At Machhoi in Jammu and Kashmir on 23 May 1948, Sepoy Bachan Singh was a rifleman in the leading section of a platoon patrol, which was heavily engaged by enemy MMG and LMG fire from a hill feature. He was hit by a burst in the leg shattering it completely. By skilful field craft and sheer guts he dragged himself a distance of 300 yards to where his section commander had signalled him. All the way to this place he was constantly under close automatic fire missing him by inches. This did not deter this tough and tenacious soldier from carrying on to join his section.
Having joined the section after a little dressing, he volunteered to be allowed to fire his rifle, although he was feeling very weak from loss of blood. He kept on shooting for over eight hours lying on one side only till he was carried back.
His personal valour and dogged determination, while being very seriously wounded, set an inspiring example for his comrades.