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List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Indian Army

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A medal in the shape of a cross hanging from a crimson red ribbon.
The Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded to 153 members of the British Indian Army and civilians under its command, from 1857 until independence in 1947. The Victoria Cross is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other Orders, decorations and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. The VC is traditionally presented to the recipient by the British monarch during an investiture at Buckingham Palace, though in a large number of cases this was not possible and it was presented in the field by a prominent civil or military official. The VC was introduced in Great Britain on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War.[1]

Indian troops were not originally eligible for the VC, because since 1837 they had been eligible for the Indian Order of Merit—the oldest British gallantry award for general issue. When the VC was created, Indian troops were still controlled by the British East India Company, and did not come under Crown control until 1860. European officers and men serving with the East India Company were not eligible for the Indian Order of Merit; the VC was extended to cover them in October 1857. It was only at the end of the 19th century that calls for Indian troops to be awarded the VC intensified. Indian troops became eligible for the award in 1911.[2] The first awards to Indian troops appeared in The London Gazette on 7 December 1914 to Darwan Singh Negi and Khudadad Khan, whose gallantry on 31 October 1914 was nearly a month earlier than Negi's gallantry on 24/25 November.[3] Negi was presented with the VC by King George V two days earlier, on 5 December 1914, during a visit to troops in France. He is one of a small number of soldiers presented with his award before it appeared in the London Gazette.[4]

There have been a total of 148 VC recipients who were serving with an Indian Army or Honourable East India Company (HEIC) unit. 63 VCs were awarded to British officers and men of the HEIC during the Anglo-Persian War (1856–1857) and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. 33 VCs were awarded for action in various campaigns between the rebellion in 1857 and the First World War. 18 VCs were awarded for action in the First World War, and 30 in the Second World War. In addition to these, 5 civilians under military command were awarded the VC.

Recipients

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  This along with the *, indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously.

