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British Indian Army's Indian Victoria Cross winners - 1912-47

MUMTAZ IQBAL
iN March 2005, UK awarded private Johnson Beharry of the 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales Royal Regiment the Victoria Cross (VC) for twice saving his unit members from ambushes on 1 May and 11 June 2004 at Al-Amarah, iraq. Johnson was born in Grenada, the tiny Caribbean nation-344 sq. miles with 90,000 people- Reagan considered a threat and invaded in 1983!
My curiosity aroused, i researched the VCs awarded to British indian (Brindian) Army indians 1912-1947 and present my findings.
One must give credit where due. UK's colonial policy was characterised by robust hypocrisy-the French with cause dubbed England "perfidious Albion." However, the British are transparent when giving gallantry awards, respecting performance above all, especially when it's the VC.
The English admire a war hero, preferably home-grown whites (white man's burden and all that) but also those in the Colonies and Dominions. The VC was originally restricted to white Europeans and occasionally "Anglo-indians" in the British and indian armies.
indians could get three classes of the indian Order of Merit (iOM) for acts of bravery. Gradually the British concluded that if the natives could die for the Crown, they should be good enough for the Cross! This was an inexpensive way of keeping the locals motivated.
At the Delhi Coronation Durbar in 1912, the "colour bar" was removed. indians of all ranks became eligible for the VC. The iOM 1st class was abolished.
ORIGIN OF THE VICTORIA CROSS
The VC was first formally awarded to 66 Crimean War campaigners by Queen Victoria on 26 June 1857 at a grand parade in London's Hyde Park. The VC was to be "open to all ranks", similar to the practice prevailing in the armies of France (Legion d'Honneur instituted by Napoleon in 1802 and the Medaille Militaire), Russia and Austria.
Earlier, for military prowess, Brit NCOs and privates could only get the Distinguished Conduct Medal instituted in 1854-before that, nothing- while senior officers were eligible for Order of the Bath.
Queen Victoria and her consort Albert were closely involved in setting up the VC. Victoria suggested the word "for valour" to replace "for the brave" to avoid the impression that the only brave men in a battle were those who won the
VC. Albert suggested the title of "The Victoria Cross" to replace the ponderous civil service suggestion of "the Military Order of Victoria".
To date, 1,355 VCs have been issued, all to men, from about 26 nationalities. The first winner was Lt. DC Lucas RN. Three -- two Aussie army doctors and a New Zealand captain--received two VCs each; three cases where father and son, and four cases where two brothers, each got the VC. Three Canadian VC winners all lived on the same street (Pine) in Winnipeg, subsequently renamed Valour street. The youngest recipient was 15 (two) and the oldest 61 years.
The last VC auctioned on 21 July 2005 fetched stg 110,000.00. The highest price paid at an auction was stg. 200,000.00 on 30 April 2004. The VC equivalent in Bangladesh is
Bir shreshto (Bs); india, Param Vir Chakra (PVC) and Pakistan Nishan-i-Haider (NH).
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 40 INDIAN
VC RECIPIENTS BY RANK The largest number were sepoys or rifleman (15), followed by NCOs (12), JCOs (11) known as VCOs (Viceroy Commissioned officers) in the Brindian Army-- and officers (2). Gurkha and Garhwali jawans were called riflemen; those in other infantry units were sepoys.
The British used the more "prestigious" title of rifleman for Gurkhas and Garhwalis. The former were the Crown's most loyal mercenaries who, with sikhs and Pathans (The Guides, for their famous march from Mardan to Delhi covering 580 miles in 22 marching days), saved Delhi and the Empire in 1857.
The Gurkhas, excellent warriors with unconditional allegiance to the Raj, occupied the top rung in the Brindian's pecking order. They were pure one class unit, recruited mainly from Gurungs and Magars of central, and Limbus and Rais of eastern, Nepal. indian officers (KCiO, iCO or ECO) were not posted to any Gurkha unit till after 1947.
Although Gurkhas fired at Jallianwalla Bagh in 1919, their commander Maj. Gen. R.H. Dyer, not the Riflemen, was blamed for this massacre. Valuing the Gurkhas fighting abilities, india wisely decided to retain them.
At indepenedence under the
1947 Tripartite Agreement, six (1,3,4,5,8 and 9) of the 10 Gurkha regiments of two battalions each went to india, and four (2,6,7 and 10) to Britain, with the UK and india contracting with Nepal to continue recruiting Gurkhas.
Currently, the UK has a Brigade of Gurkhas. india has 40 battalions organised in seven Gorkha Rifles regiments. The British and indians spell Gurkha differently.
The Guides (Queen Victoria's Own Corp of Guides to give its final full official name) raised by fluent Pushto-speaking scots Lt. (later Col and sir) Harry Lumsden in Peshawar in 1846, was manned mainly by Yusufzais and Khattaks but also other Pathans, sikhs and Dogras. The Guides based in Mardan went to Pakistan.
