List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Indian Army explained

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. 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.[3]

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

NameUnitDate of actionConflictPlace of action
Bengal Ecclesiastical Department1879Second Anglo-Afghan WarKilla Kazi, Afghanistan
Corps of Guides1897Tirah CampaignNawa Kili, India
0044th Bengal Native Infantry1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Amethi, India
01313th Bengal Native Infantry1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
Indian Armoured Corps1944*Second World WarPin Hmi Road Bridge, Burma
Indian Medical Service1919*Waziristan campaign (1919–1920)Waziristan, India
Bengal Police Battalion1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Suhejnee, Bengal
Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners1941Second World WarMetemma, Abyssinia
0022nd Bombay Light Cavalry1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Neemuch, India
Indian Staff Corps1891Hunza-Naga CampaignNilt Fort, India
0011st European Bengal Fusiliers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Narnoul, India
04646th Bengal Native Infantry1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Seerporah, India
05959th Scinde Rifles1914*First World WarGivenchy, France
Commissariat Department1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
0011st European Bengal Fusiliers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
0022nd European Bengal Fusiliers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
05656th Bengal Native Infantry1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Fort Ruhya, India
Poona Mounted Infantry1903Fourth Somaliland ExpeditionJidballi, Somaliland
Bengal Staff Corps1875Perak WarPerak, Malaya
02828th Bombay Native Infantry1880Second Anglo-Afghan WarKandahar, Afghanistan
Indian Naval BrigadeIndian Naval Brigade1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Peroo, Bengal
01919th Madras Native Infantry1859Indian Rebellion of 1857Chichumbah, India
King's African Rifles1902Third Somaliland ExpeditionErigo, Somaliland
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Jhelum, India
Bengal Staff Corps1878Second Anglo-Afghan WarPeiwar Kotal, Afghanistan
02222nd Punjab Infantry1897Tirah CampaignMalakand, India
Bombay Staff Corps1879Second Anglo-Afghan WarKam Dakka, Afghanistan
Bombay Medical Service1889Third Burmese WarLwekaw, Burma
01313th Bengal Native Infantry1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Chinhut, India
01212th Frontier Force Regiment1942Second World WarKuantan, Malaya
05555th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force)1915First World WarWieltje, Belgium
01111th Bengal Native Infantry1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Chota Behar, India
03434th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse1914*First World WarFestubert, France
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Bolandshahr, India
01010th Baluch Regiment1945*Second World WarMeiktila, Burma
0011st Madras European Fusiliers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
Bengal Engineers1865Bhutan WarDewan-Giri, India
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Bolandshahr, India
India Medical Establishment1860Third China WarTaku Forts, China
Bengal Veterans Establishment1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
0044th Bengal European Regiment1863Waziristan campaign (1919–1920)North-West Frontier, India
0055th Mahratta Light Infantry1944*Second World WarUpper Tiber Valley, Italy
0055th Gurkha Rifles1943Second World WarChin Hills, Burma
Loodiana Regiment1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Benares, India
Bombay Engineers1859Indian Rebellion of 1857Kathiawar, India
0011st Bengal European Light Cavalry1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Alumbagh, India
0055th Bengal European Cavalry1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Khurkowdah, India
Indian Staff Corps1891Manipur ExpeditionThobal, Burma
0088th Gurkha Rifles1904British expedition to TibetGyantse Jong, Tibet
0022nd Gurkha Rifles1945Second World WarSnowdon East, Tamandu, Burma
0088th Gurkha Rifles1945Second World WarTaungdaw, Burma
0055th Gurkha Rifles1944*Second World WarMonte San Bartolo, Italy
01313th Frontier Force Rifles1945Second World WarFusignano, Italy
0099th Jat Infantry1944*Second World WarImphal, India
Corps of Guides1879Second Anglo-Afghan WarFuttehabad, Afghanistan
Bengal Staff Corps1879Second Anglo-Afghan WarKabul, Afghanistan
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
Bengal Engineers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
05151st Sikhs1915*First World WarTochi Valley, India
Bengal Engineers1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Sultanpore, India
0055th Mahratta Light Infantry1945Second World WarSenio River, Italy
02626th Bengal Native Infantry1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Baroun, India
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
01515th Punjab Regiment1945*Second World WarMeiktila, Burma
Bengal Civil Service1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
Bombay ArtilleryBombay Artillery1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Chundairee, India
03939th Garhwal Rifles1920Waziristan campaign (1919–1920)Kot Kai, India
02424th Bombay Native Infantry1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Kolapore, India
129129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis1914First World WarHollebeke, France
08989th Punjabis1916First World WarBeit Ayeesa, Mesopotamia
LalaLala04141st Dogras1916First World WarEl Orah, Mesopotamia
0077th Gurkha Rifles1944Second World WarNingthoukhong, Burma
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
