Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore was born on 18 Aug 1923 in Mumbai. Lt Col Tarapore was commissioned in the Hyderabad State Army and joined the Officers’ Training School at Golconda. On 1st January 1942, he was commissioned into the 7th Hyderabad Infantry, but he wanted to serve in an armoured regiment. Lt Col Tarapore was shifted to the Poona Horse on 1st April 1951, when the Hyderabad State was integrated with the Union of India. He got his promotions and eventually became the Commanding Officer, commanding his regiment in the 1965 war against Pakistan.
| Service Number | IC-5565 |
| Place of Birth | Mumbai |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 17 Poona Horse |
| Regiment | Armoured Corps |
| Award | Param Vir Chakra |
| Date of Martyrdom | 15th Spetember 1965 |
On 11th September, 17 Horse under the command of Lt Col Tarapore planned a surprise attack on Phillora from the rear. As the regiment was moving forward between Phillora and Chawinda, it was counter-attacked by enemy armour from Wazirali. Lt Col Tarapore held his ground and gallantly attacked Phillora with one of his squadrons and was supported by an Infantry battalion. An intense battle was fought between two sides which destroyed 13 tanks. Pakistani left Chawinda and Phillora was captured. Lt Col Tarapore fought brilliantly but was seriously injured in the battle. However, undeterred he planned attacks to capture Wazirali, Jasoran, and Butur-Dograndi. On 13/14 September 1965, Lt Col Tarapore though still wounded launched an infantry attack accompanied by 17 Horse and 9 Garhwal battalion. Wazirali was captured on 14th September but Lt Col Tarapore pressed on with his attack on enemy forces hiding in the areas of Butur and Dograndi. Once again in a daring attack Lt Col Tarapore destroyed six enemy tanks and captured Jassoran along with 9 Dogra Bn and Butur & Dograndi along with 8 Garhwal Rifles by 16th September. Under his leadership, the regiment attacked the enemy armour and destroyed approximately sixty Pakistani Army tanks, suffering only nine tank casualties. However, when Lt Col Tarapore was posing a stiff challenge an enemy shell set his tank ablaze engulfing him in flames. Lt Col Tarapore was martyred on the battlefield.
Lt Col A B Tarapore was given the nation’s highest gallantry award, “Param Vir Chakra” posthumously.
