Siri Kanth Korla

Major General Siri Kanth Korla, PVSM, DSO, MC (also spelled Sri Kanth Korla)

Personal life Korla came from a Dogra background and hailed from the Kangra Valley, India. He did his schooling from the King George's Royal Indian Military School, Jullunder.

He was married to Sarla Korla. They got married while he was on a break from serving in Burma, around the time of the Battle of Imphal (summer of 1944). Upon his death in April 2007, Korla was cremated with full military honours. He participated in the Waziristan operations of 1936. He then joined the Indian Military Academy in 1939, and received his commission in 1940.

World War II Officers of 7/10th Baluch after the fall of Pegu, Burma, 1945. Major Korla is seen sitting second to the left, next to the man with the rifle. 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. Lt. (acting Captain) Korla's DSO was announced alongside a Mention in Dispatches in The London Gazette on 23 April 1942.

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. Korla's MC was announced in The London Gazette on 24 May 1945. He was also active in the main battle for Meiktila.

Over 1951-52, Korla was on attachment to the School of Infantry at Warminster, United Kingdom, for a year. From 1958 to 1959, in the rank of colonel, he served as the Deputy Commandant of the Indian Military Academy. Then as a brigadier, he commanded a brigade in Kashmir. On 16 June 1963, he was appointed Brigadier General Staff of a Corps. He was then selected for a National Defence College course, following which he was promoted to become the commander of a division.

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.

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. He commanded the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on 26 January 1970. On 26 January 1971, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) by the then President of India, V. V. Giri.

Awards and decorations

Param Vishisht Seva MedalSamar Seva StarIndia Independence MedalDistinguished Service OrderMilitary CrossIndia General Service Medal (1936)1939–45 StarAfrica StarBurma StarWar 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. In May 1975, he relinquished his post as the ceremonial Colonel of the 1st Gorkha Rifles.