Brig GS Sidhu & Major A Francis Xavier

Dear Brig Kamboj Sir,
It is so sad to learn of the sad demise of Brig GS Sidhu. He was Commander Tactical Wing when I was doing the YOs course. He was such a fatherly figure and inspired confidence amongst us youngsters (youngsters then). I am eaqually sad of the sad demise of Major A Francis Xavier - though I do not know him personally. On reading these obituaries the following famous lyrics immediately come to my mind: "DEKHI ZAMANE KI YARI, BICHHUDE SABHI BARI BARI". May God rest the departed souls in peace and May the Lord give their nears and dears courage to bear their loss. With kind regards, Madan Gopal Kapoor PS: On advice from the numerologist I have started writing my name in full.
I once again revive my earlier offer to render free legal advice through email to my brother veterans. Since I would be away to London for nearly three months I would perhaps have adequate time to take up as many legal queries as possible.
Madan Gopal Kapoor

Major Francis Xavier

Loreto Xavier daughter of late Maj Francis Xavier called up a few minutes ago to inform me of the passing away of her dear father – last Thursday – 21 Jul 2011.
Major Xavier was a Special List officer and belonged to the Ciphers. He retired from the Armed Forces in 1984. He was past 82 years of age, and was keeping indifferent health – more so after the death of his wife last year. He is survived by two daughters, Helen and Loreto. After his wife passed away, he was staying with his younger daughter. After retirement he settled down in Madras, which is now Chennai. He had willed that after his death the body should be donated for purposes of medical research. Accordingly the body was handed over to the Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Centre. A part of the body has however been kept back for internment. The burial ceremony will commence at 1000 hours on Saturday, 06 August at the Quibble Island Cemetery, RA Puram.
Contact number of Ms Loreto is: 984 070 1456
Brig VA Subramanyam VSM

IC 845 Brig GS Sidhu, AVSM

Dear Chander,
I am deeply grieved to learn of the sad demise of Brig GS Sidhu. His daughter Dr (Mrs) Phadke lives in Bangalore and I will go and look her up. I had spoken to Brig Sidhu a couple of months back. He spoke in his usual confident and warm tone and said he was getting better. We were both posted in then School of Signals. One of the major events then was the Triangular Meet. Depite my heavy work load (some times all seven periods in a day. teaching the OLT Course) he charmed me into accepting the aqdditional responsibilty of taking over as the secretary of the HQ Mess. The only consession to me was that my request to appoint my former student: then Capt Satish Ahuja (later S O in C) as my deputy. The team came out with flying colours for excellent service on all events through the Meet. I kept in touch with him and met him when he was with Coal India Ltd at Calcutta and later at Chandigarh. I feel very sad and send my condolences.
-Veteran BK Rai
(Col BK Rai
Former Secretary to Government of India

Brig GS Sidhu, AVSM

Capt Amarinder condoles Brig Sidhu’s death
CHANDIGARH, July 15: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today condoled the death of Brig GS Sidhu, the father of Ms Kusumjit Sidhu, the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab.
In a condolence message to the bereaved family, Capt Amarinder said, he and his party stood by them in this hour of grief. He said, late Brig Sidhu was a great military officer who had imbibed great values among his children.
Capt Amarinder also spoke to Ms Sidhu to convey his condolences.

Brig Sidhu cremated
Chandigarh, July 15, 2011
Brig GS Sidhu, AVSM and father of Kusumjit Sidhu, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, who died yesterday, after a brief illness at the age of 88, was today cremated at the Sector 25 cremation ground. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
GS Brar, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, laid a wreath on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Viswajit Khanna, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister, laid a wreath on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. Dignitaries from all walks of life, senior serving and retired civil and police officers, including Chief Secretary SC Agrawal, attended the cremation. — TNS
Brig Sidhu cremated

Brig GS Sidhu, AVSM

Friday, 15 July 2011
CHANDIGARH: Brig G S Sidhu, AVSM father of Kusumjit Sidhu, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab who died yesterday (14 July), after brief illness at the age of 88, was today cremated at Sector-25 cremation ground. Brig Sidhu is survived by his wife and three daughters.
G S Brar Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister laid wreath on the mortal remains of Brig Sidhu on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Viswajit Khanna Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister laid wreath on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. D S Mangat Director, Public Relations Punjab also laid wreath. Daljit Singh Cheema Advisor to Chief Minister also laid wreath. Kusumjit Sidhu accompanied with her two sisters and Great Grandson lit the pyre.
Dignitaries from all walks of life, senior serving and retired civil and police officers including Chief Secretary S C Agrawal attended the cremation.
Prominent among those Civil and Police officers who were also present on the occasion included Rajan Kashyap, Former Chief Secretary, Tejinder Kaur, Gurjit Singh Cheema, NS Kang, R C Nayar, KJS Cheema, Suresh Arora ADGP, Gurinderjit Singh Sandhu, Jagpal Singh Sandhu, Anurag Verma, Sanjay Kumar, Vivek Partap, Gurdev Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioners from various districts and Senior serving and retired army officers from the unit of Brig Sidhu.
Meanwhile, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today condoled the death of Brig GS Sidhu, the father of Kusumjit Sidhu, the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab.
In a condolence message to the bereaved family, Capt Amarinder said, he and his party stood by them in this hour of grief. He said, late Brig Sidhu was a great military officer who had imbibed great values among his children.
Brig G.S.Sidhu father of Punjab CEO cremated- Punjab Newsline Network, Friday, 15 July 2011