Name Unit Date of action Conflict Place of action
James Adams Bengal Ecclesiastical Department 1879 Second Anglo-Afghan War Killa Kazi, Afghanistan
Robert Adams Corps of Guides 1897 Tirah Campaign Nawa Kili, India
Frederick Aikman 0044th Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Amethi, India
Robert Aitken 01313th Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Michael Allmand Indian Armoured Corps 1944* Second World War Pin Hmi Road Bridge, Burma
Henry Andrews Indian Medical Service 1919* Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) Waziristan, India
Charles Baker Bengal Police Battalion 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Suhejnee, Bengal
Premindra Bhagat Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners 1941 Second World War Metemma, Abyssinia
James Blair 0022nd Bombay Light Cavalry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Neemuch, India
Guy Boisragon Indian Staff Corps 1891 Hunza-Naga Campaign Nilt Fort, India
Francis Brown 0011st European Bengal Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Narnoul, India
Sam Browne 04646th Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Seerporah, India
William Bruce 05959th Scinde Rifles 1914* First World War Givenchy, France
John Buckley Commissariat Department 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Thomas Butler 0011st European Bengal Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Thomas Cadell 0022nd European Bengal Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
William Cafe 05656th Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Fort Ruhya, India
Herbert Carter Poona Mounted Infantry 1903 Fourth Somaliland Expedition Jidballi, Somaliland
George Channer Bengal Staff Corps 1875 Perak War Perak, Malaya
William Chase 02828th Bombay Native Infantry 1880 Second Anglo-Afghan War Kandahar, Afghanistan
George Chicken Indian Naval BrigadeIndian Naval Brigade 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Peroo, Bengal
Herbert Clogstoun 01919th Madras Native Infantry 1859 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Chichumbah, India
Alexander Cobbe King's African Rifles 1902 Third Somaliland Expedition Erigo, Somaliland
William Connolly Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Jhelum, India
John Cook Bengal Staff Corps 1878 Second Anglo-Afghan War Peiwar Kotal, Afghanistan
Edmond Costello 02222nd Punjab Infantry 1897 Tirah Campaign Malakand, India
Garrett Creagh Bombay Staff Corps 1879 Second Anglo-Afghan War Kam Dakka, Afghanistan
John Crimmin Bombay Medical Service 1889 Third Burmese War Lwekaw, Burma
William Cubitt 01313th Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Chinhut, India
Arthur Cumming 01212th Frontier Force Regiment 1942 Second World War Kuantan, Malaya
Mir Dast 05555th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force) 1915 First World War Wieltje, Belgium
John Daunt 01111th Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Chota Behar, India
Frank de Pass 03434th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse 1914* First World War Festubert, France
Bernard Diamond Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bolandshahr, India
Fazal Din 01010th Baluch Regiment 1945* Second World War Meiktila, Burma
Thomas Duffy 0011st Madras European Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
James Dundas Bengal Engineers 1865 Bhutan War Dewan-Giri, India
Richard Fitzgerald Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bolandshahr, India
Andrew Fitzgibbon India Medical Establishment 1860 Third China War Taku Forts, China
George Forrest Bengal Veterans Establishment 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
George Fosbery 0044th Bengal European Regiment 1863 Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) North-West Frontier, India
Yeshwant Ghadge 0055th Mahratta Light Infantry 1944* Second World War Upper Tiber Valley, Italy
Gaje Ghale 0055th Gurkha Rifles 1943 Second World War Chin Hills, Burma
Peter Gill Loodiana Regiment 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Benares, India
Charles Goodfellow Bombay Engineers 1859 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Kathiawar, India
Hugh Gough 0011st Bengal European Light Cavalry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Alumbagh, India
Charles Gough 0055th Bengal European Cavalry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Khurkowdah, India
Charles Grant Indian Staff Corps 1891 Manipur Expedition Thobal, Burma
John Grant 0088th Gurkha Rifles 1904 British expedition to Tibet Gyantse Jong, Tibet
Bhanbhagta Gurung 0022nd Gurkha Rifles 1945 Second World War Snowdon East, Tamandu, Burma
Lachhiman Gurung 0088th Gurkha Rifles 1945 Second World War Taungdaw, Burma
Thaman Gurung 0055th Gurkha Rifles 1944* Second World War Monte San Bartolo, Italy
Ali Haidar 01313th Frontier Force Rifles 1945 Second World War Fusignano, Italy
Rao Abdul Hafiz Khan 0099th Jat Infantry 1944* Second World War Imphal, India
Walter Hamilton Corps of Guides 1879 Second Anglo-Afghan War Futtehabad, Afghanistan
Arthur Hammond Bengal Staff Corps 1879 Second Anglo-Afghan War Kabul, Afghanistan
Hastings Harington Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
James Hills Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Duncan Home Bengal Engineers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Eustace Jotham 05151st Sikhs 1915* First World War Tochi Valley, India
James Innes Bengal Engineers 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Sultanpore, India
Namdeo Jadhav 0055th Mahratta Light Infantry 1945 Second World War Senio River, Italy
Hanson Jarrett 02626th Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Baroun, India
Edward Jennings Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Karamjeet Judge 01515th Punjab Regiment 1945* Second World War Meiktila, Burma
Thomas Kavanagh Bengal Civil Service 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Richard Keatinge Bombay ArtilleryBombay Artillery 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Chundairee, India
William Kenny 03939th Garhwal Rifles 1920 Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) Kot Kai, India
William Kerr 02424th Bombay Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Kolapore, India
Khudadad Khan 129129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis 1914 First World War Hollebeke, France
Shahamad Khan 08989th Punjabis 1916 First World War Beit Ayeesa, Mesopotamia
LalaLala 04141st Dogras 1916 First World War El Orah, Mesopotamia
Ganju Lama 0077th Gurkha Rifles 1944 Second World War Ningthoukhong, Burma
Thomas Laughnan Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Harry Lyster 07272nd Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Calpee, India
Donald Macintyre Bengal Staff Corps 1872 Looshai Expedition Lalgnoora, India
Hector MacLean Corps of Guides 1897* Tirah Campaign Nawa Kili, India
Patrick Mahoney 0011st Madras European Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Mungulwar, India
