R Kanikasamy
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2/LT R Kanikasamy was an Indian war hero.
Early life
2/LT R Kanikasamy was born on 20 Feb 1920.He served in the Army Engineering Division and his Army Personnel number was SS-14240. 2/LT R Kanikasamy was enrolled in Queen Victoria’s Own Madras Sapper on 02 Mar 1938. During World War II he served with 44 Fd Pk Company in Sudan, Gedaref, Keran, Asmara, Masaava(Egypt), Northern Iraq, Imphal, Tiddim and Sourabaya.
On 01 Nov 44, he was promoted to Jamedar (the then Viceroy Commissioned Officer) and posted to Depot Battalion on 15 Aug 1945. Subsequently he was posted to 14 Field Company during 1947-48 J&K Operations. 14 Field Company was serving under Headquarters J&K Division Engineers and the JCO was attached to 1 (PARA) Battalion, the KUMAON Regiment fir assisting in Engineer Tasks.
The VCO was granted SSRC on 15 DEC 1947 and posted to 757 Plant Platoon.
While clearing a nearby minefield at Picquent No 2(MR 196730) he was killed by enemy automatic firing.
Gallantry Award Citation
“ No 17489 Jamedar Kanikasamy RIE Headquarters J&K Division Engineers was attached to the 1(PARA) Battalion, the KUMAON Regiment to supervise construction of the Poonch Air Landing Strip.
He rendered most valuable, constant and untiring help in the construction of the Air Strip.
The importance of the strip which was the life of the Poonch Garrision needs no comments.
The work on the strip had been hardly finished, when owing to increased enemy activities the situation demanded that all the vulnerable points should be mined and booby trapped immediately.
This VCO undertook the task single-handed, as there was no engineer detachment in this Brigade.
The area was very extensive and working day and night he completed the task most expeditiously.
During that period of these two months he had not only shown outstanding devotion to duty but had many times mined ‘No Man’s Land’ under heavy enemy sniping with complete disregard to his personal safety.
On 01 Jan 1948 during Degwar (Sq 1375 Sheet 43.41 Jammu and Kashmir) operations, this VCO mined the area to the Canal Head which Supplied electric power to city when a withering hail of enemy fire was directed towards this area.
On 22 Jan 1948 he was send to Picquet No 2(MR 196730) to mine the likely enemy approaches that night.
The enemy in spite of this VCO’s repeated attempts did not let him even get into the area up to midnight.
The area was covered with fire from enemy’s automatics and fixed line from a range of about 300 yards.
None but a man with undaunted courage and strong determination could have done the job which was completed by day break.
This is one of the finest examples of devotion to duty with complete disregard to personal safety.
In short there is not a single picquet or a vulnerable point which he had not mined himself under similar circumstances.
This VCO has shown exemplary devotion to duty and commendable courage over a long period.
“
Grave
The "Grave" of 2/LT R Kanikasamy is situated in the Engineer Lines POONCH and also his name and other particulars have been engraved on the tomb stone.
Madras Sappers Museum, Bangalore
On 28 Sep 1987 Smt. Sammanasu Mary Victoria w/o Late 2/LT R Kanikasamy donated his original "Vir Chakra" and other medals to the Bangalore Group Museum. Now it is kept in Centre Quarter Guard.
Family
His wife Smt.Sammanasu Mary Victoria passaway in 28-APR-2017, now he is survived by his two children, son K. Joseph and daughter Kanickaimary Jeremiah, seven grand children and thirteen great grand children.
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