Brig GS Sidhu

Brig GS Sidhu was one of our very senior and outstanding Signals officer. He proved his mettle within and outside the Corps. He commanded 4 Inf Div Sig Regt, raised 9 Mtn Div/ later 9 Inf Div Sig Regt, was BM of a brigade, GSO1 Ops 6 Mtn Div during 1965 War and CSO IV Corps in 1971 War. A number of officers who distinguished themselves later in service learnt the essentials of signalling under him when he was OC Tac Wing in School of Signals, Mhow. Later he also trained the signallers of CRPF.
Those who served with or known Brig Sidhu have the highest regards for his ability, professionalism and humane qualities.
Brig GS Sidhu was one of those who stood firmly for the technical requirements and advice he rendered for providing signal communications to further the operational and logistics plans of commanders. He set very high standards and commanded respect from his seniors, equals and juniors. He was awarded AVSM for his outstanding service.
In his passing away the Corps has lost one of its great Signallers. We share the grief and loss of the bereaved family. May God rest the departed soul in peace.
Lt Gen Harbhajan Singh
Signal Officer-in-Chief and Senior Colonel Commandant, 1988-91

IC 845 Brig GS Sidhu, AVSM

Dear Kandah,
May I request you to kindly convey our deepest condolences to the Family of our revered veteran Brig GS Sidhu, AVSM.
He was one of our very able senior signal officer who served the Army and the Corps in a very distinguished manner during 1965 and 1971 Wars and during his whole service. He was BM of a brigade, later GSO1 Ops 6 Mountain Division in 1965 War and CSO 4 Corps during Bangladesh Liberation in 1971 War.
Kindly intimate to all date of demise of Brig Sidhu.
Harbhajan Singh
Lt Gen

My dear general,
Thanks for your email. I would like to inform you that the cremation of Brig Sidhu was attended by large numbers of mercury circle officers. wreathes were laid on behalf of so-in-c, cso western command and mercury circle. In addition very large numbers of officers from punjab secretariat also attended the cremation.Bhog was held on 22nd July 2011 at sec 34 gurudwara which was again attended by large numbers of officers and other persons.
IC-845
DOB - 05 Feb 1923
DOC - 10 Oct 1943
DOR - 05 Feb 1975
Nok - Mrs Preetam Sidhu (wife)

Dear Chander,
Permit me to add that after commanding 4 inf Div Sig Regt, many of our generation went thru his able hands when he was Cdr Tac Wing. He also raised 9 Mtn Div Sig Regt at Agra which is now 9 Inf Div Sig Regt. Rare for anyone even of that generation to have commanded two Div Sig Regts. RIP.
Prakash Gokarn

SL-3742N Lt Col Thomas KAO

Dear Signallers,
I am sad to inform you about demise of SL-3742N Lt Col Thomas KAO (Retd) on 21 Jul 2011, at Pune. He died of Cardiac Death.
Next of Kin Smt Molly Thomas (wife).
Please see email received from Signals Adm, Dte Gen of Signals, appended below. We pray to Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to all near ones and dear ones to bear this irreparable loss. Those of you who wish to write a "Shradhanjli", may kindly send it for being posted on our weblog -http://reportmysignal-shradhanjli.blogspot.com/ The Shradhanjli be kindly emailed to - Col James Kanagaraj, The Moderator at- reportmysignalblogspot@gmail.com
In sorrow
-Chander Kamboj,

From: sigs adm
Sent: 22 July 2011 14:34To:
Subject: DEMISE OF SIGNALS OFFICER
We regret to inform the sad demise of SL-3742N Lt Col Thomas Kao (Retd) on 21 Jul 2011.
Details of illness/ Death: Cardiac Death The details of his family are as follows:
Next of Kin Name and relationship: Smt Molly Thomas (wife)
Name of Children:
(a) Smitha (Daughter)
(b) Mr Sunil (Son)
(c) Mr Suraj (Son)
Cremation date: 25 Jul 2011
Other Information about Officer
Date of Commission: 01 Oct 1983.
Date of Retirement: 01 Feb 2004.
Date of Demise: 21 Jul 2011.