| Rao Abdul Hafiz | |
| Honorific Suffix: | VC |
| Birth Date: | 4 September 1925 |
| Birth Place: | Kalanaur, Punjab, British India |
| Death Place: | Imphal, British India |
| Placeofburial: | Imphal Indian Army War Cemetery, Imphal, India[1] |
| Allegiance: | British India |
| Branch: | British Indian Army |
| Rank: | Jemadar Naib Subedar |
| Unit: | 9th Jat Regiment |
| Battles: | |
| Awards: | Victoria Cross |
Rao Abdul Hafiz Khan (4 September 19256 April 1944) was an Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the youngest Indian recipient of the award.
His was one of three World War II VC's awarded for action in British India, the others being awarded to John Pennington Harman and John Niel Randle both at the Battle of Kohima.[2]
Rao Abdul Hafiz hailed from Kalanaur, British Punjab, born on the 4th of September, 1925 to a Ranghar Rajput Musalman family. He was at the age of 18, and serving as Naib Subedar in the 9th Jat Regiment, British Indian Army during World War II, when he performed the deeds for which he was awarded the VC.
On 6 April 1944, during the Battle of Imphal, Naib Subedar Rao Abdul Hafiz Khan was ordered to attack with his platoon a prominent position held by the enemy, the only approach to which was across a bare slope and then up a very steep hill. The Naib Subedar led the assault, himself killing several of the enemy, pressing on regardless of machine-gun fire. He received two wounds, the second of which was fatal; but he had succeeded in routing an enemy vastly superior in numbers, and had captured a most important position.
The citation reads as follows:
His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.[3]