07272nd Bengal Native Infantry1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Calpee, India
Bengal Staff Corps1872Looshai ExpeditionLalgnoora, India
Corps of Guides1897*Tirah CampaignNawa Kili, India
0011st Madras European Fusiliers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Mungulwar, India
0033rd Bombay Light Cavalry1857Anglo-Persian WarKhoosh-ab, Persia
Bengal Civil Service1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Arrah, India
Indian Naval BrigadeIndian Naval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Arrah, India
Indian Staff Corps1900Second Boer WarKorn Spruit, South Africa
Bengal Civil Service1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Arrah, India
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
0011st Bengal Fusiliers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
0011st Bengal Fusiliers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
Indian Staff Corps1900Third Ashanti ExpeditionObassa, Ashanti
01212th Frontier Force Regiment1935*Second Mohmand CampaignMohmand, India
Bengal Ordnance Depot1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Futtehpore, India
0033rd Bombay Light Cavalry1857Anglo-Persian WarKhoosh-ab, Persia
03939th Garhwal Rifles1914First World WarFestubert, France
03939th Garhwal Rifles1915*First World WarNeuve Chapelle, France
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
01111th Bengal Native Infantry1857*Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
0044th Punjab Infantry1863Waziristan campaign (1919–1920)North-West Frontier, India
Madras Engineers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Mundisore, India
0022nd Punjab Cavalry1857[4] Indian Rebellion of 1857India
0066th Gurkha Rifles1944Second World WarMogaung, Burma
0055th Gurkha Rifles1944Second World WarBishenpur, Burma
01010th Baluch Regiment1944Second World WarArakan, Burma
0066th Rajputana Rifles1943*Second World WarDjebel Garci, Tunisia
0088th Punjab Regiment1944Second World WarGari River, Italy
0066th Rajputana Rifles1941*Second World WarKeren, Eritrea
0033rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles1918First World WarEl Kefr, Egypt
Bengal Veterans Establishment1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
Bengal Staff Corps1879Basuto WarKonoma, India
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Khodagunge, India
Bengal Army1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Kuthirga, India
0011st Bombay Grenadiers1903Third Somaliland ExpeditionDaratoleh, Somaliland
03737th Bengal Native Infantry1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Benares, India
0011st Madras European Fusiliers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
101101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers)1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
Bengal Engineers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
0066th Bengal Cavalry1874First Ashanti ExpeditionAbogu, Ashanti
Bengal Staff Corps1877Balochistan CampaignQuetta, India
01616th Punjab Regiment1945*Second World WarKyeyebyin, Burma
01414th Murray's Jat Lancers1918*First World WarRiver Jordan, Palestine
0099th Bhopal Infantry1916First World WarWadi, Mesopotamia
01515th Punjab Regiment1945Second World WarKamye, Burma
02828th Light Cavalry1917First World WarÉpehy, France
02828th Punjab Regiment1921Waziristan campaign (1919–1920)Haidari Kach, India
01111th Sikh Regiment1944Second World WarMaungdaw-Buthidaung Road, Burma
0088th Punjab Regiment1943Second World WarDonbaik, Burma
01313th Frontier Force Rifles1945*Second World WarKanlan Ywathit, Burma
0011st Punjab Regiment1944*Second World WarKennedy Peak, Burma
Royal Indian Artillery1944Second World WarKaladan Valley, Burma
Indian Medical Service1916First World WarOrah Ruins, Mesopotamia
06060th Bengal Native Infantry1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
Bengal Sappers and Miners1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
0011st Madras European Fusiliers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
Indian Staff Corps1891Hunza-Naga CampaignNilt Fort, India
01515th Ludhiana Sikhs1915First World WarRichebourg L'Aouve, France
Bengal Engineers1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Delhi, India
0033rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles1915First World WarFauquissart, France
0022nd Gurkha Rifles1943Second World WarRass-es-Zouai, Tunisia
0055th Gurkha Rifles1944*Second World WarBishenpur, Burma
0099th Gurkha Rifles1944*Second World WarSan Marino, Italy
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857Indian of 1857Delhi, India
0022nd Bengal Native Infantry1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Indore, India
Bengal Engineers1865Bhutan WarDewan-Giri, India
06666th Bengal Native Infantry1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Choorpoorah, India
0055th Punjab Cavalry1879Second Anglo-Afghan WarKabul, Afghanistan
0044th Gurkha Rifles1903Third Somaliland ExpeditionDaratoleh, Somaliland
02525th Bombay Light Infantry1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Gwalior, India
0011st Punjab Cavalry1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Lucknow, India
0099th Gurkha Rifles1917First World WarShumran, Mesopotamia
0077th Hariana Lancers1915*First World WarShaiba, Mesopotamia
0033rd Bombay European Regiment1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Jhansi, India
Indian Medical Service1895Chitral ExpeditionChitral Fort, India
02020th Bombay Native Infantry1856Anglo-Persian WarBushire, Persia

References

Specific
  • General

    • Notes and References

    1. Ashcroft, M, preface; XI - XIII
    2. Parker 2005, p. 62.
    3. Crook, MJ, Chapter 11. pp 117 - 125
    4. Probyn was awarded his VC for numerous gallant acts throughout the period of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

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