Oddly enough, no indian soldiers
of The Guides, arguably the most famous Brindian unit to see more action on the Frontier than any other formation, won the VC. it appears two received the iOM 1st. class (VC equivalent). This couldn't be substantiated.
Three English Guides officers got the VC. One was irish Lt. W.R.P.Hamilton for action in Fatehabad on 2 April 1879 (second Afghan War). He appears related to Major General 'Goff' Hamilton, ( not ascertained) commissioned in The Guides but who joined the British Army in 1947, whose wife was well-known author M.M.Kaye (The Far Pavilions).
After 1857, unlike classes such as Dogras, Garhwalis, Gurkhas and sikhs, the Brits ensured there were no all-Muslim units. Muslims companies were mixed "promiscuously" with other classes in battalions.
This class "caste" system reflected the military counterpart of the British divide and rule policy, ingeniously exploiting for imperial ends the recruits' values of fidelity to salt and honour (izzat).
This suggests that Lloyd George's classic comment to FM Douglas Haig that the seat of the intelligence is not in the chin may not apply to the Brindian generals who, in their own way, were a devious and clever lot but also intrepid and professional.
BY MARTIAL CLASS and TYPE OF COMBAT UNIT
The 40 VCs were distributed among nine so-called "martial" classes as follows: Gurkhas (12), sikhs (6), Rajputs (5), Jats (4), Dogras, Pathans and Punjabi Mussalmans (3 each), Garhwalis and Mahrattas (2 each).
infantry units received 36 VCsunderstandable, since they were in the thick of action; cavalry 2; artillery and engineers one each.
The 11 categories of infantry regiments encompassing 33 battalions to which the 36 infantrymen belonged are listed alphabetically:
The other five sikh VC winners belonged to the Punjab Regt. All six
sikhs appear to be Jats--no Mazhabis or Ramdasias.
The cavalry units were 14 Lancers (Jat VC ) and 28 Light Cavalry (Rajput VC). The Royal indian Artillery holder was Jat. The Royal Bombay sappers and Miners (RBsM) recipient was sikh.
Two VCs each were won by 10 Baluch, 2/5 Gurkha and 4/15 Punjab. But the unit getting the most VCsthree-- was 2/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force), which for 95 years had its regimental centre in
Abbotabad, pulling out in July 1947 on 15 days notice when allotted to india. Pakistan received the Baluch, Piffers and five Punjab regiments (1,8,14,15 and 16) in 1947. The rest went to india.
Altogether, 14 (1 officer, 13 other ranks) of the 40 recipients got the VC posthumously. The yougest was 20, the oldest 42. By class, three each were Gurkhas and Jats, two each PMs and Rajputs, and one
each Dogra, Garhwali, Mahratta and sikh. Eleven were Hindus, two Muslims and one sikh. All were infantry.
RELIGION AND AGE
Of the 40 awardees, 27 were Hindus, 7 Muslims and 6 sikhs. Their age distribution was: Up to 20 years 1, between 20-25 years 2 0 ,
between 26-30 years 9, between 36-40 years 5, between 31-35 years 4, between 41-45 years1
The oldest recipient (posthumous) at 42 was subadar Richpal Ram (Rajput) 4/6 Raj Rifs for gallantry in action at Karen, Eritrea on 7-11 February 1941. The youngest at 19
was sepoy Kamal Ram (Jat) 8th. Punjab for outstanding bravery at Gari River crossing in italy on 12 May 1944.
TIME AND PLACE OF ACTION
indian soldiers received VCs for action in Europe, Middle East and N. Africa, Africa and indo-Burma theaters, and Waziristan, as follows: TYPE OF ACTION
Broadly speaking, 28 VCs related to offensive actions; 8 for defending
against enemy attacks; 3 for saving or rescuing comrades under fire; while 1 was for volunteering to act as courier/messenger while under intense fire.
The Garhwalis and Gurkhas excelled as "shock" troops in close quarter combat.
Both Garhwalis who got the VCsNaik Darwan singh Neogi (1/39 GR) and Rifleman Gobar singh Neogi (2/39 GR)cleared German
trenches in France (Festubert in November 1914 and Neuve Chappelle in March 1915) using their bayonets while displaying "great gallantry' and "most conspicuous bravery."
subedar Lal Bahadur Thapa of 1/2 Gurkha Rifles and his two sections used the bayonet and kukri yelling "Gurkhali Ayo" to clear the Germans from strongly defended positions located at a narrow cleft/pathway at Wadi Akarit, Tunisia on 5/6 April 1943, and continued fighting till they reached the crest thus clearing the way for the division to advance.
The citations contain references to conspicuous bravery and gallantry; utter disregard for danger; displaying initiative and tenacity; and similar phrases. samples are given below.
