Lieutenant-General Mohinder Singh Wadalia (30 November 1908 – 20 May 2001) was an Indian Army general.
Career A King's Commissioned Indian Officer (KCIO), Wadalia was educated at Aitchison College and the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, Dehra Dun. He subsequently attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the British Indian Army on 31 January 1929, passing out fifth in the order of merit from 37 successful cadets. He was formally appointed to the Indian Army as an officer with the 4/19 Hyderabad Regiment (now 4 Kumaon Regiment) on 13 April 1930. On 1 March 1934, he transferred to the 16th Light Cavalry and was appointed a squadron officer. He was appointed the adjutant on 1 January 1937.
During the Second World War, Wadalia was appointed a GSO 3 in the Directorate of Military Training on 27 June 1941, under Brigadier Francis Tuker. Advanced to a GSO 2 on 26 September and promoted temporary major in December, Wadalia was transferred to the Directorate of Armoured Fighting Vehicles on 26 May 1943. He served on the headquarters staff in the Persia-Iraq theatre and was mentioned in dispatches. On 13 August 1944, he was appointed a GSO 1 on the staff, with the acting rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was promoted substantive major (temporary lieutenant-colonel) on 31 January 1946. On 23 December 1949, he was promoted temporary brigadier and given command of a brigade.
On 21 June 1951, Wadalia was appointed an area commander with the local rank of major general. On 1 September, he was appointed Commandant of the National Defence Academy with the acting rank of major-general. He was the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff between 27 January 1959 and 15 November 1964.
Dates of rank Insignia Rank Component Date of rank Second Lieutenant British Indian Army 31 January 1929 Lieutenant British Indian Army 30 April 1931 Captain British Indian Army 31 January 1938 Major British Indian Army 26 September 1941 (acting)26 December 1941 (temporary)31 January 1946 (substantive) Lieutenant-Colonel British Indian Army 13 August 1944 (acting)31 January 1946 (temporary) Major Indian Army 15 August 1947Upon independence in 1947, India became a Dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations. As a result, the rank insignia of the British Army, incorporating the Tudor Crown and four-pointed Bath Star ("pip"), was retained, as George VI remained Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. After 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the President of India became Commander-in-Chief, and the Ashoka Lion replaced the crown, with a five-pointed star being substituted for the "pip." Colonel Indian Army Brigadier Indian Army 1948 (acting)23 December 1949 (temporary) Lieutenant-Colonel Indian Army 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia) Brigadier Indian Army 31 January 1950 (substantive) Major General Indian Army 21 June 1951 (local)1 September 1951 (acting) Lieutenant-General Indian Army
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