Private's delight as he is given 'field promotion' by head of British Army Rifleman Gigar Das, 31, promoted after he was witnessed training troops General Sir Peter Wall ordered promotion after being impressed by soldier He has jumped from Rifleman to Lance Corporal after eight years in Army It is believed to be the first 'field promotion' since Korean War in 1953 A soldier has been handed the first on-the-spot 'field promotion' for more than 60 years after he was witnessed training foreign troops by the head of the British Army. Rifleman Gigar Das, 31, was promoted after General Sir Peter Wall watched him teaching Malian troops to fight. L Cpl Das, of London, has served in the Army for eight years and has been deployed on three tours in Afghanistan and one of Iraq. Give that man a medal: Rifleman Gigar Das (left) is promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in Mali by French Army General Bertrand Ract-Madoux, the first field promotion in the British Army since 1953 His rise from Rifleman to Lance Corporal is believed to be the first time such a promotion has taken place on the front line since the Korean War in 1953. He said: 'I wasn't expecting anything like this to happen today when I got out of bed. 'It is extremely unexpected, I couldn't be more proud.' The soldier was being watched by General Sir Peter, accompanying the head of the French Army, General Bertrand Ract-Madoux, as they witnessed soldiers from 1 Rifles training their Malian counterparts. L Cpl Das impressed them both with a lesson in marksmanship principles. The Chief of the General Staff was then astounded to see the soldier was a Rifleman. Rifleman Gigar Das, 31, was promoted after General Sir Peter Wall watched him teaching Malian troops to fight He decided to promote him following a consultation with L Cpl Das's company commander Major Sam Cates. Major Cates said: 'I am extremely proud of Lance Corporal Das, this is absolutely no more than he deserves. He has been one of the the outstanding Riflemen I have ever had the privilege to command. He sacrificed the opportunity to attend the last 1 RIFLES JNCO Cadre to take his place on this operational deployment and to be recognised in this unique way is some reward for his dedication. Proud moment: Rifleman Gigar Das (right) shakes hands with his Company Commander Major Sam Cates following his field promotion to Lance Corporal LCpl Das" Commanding Officer, Lt Col Karl Hickman MC said: 'I was delighted to learn of LCpl Das" promotion in the field, which he thoroughly deserved for his sterling service in Mali and for his significant operational experience in Iraq, including his notable contribution to the campaign in Afghanistan. That the Chief of the General Staff should recognise LCpl Das" exceptional quality in the field shows that, as a thinking Rifleman, he follows in the finest traditions of The Rifles, a Regiment whose motto is "Swift and Bold." L Cpl Das is among a 21-man team deployed to the Koulikoro Training Centre, situated about 40 miles to the north east of Bamako, the capital city of Mali. A Ministry of Defence source told MailOnline the last field promotion was believed to have occurred during the Korean War in 1953. The source said: 'We believe the last field promotion was in 1953 and therefore it is likely to have been in the Korean War, but we can't work out who it was or what rank it was.'