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305:, and was commissioned a temporary Sub-Lieutenant in the gunnery branch of the Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RINVR) on 25 January 1943. For the remainder of the Second World War, Gill served on minesweepers and escort vessels, serving on convoy duties protecting shipping in the Persian Gulf. He was subsequently sent to attend the Long Gunnery Staff Course at the Army School of Artillery in Deolali, qualifying as an instructor. He ended his naval service in September 1948, and briefly served as a civil servant.
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during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. Seeing action in the
Sialkot sector, during a battle he personally led a mission to retrieve four of his guns which had been cut off by the enemy. He was promoted to Colonel on 19 June 1968 (seniority from 24 May), and was appointed a sector commander in the
298:. Commissioned a pilot officer, Gill was training on Harvard aircraft at Karachi when his father Harpal Singh Gill, an army officer, arranged for his transfer from the IAF as the family considered flying unsafe.
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In April 1951, Gill joined the Indian Army. Though he had initially hoped for assignment to his father's former battalion, the 1st
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Gill married his wife
Preminder Kaur (born 1927) on 24 December 1950. He died on 5 December 2021, at age 100 in his home in
266:(11 December 1920 – 5 December 2021) was an Indian military officer and centenarian known for being the only soldier in the
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Photograph of
Colonel Prithipal Singh Gill during his time in service with the Indian Navy
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559:"WW-II veteran Col Prithipal Singh Gill (retd), who served in all 3 defence wings, dies"
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due to his prior experience with gunnery. His initial posting was with the
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388:"Aviator, sailor and soldier — Col Prithipal Singh Gill turns 100"
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465:"War veteran who served in Air Force, Navy & Army turns 100"
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Promoted to
Lieutenant-Colonel on 2 August 1962, Gill commanded
416:"Prithipal Singh Gill: A warrior of all 3 Services turns 100"
442:"The Royal Indian Navy - Officers of the Royal Indian Navy"
294:, and in 1942, without informing his family, joined the
585:"Colonel Gill who served in all 3 services passes away"
530:. The Gazette of India. 28 February 1970. p. 291.
496:. The Gazette of India. 22 December 1956. p. 258.
320:, equipped with 5.4 inch guns. Gill later served with
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525:"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)"
508:"Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)"
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286:. A passionate flyer, he earned a flying licence at
513:. The Gazette of India. 17 April 1965. p. 193.
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547:. The Gazette of India. 6 March 1971. p. 252.
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667:Government College University, Lahore alumni
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324:and was promoted to Major on 13 May 1956.
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448:. HM Government, UK. 1945. p. 2119.
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164:Years of service
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264:Prithipal Singh Gill
31:Prithipal Singh Gill
632:Indian centenarians
268:Indian Armed Forces
589:The Indian Express
471:. 11 December 2020
422:. 11 December 2020
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591:. 6 December 2021
565:. 6 December 2021
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200:Indian Army
158:Indian Army
66:British Raj
611:Categories
595:6 December
569:5 December
360:References
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187:Lieutenant
91:Allegiance
84:Chandigarh
55:1920-12-11
420:The Hindu
169:1951–1970
167:1942–1948
278:Born in
233:Commands
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120:Service/
342:Manipur
261:Colonel
212:IC-5571
196:Colonel
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