President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, landed in India on Sunday for a state visit at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee. The visit aims to bolster bilateral economic, defense and cultural ties between the two countries.
Later during his visit, Rivlin laid a wreath at Teen Murti Square in New Delhi, at the monument honoring the Indian soldiers who gave their lives in the battle to liberate Haifa during World War I.
During the First World War, on 23 Sep 1918, in a daring cavalry action, the fortified city of Haifa was captured by British 15th Imperial Cavalry Brigade comprising Indian Army Regiments of Hyderabad, Mysore and Jodhpur Lancers.
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The victorious assault on Haifa was carried out by Jodhpur Lancers which was then commanded by Major Thakur Dalpat Singh.
The leading squadron was lead by Captain Aman Singh Bahadur. Major Thakur Dalpat Singh attained martyrdom during the early stages of this battle. As a result, Captain Aman Singh Bahadur, took over command of the regiment and rallied his men in the final charge that led to victory. This gallant action lead to the capture of Haifa. A number of brave Indian soldiers made the supreme sacrifice during this battle.
Major Dalpat Singh was awarded the Military Cross and Captain Aman Singh Bahadur was decorated with the highest individual award, the Indian Order of Merit (IOM) for this action. To commemorate this historic deed and also others killed from the cavalry and armoured regiments of the Indian Army during World War I in battles in Sinai, Palestine and Syria, a memorial was erected in New Delhi known as the Teen Murti Memorial.
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Teen Murti is a First World War memorial raised in the memory of those cavalry troopers of the princely states who fell in the line of duty. The three bronze statues on the memorial represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade during the Great War and who were later amalgamated into the 61st Cavalry after Independence. 61 Cavalry till date celebrates 23 Sep as its Raising Day or “Haifa Day”.