Major Aziz Bhatti was born in Hong Kong in 1928. He was brought up and educated in Hong Kong where his father had taken up service as a school teacher in 1911. After the Second World War ended in 1945, his family moved back to their village Ladian, which is near Kharian. In 1946, Aziz Bhatti got married to a cousin, when he was serving as a Airman in the Royal British Indian Air Force.
Bhatti received his commission in the Pakistan Army in 1950. When he got his commission, Bhatti said to his father: "I am happy that I have now got the opportunity to serve my motherland." (Pakistan's Finest Hour, page 57). Bhatti had a brilliant military record. At the end of a two-year course at the Academy, he won both the Sword of Honour as well as the Norman Medal.
Bhatti's physical stamina was enormous. During all the military exercises, he used to volunteer to do more then was required of him. In one tactical exercise, code-named "Qiadat", the troops were ordered to move for a week over eighty miles of rugged and harsh terrain, with very little sleep. Bhatti, as active as ever, volunteered to carry heavy machine guns and wireless sets, digged deep trenches and even cooked meals.
Bhatti completed his Staff Course in Canada and later, because of the fact that he was top of his class in the German Interpretership Course, was also tapped to attend the German Staff Course. Bhatti spoke fluent Urdu, English, German, Chinese, and Japenese. He also edited his regimental magazine.
A deeply religious man, he attached great importance to Prayers. He also attached great importance to his profession. He became a student of military history and an expert at small unit tactical exercises, and was often described as serious about his duty.
More Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Battle of Burki: Sep 7 1965
Back to Table of Contents -- Pakistan At War Newsletter
Back to Pakistan At War Newsletter List of Issues
Back to MagWeb Magazine List
© Copyright 2002 by Shahram Khan.
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com