Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 6

Col Prithipal Singh Gill, who had the unique distinction of having served in all three branches of the armed forces as well as the para-military forces, passed away yesterday, just a week short of his 101st birthday.

A World War II veteran, Colonel Gill had joined the erstwhile Royal Indian Air Force in Karachi in 1942, before he was pulled out by his family. Thereafter, he joined the Royal Indian Navy, serving onboard a minesweeper deployed for escorting ships during the World War II.

After independence, he joined the Indian Army in 1951 and was inducted into the Regiment of Artillery. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, he raised an commanded 71 Medium Regiment. Later, he served with the Assam Rifles in the northeast before retiring in 1970.