John Malcolmson 0033rd Bombay Light Cavalry 1857 Anglo-Persian War Khoosh-ab, Persia
Ross Mangles Bengal Civil Service 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Arrah, India
Arthur Mayo Indian Naval BrigadeIndian Naval Brigade 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Arrah, India
Francis Maxwell Indian Staff Corps 1900 Second Boer War Korn Spruit, South Africa
William McDonell Bengal Civil Service 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Arrah, India
Hugh McInnes Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
John McGovern 0011st Bengal Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
James McGuire 0011st Bengal Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Charles Melliss Indian Staff Corps 1900 Third Ashanti Expedition Obassa, Ashanti
Godfrey Meynell 01212th Frontier Force Regiment 1935* Second Mohmand Campaign Mohmand, India
James Miller Bengal Ordnance Depot 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Futtehpore, India
Arthur Moore 0033rd Bombay Light Cavalry 1857 Anglo-Persian War Khoosh-ab, Persia
Darwan Negi 03939th Garhwal Rifles 1914 First World War Festubert, France
Gabbar Negi 03939th Garhwal Rifles 1915* First World War Neuve Chapelle, France
William Olpherts Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
James Park Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Everard Phillipps 01111th Bengal Native Infantry 1857* Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Henry Pitcher 0044th Punjab Infantry 1863 Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) North-West Frontier, India
Harry Prendergast Madras Engineers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Mundisore, India
Dighton Probyn 0022nd Punjab Cavalry 1857[5] Indian Rebellion of 1857 India
Tulbahadur Pun 0066th Gurkha Rifles 1944 Second World War Mogaung, Burma
Agansing Rai 0055th Gurkha Rifles 1944 Second World War Bishenpur, Burma
Bhandari Ram 01010th Baluch Regiment 1944 Second World War Arakan, Burma
Chhelu Ram 0066th Rajputana Rifles 1943* Second World War Djebel Garci, Tunisia
Kamal Ram 0088th Punjab Regiment 1944 Second World War Gari River, Italy
Richhpal Ram 0066th Rajputana Rifles 1941* Second World War Keren, Eritrea
Karanbahadur Rana 0033rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles 1918 First World War El Kefr, Egypt
William Raynor Bengal Veterans Establishment 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
George Renny Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Richard Ridgeway Bengal Staff Corps 1879 Basuto War Konoma, India
Frederick Roberts Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Khodagunge, India
Patrick Roddy Bengal Army 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Kuthirga, India
George Rolland 0011st Bombay Grenadiers 1903 Third Somaliland Expedition Daratoleh, Somaliland
Matthew Rosamund 03737th Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Benares, India
John Ryan 0011st Madras European Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Miles Ryan 101101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers) 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Philip Salkeld Bengal Engineers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Reginald Sartorius 0066th Bengal Cavalry 1874 First Ashanti Expedition Abogu, Ashanti
Andrew Scott Bengal Staff Corps 1877 Balochistan Campaign Quetta, India
Sher Shah 01616th Punjab Regiment 1945* Second World War Kyeyebyin, Burma
Badlu Singh 01414th Murray's Jat Lancers 1918* First World War River Jordan, Palestine
Chatta Singh 0099th Bhopal Infantry 1916 First World War Wadi, Mesopotamia
Gian Singh 01515th Punjab Regiment 1945 Second World War Kamye, Burma
Gobind Singh 02828th Light Cavalry 1917 First World War Épehy, France
Ishar Singh 02828th Punjab Regiment 1921 Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) Haidari Kach, India
Nand Singh 01111th Sikh Regiment 1944 Second World War Maungdaw-Buthidaung Road, Burma
Parkash Singh 0088th Punjab Regiment 1943 Second World War Donbaik, Burma
Prakash Singh 01313th Frontier Force Rifles 1945* Second World War Kanlan Ywathit, Burma
Ram Sarup Singh 0011st Punjab Regiment 1944* Second World War Kennedy Peak, Burma
Umrao Singh Royal Indian Artillery 1944 Second World War Kaladan Valley, Burma
John Sinton Indian Medical Service 1916 First World War Orah Ruins, Mesopotamia
Robert Shebbeare 06060th Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
John Smith Bengal Sappers and Miners 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
John Smith 0011st Madras European Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
John Smith Indian Staff Corps 1891 Hunza-Naga Campaign Nilt Fort, India
John Smyth 01515th Ludhiana Sikhs 1915 First World War Richebourg L'Aouve, France
Edward Thackeray Bengal Engineers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Kulbir Thapa 0033rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles 1915 First World War Fauquissart, France
Lalbahadur Thapa 0022nd Gurkha Rifles 1943 Second World War Rass-es-Zouai, Tunisia
Netrabahadur Thapa 0055th Gurkha Rifles 1944* Second World War Bishenpur, Burma
Sher Bahadur Thapa 0099th Gurkha Rifles 1944* Second World War San Marino, Italy
Jacob Thomas Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Henry Tombs Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian of 1857 Delhi, India
James Travers 0022nd Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Indore, India
William Trevor Bengal Engineers 1865 Bhutan War Dewan-Giri, India
John Tytler 06666th Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Choorpoorah, India
William Vousden 0055th Punjab Cavalry 1879 Second Anglo-Afghan War Kabul, Afghanistan
William Walker 0044th Gurkha Rifles 1903 Third Somaliland Expedition Daratoleh, Somaliland
William Waller 02525th Bombay Light Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Gwalior, India
John Watson 0011st Punjab Cavalry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
George Wheeler 0099th Gurkha Rifles 1917 First World War Shumran, Mesopotamia
George Wheeler 0077th Hariana Lancers 1915* First World War Shaiba, Mesopotamia
Frederick Whirlpool 0033rd Bombay European Regiment 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Jhansi, India
Harry Whitchurch Indian Medical Service 1895 Chitral Expedition Chitral Fort, India
John Wood 02020th Bombay Native Infantry 1856 Anglo-Persian War Bushire, Persia

References

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Specific
  1. ^ Ashcroft, M, preface; XI–XIII
  2. ^ Parker 2005, p. 62.
  3. ^ "No. 28999". The London Gazette. 4 December 1914. p. 10425.
  4. ^ Crook, MJ, Chapter 11. pp 117–125
  5. ^ Probyn was awarded his VC for numerous gallant acts throughout the period of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
    "No. 22154". The London Gazette. 18 June 1858. p. 2960.
General

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