SOME VIGNETTES
The first indian to get the VC was Pathan sepoy (later subadar) Khuda Dad Khan of 129th. Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis (part of 3rd. (Lahore) Division)the 129th.later became 4/10 Baluchon
31 October 1914 at Hollebeke, Belgium. (i've assumed Khuda Dad's a Pathan because the 129th had more companies of Pathans (6) than PMs (2)).
His citation reads: "...British officer in change of detachment. wounded and other gun put out of action by ashell, sepoy Khudadad, though wounded, remained at his gun until all other men of the gun detachment. killed."
The Germans left Khuda Dad for dead. He managed to crawl and rejoin his unit. An oil painting circa 1920 of a trimmed mustachioed and bearded subedar impressively attired in full regalia hangs in National Army Museum, London.
The second indian to get the VC was another Muslim, Pathan Jamadar (VCO) Mir Dast Bahadur, iOM, of 55th Coke's Rifles (FF) for leading his platoon with great gallantry when all British officers were killed, and saving eight British and indian personnel while under fire at Ypres, France on 26 April 1915.
The Jamadar had received the iOM in 1908 as a Havildar with the Mohmand Field Force. The dual award of iOM and VC is unique. if the iOM was 1st. classi haven't been able to ascertain thisthen Mir Dast got two VCs, the only Brindian British or indian to have this distinction.
He also was awarded the Order of British india 2nd class. This entitled him to use the title Bahadur after iOM. Arguably, Mir Dast is the most highly decorated Brindian soldier.
The Mir family appears to have specialized in gallantry and quixotic behaviour. Mir Dast's brother Mir Mast also served in France during WWi. He deserted with some Pathans to the Germans, fought against the Brits and is reputed to have received the iron Cross. An interesting but probably apocryphal story!
Naik Nand singh of The sikh Regiment received the VC for action in Arakan on 11/12 March 1944. He also received the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously in the first Kashmir War on 12 December 1947. The pairing of VC and MVC is unique.
The first indian officer to receive the VC is Corps of indian Engineers 2/Lt. Preminder singh Bhagat of RBsM, graduated iMA, Dehra Dun 15 July 1939 and attached to 9th inf Bde, 5th. ind Div. for mine clearing operations in Gallabat, Ethiopia (then Abbyssinia) on 31 January/1 February 1941.
Excerpts from his citation reads: "During pursuit of enemy. commanding a section of field company . accompany advance mobile troops in Bren carriers. For four days and over 44 miles, conducted. supervised clearing 15 minefields. ..as speed essential, worked at high pressure each day. dawn to dusk. two occasions his carrier.. blown up. one of his eardrums punctured. .coolness. persistent disregard for danger and fatigue. phenomenal."
There is a striking picture in charcoal artist unknown circa 1943 hanging in the UK National Archives of Bhagat leading his Bren Carrier through the enemy mine field.
He also received the indian
PVsM (Param Vishist sena Medal). The VC and PVsM combination is unique. Bhagat retired as a Lt. Gen. and wrote The sword and the shield.
some authorities consider Bhagat would have made COAs had he been from one of the the tradional fighting arms, from whose ranks so far all of india's 24 C-in-Cs and COAss have come (infantry:14; Armour: 6 and Artillery: 4).
Even had he come from the right arm, Bhagat may not have become COAs because of his class (if sikh). Delhi's been apprehensive of appointing a sardar as COAs, given their preponderance especially officers in the fighting arms of all three services.
Operation Blue star settled this question. Despite about 5,000 desertions, most sikh servicemen remained true to their oath.
Manmohan singh becoming PM in 2004 cleared the way for Lt. Gen. Joginder Jaswant.singh of MLi to be the first sikh COAs on 1 February 2005. Two generals from minority faiths preceded him: Parsi sHFJ Manekshaw MC 8 Gorkha June 1969-January 1973 (later Field Marshal, the first indian in this rank; Cariappa was made one in 1983) and Christian sF Rodrigues Artillery June1990-June 1993.
The second indian officer to get the VC, posthumously, is also (?) a sikh Lt. Karamjeet singh Judge of 4/15 Punjab for gallantry in Meiktila, Burma on 8 March 1945. He was only 21.
The last indian VC winner is Rifleman Lachman Gurung, 4/8th Gurkha Rifles for repulsing Japanese attacks on 12-13 May 1945 at Taungdaw, Burma.
Excerpts from his citation reads: ".manning most forward post his platoon. bore brunt of attack by at least 200 .enemy. Twice hurled back grenades. fallen on his trench.third exploded his right hand, blowing off fingers, shattering arm and severely wounding face, body and right leg. His two comrades.. also badly wounded. alone and disregarding wounds, loaded and fired rifle with left hand for four hours, calmly waiting each attack . with fire at point blank range."
(Editor's note: Despite enquiries the author couldn't ascertain Khuda Dad's class, the Hamiltons relationship, the Sikhs' castes or the class of IOMs Mir Dast and Guides soldiers won. Readers knowing this please email: sakhan@thedailystar..net).
The author is a free lancer.