Sikh Regiment Victoria Cross Winners
The Victoria Cross is the
highest and most prestigious award for
gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to
British and Commonwealth forces.
Instituted in 1856 and given until
March, 1943, the Victoria Cross was made from guns captured by the
British at Sebastopol during the Crimean War. The right to receive
the VC was extended to Indian soldiers only in 1911
Captain Ishar Singh was the first Sikh soldier
to win a Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour in the British
Empire.
On 10 April 1921 near Haidari Kach, North West
Frontier, India, Sepoy Ishar Singh was No. 1 of a Lewis gun section.
Early in the fighting he was severely wounded, all the officers
and havildars of his company became casualties and his Lewis gun
was seized. He recovered the gun and went into action again although
his wound was bleeding profusely, but when ordered to have it dressed,
he went instead to help the medical officer, carrying water to the
wounded, taking a rifle and helping to keep down enemy fire and
acting as a shield while the medical officer was dressing a wound.
It was nearly three hours before he submitted to being evacuated.
Later achieved rank of Captain. Read
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