Derek Joseph

Lieutenant Colonel Derek Joseph (Armenian: Դերեկ Ջոզեֆ) (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-Pakistani war of 1971, during which he is claimed to have 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.[2]

Lieutenant Colonel

Derek Joseph
Born13 November 1945[1][2]
Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, British India
Died29 July 2021(2021-07-29) (aged 75)[3]
Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Allegiance Pakistan
 UAE
Service/branch
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1971
Awards Tamgha-i-Jurat
Alma materEdwardes College Peshawar

Personal life

Joseph was born on 13 November 1945 in Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, British India. His brother, Dennis Joseph, a retired professor at Edwardes College, 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 then North-West Frontier Province (now known as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), in 1890 and have 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 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]

Possibility of becoming a General

Colonel Joseph's friend, Retd Brigadier Muhammad Saad, said that considering Colonel Joseph's abilities, it was clear that he would reach the rank of General, but instead of going to the Command and Staff College in Quetta, Colonel Joseph left Pakistan and joined the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.[1]

Death

Derek Joseph died on 29 July 2021 in his birthplace, Peshawar. He was found dead in his home after his brother arrived at the home to do a welfare check because he didn't answer his phone call. He was buried with full military honors in a military graveyard.[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

References
  1. "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. "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. "Who was the Armenian Colonel Derek Joseph who destroyed 7 Indian tanks in the 1971 war?". Mandi Bahauddin (in Urdu). 3 August 2021.
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