Derek Joseph

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Derek Joseph
Born13 November 1945[1][2]
Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, British India
Died29 July 2021[3]
Peshawar, Khyber Pakthunkhwa, Pakistan
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistan Army
RankLieutenant Colonel
Battles/warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1971
AwardsTamgha-i-Jurat

Derek Joseph (1945–2021) was a Pakistan army officer of Armenian origin and a veteran of Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[4] Joseph joined the Pakistan army in 1969 and later fought in Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 where he destroyed seven Indian tanks.[1][2] He was awarded Tamgha-i-Jurat for his actions during the war. After the war, Joseph chose to be sent on deputation to United Arab Emirates Armed Forces where he served for three years before returning to Pakistan.[1] He retired in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He died on 29 July 2021 in Peshawar city.[2]

Personal life[]

Joseph was born on 13 November 1945 in Peshawar city, North-West Frontier Province, British India. Dennis Joseph, a retired professor at Edwardes College and the brother of Derek Joseph, says that their family came from Armenia to Afghanistan and stayed in Kabul and Nangarhar before moving to British India following the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan. Joseph's family arrived in Peshawar, capital of North-West Frontier Province in 1890 and has remained there ever since.[1] Derek Joseph's father, Dr. Paul Joseph, was a general surgeon at the Mission Hospital in Peshawar and his mother used to teach English language at various colleges.[1][2][4]

Military career[]

Joseph was commissioned into the Pakistan Army on 20 April 1969 and later fought in Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. During the war he destroyed seven Indian tanks and was awarded Tamgha-i-Jurat for his valour.[1][2]

Death[]

Derek Joseph died on 29 July 2021 in Peshawar city. He was buried with full military honors in a military graveyard in Peshawar city.[1][2] A number of retired Pakistani military personnel and civil servants described Joseph as brave soldier and expressed their grief over the death of Joseph.[4]

See also[]

Armenians in Pakistan

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Colonel Derek Joseph: Who was the Armenian Colonel who destroyed several Indian tanks during the 1971 war". BBC News (in Urdu). 31 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Who was the Armenian Colonel Derrick Joseph, who destroyed seven Indian tanks in the 1971 war? » Press24 News English". Press24 News English. 6 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Colonel Joseph, the destroyer of Indian tanks in the war of 1971, has passed away". Googly News (in Urdu). 2 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Who was the Armenian Colonel Derek Joseph who destroyed 7 Indian tanks in the 1971 war?". Mandi Bahauddin (in Urdu). 3 August 2021.
Retrieved from ""