallen enemy combatants. Even when separated and surrounded, D Company under Maj Julian Peter persisted in its resistance. The company lost one soldier after another while battling an adversary who had vast numerical advantage, but never gave up. During this battle, men under the command of Maj Julian Peter kept the aggressive spirit and even launched local counterattacks to push back the Indian forces.
Having suffered injuries, Maj Julian Peter refused to be medically evacuated and kept commanding the company till the end of war.
After repatriation to Pakistan, Julian Peter kept working hard. In April 1989, he advanced through the army levels and was given command of the 124 Brigade in the Sialkot Cantonment. He was the first Christian elevated to the position of Major General in April 1993 and was assigned the command of the 40 Strike Division under the crack 2 Corps of Pakistan Army.
Having personally known Maj Gen Julian Peter, we found him to be down to earth, humble, extremely honest but a hard taskmaster. Under his able command, the 40 Division came of age and developed into an excellent fighting machine.
It may be appropriate to tell the story of Christian officers and men who have served with equal zeal in Pakistan Defence forces as Muslim officers and soldiers. Taking some excerpts from a piece in Dialogue Times published on 19 July 2020 seems appropriate.
The first Christian martyr was Younus Qaiser Shaheed of 16th Punjab who sacrificed his life for his homeland on 3rd July 1948 on Kashmir border. On 6th January 1949, a Christian cadet, Novan Theodore Fazal Elahi, died in an air crash few days before his passing out and he was probably the first martyr of Pakistan Air Force.
In the 1965 war, Wing Commander Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat became known as the “defender of Karachi” and was awarded Sitara-e-Jurat in that war. In 1971 war, he sacrificed his life for his homeland and was awarded Sitara-e-Jurat posthumously. He has the unique honour of being the only Shaheed of Pakistan Air Force who has been awarded Sitara-e-Jurat twice.
Squadron Leader Peter Christy Shaheed was also martyred in 1971 war and was awarded Sitara-e-Jurat posthumously. He was also awarded Tamgha-i-Jurat in the 1965 war. In 1995, Flying Officer Edvin Felix Shaheed sacrificed his life during an air crash in Quetta.
Other Christian officers and men who gave their lives for Pakistan include Javed Masih Shaheed, Murad Shaheed, Rafique Masih Shaheed, Naik RC James, Jawad Haroon Shaheed, Lt Daniel Utarid Shaheed, Asif Adeel Shaheed, Capt Michael Wilson Shaheed. Major Sarmus Rauf Shaheed Tamagha-e-Basalat, a patriotic officer of Pakistan Army, spent most of his service in the border area and he was also a ghazi of Kargil. He sacrificed his life on 13 September 2007 at Nawazkot in operation Al Mezan.
As we offer our condolences and tribute to Gen Peter’s family, our Christian fraternity and Pakistan Army, we would end the article with some quotes from Indian sources as written by Brig Asif Haroon Raja, another son of 4th FF regiment:
NK Doval in Times of India of 13 March 1972 wrote: “During the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, almost all battalions of the Guards Brigade (Indian 202 Brigade) were committed to the fronts. But it was at Hilli in North Western Bangladesh, that it fought its most intrepid action. In this battle, its men were pitched against the 4th Frontier Force, the crack battalion of the Pakistan Army.”
Maj KC Praval in his book, Indian Army after Independence, writes: “Hilli was amongst the hardest fought battles.” Maj Gen Rajendra Nath in his book says: “The battle of Hilli proved the futility of attacking well-fortified places.” Dr Mankekar in his book, Pakistan Cut to Size, writes at one place: “At Hilli, they held their ground with admirable tenacity. Battle of Hilli was the toughest of all.”
Surely, Maj Gen Julian Peter HI(M) belonged to our finest outfits like 4 FF, who despite heavy odds and under extremely challenging circumstances, kept the Pakistani flag high, and to their best of ability fought for the motherland. We would thank our Christian fraternity which has always risen to the occasion and offered its sons like General Julian Peter HI(M) and Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry SJ, SBt, to serve Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2023.
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