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Article: Captain Umrao Singh VC last Indian Victoria Cross recipient.
- Article from:
- Sabretache
- Article date:
- December 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Military Historical Society of Australia. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Subedar Major and honorary Captain Umrao Singh, the last surviving Indian Victoria Cross recipient died at the Army Research and Referral hospital in New Delhi on 21 November 2005 after a prolonged illness. Singh, 85, of Jhajjar in Rohtak, Haryana, was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery under imperial India for beating off four Japanese attacks on his advanced battery position at Kaladhan valley in Burma on the night of 15-16 December 1944. He struck down three Japanese soldiers before being knocked out. Six hours later, a counter attack found Singh at the site of his gun, so severely wounded that he was hardly recognisable. Around him lay ten dead ...