On 03 November 1947, Major Somnath Sharma’s company of 4 KUMAON was ordered on a fighting patrol to Badgam in response to the invasion by Pakistani forces towards Srinagar. The enemy, estimated at about 500, attacked his company position from three sides with the intention of capturing the Srinagar airfield.

Major Somnath Sharma led his company to fight the enemy with dogged determination. With extreme bravery he kept rushing across the open ground to his troops, and skilfully directed their fire onto the enemy. He repeatedly exposed himself to the full fury of the enemy fire and laid out cloth strips to guide our aircraft on to their targets in full view of the enemy. Realising that casualties had affected the effectiveness of his automatics, the officer, whose left hand was in plaster, personally commenced filling magazines and issuing them to the machine gunners. A mortar shell landed right in the middle of the ammunition, resulting in an explosion that caused his death. His leadership, gallantry and tenacious defence inspired his troops to keep fighting for many hours after his death, thus stalling the enemy attack.

He has set an example of courage and qualities seldom equalled in the Indian Army.

His last message to the Brigade Headquarters, a few moments before he was killed, was, “The enemy are only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but shall fight to the last man and the last round.”

For exhibiting an act of inspiring leadership, conspicuous gallantry and supreme sacrifice, Major Somnath Sharma was awarded the Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous).

This was the first Param Vir Chakra ever awarded.