2 Lt D A Davidson, VrC

2nd Lt David Alexander Davidson was commissioned into 1 Mahar of the Mahar Regiment, an Infantry regiment known for its valiant soldiers. Very early in his service career, he got involved in the thick of operations as border tension arose with Pakistan in 1971. 

Indo - Pak War : 10 Dec 1971

Though the Indo-Pak war officially commenced on 03 Dec 1971, when the Pakistani Air Force attacked 11 Indian Air Fields, the border skirmishes had started months before that when the refugees from across the border had started pouring in as a result of atrocities committed by the Pakistani forces. Prior to the outbreak of open hostilities 1 Mahar battalion had got deployed on the western border and got involved in active operations when hostilities actually commenced. 0n 09/10 Dec 1971, 1 Mahar was actively involved in operations in Shakargarh Sector. 2nd Lt DA Davidson was functioning as a platoon commander of a Company of 1 Mahar during that time. 

On the night of 10th/11th December 1971, 2nd Lt DA Davidson;s Battalion was given the task of capturing an enemy position in an area in the Shakargarh Sector. This position was held in strength by the enemy and protected by a mine field. During the attack, the assaulting troops were held up by a heavy volume of a machine gun fire. Realizing the necessity of silencing this gun, 2 Lt David Alexander Davidson, in utter disregard of his safety rushed towards the objective inspiring his platoon to follow him. The enemy directed intense and accurate small arms and artillery fire on his platoon inflicting heavy casualties. Undeterred he charged the enemy Machine gun position without caring for his own safety. However while doing so, he was hit by a machine gun burst but he continued and managed to silence the gun. He later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred.

2nd Lt DA Davidson was a gallant soldier and a gritty officer, who led from the front and laid down his life in the line of his duty. 2nd Lt DA Davidson was given the gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” for his courageous action, leadership and self sacrifice.

Citation for the Vir Chakra awarded to him reads:-

2 Lt David Alexander Davidson was commanding a platoon of a Battalion of the Mahar Regiment during the operations against Pakistan. On the night of 10th/11th December 1971, his Battalion was given the task of capturing an enemy position in an area in the Shakargarh Sector. This position was held in strength by the enemy and protected by a mine field. During the attack, the assaulting troops were held up by a heavy volume of a machine gun fire. Realizing the necessity of silencing this gun, 2 Lt David Alexander Davidson, in utter disregard of his safety rushed towards the objective inspiring his platoon to follow him. The enemy directed intense and accurate small arms and artillery  fire on his platoon inflicting heavy casualties. Undeterred he charged the enemy Machine gun position and silenced it this enabled the  capture of the objective. In this process, he was hit by burst from the enemy machine gun as a result of which he died.

In this action, 2 Lt David Alexander Davidson displayed gallantry, determination and leadership of a high order.