MargeneGoodfello at 13:33, 9 December 2023

2023-12-09T13:33:53Z

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{{Short description|Indian Victoria Cross recipient (1886–1961)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
|name = Sepoy Thakur Chatta Singh
|birth_place = Chauhan Estate Tilsara [[Cawnpore]], [[North-Western Provinces]], British India
|death_place = Chauhan Estate Tilsara, [[Kanpur Nagar district]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India
|image = Chatta Singh.jpg
|caption = Singh, 9th Bhopal Infantry, meeting Army Chief [[Rajendrasinhji Jadeja]] in 1953
|other name =
|parents =
|allegiance = [[British India]]
|serviceyears =
|rank = [[Subedar]]
|branch = [[British India Army]]
|commands =
|unit = [[9th Bhopal Infantry]]
|battles = [[First World War]]
|awards = [[Victoria Cross]]
|laterwork =
}}

'''Chatta Singh''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (1886{{snd}}28 March 1961) 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 of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.

==Details==
He was about 29 years old, and a [[Sepoy]] in the [[9th Bhopal Infantry]], [[British Indian Army]] during the [[World War I|First World War]] when he performed the deed for which he was awarded the VC. On 13 January 1916 during the [[Battle of the Wadi]], [[Mesopotamia]], Sepoy Chatta Singh left cover to assist and to rescue his commanding officer, who was lying wounded and helpless in the open.

[[File:Sep Chatta Singh, VC, 9th Bhopal Inf.jpg|thumb|right|Sepoy Chatta Singh, 9th Bhopal Infantry, winning the Victoria Cross on 13 January 1916. The Tigris Front, Mesopotamia.|330px]]

The citation reads:

{{blockquote|His Majesty the [[George V|KING]] has been graciously pleased to award the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned ... Man: —

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in leaving cover to assist his Commanding Officer who was lying wounded
and helpless in the open. Sepoy Chatta Singh bound up the Officer's wound and then dug cover for him with his entrenching tool, being exposed all the time to very heavy rifle fire. For five hours until nightfall he remained beside the wounded Officer, shielding him with his own body on the exposed side. He then, under cover of darkness, went back for assistance, and brought the Officer into safety.
|London Gazette, 21 June 1916.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue= 29633 |supp= y |page=6191 |date= 21 June 1916 }}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette| issue=31340 |page=6085 |date=15 May 1919 }}</ref>}}

The Governor-General of India, [[Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford|Lord Chelmsford]], at a special parade on Tuesday, 30 January 1917, at the vice-regal lodge, Delhi, India, presented medals and orders to 200 Indian officers and men including the Victoria Cross to Sepoy Chatta Singh, 9th Bhopal Infantry, and two other Indian soldiers.<ref>INDIAN PATRIOTISM: THREE VICTORIA CROSSES. ''The Advertiser'' (Adelaide, SA) Thursday, 1 February 1917, p. 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5558034</ref>

He later rose to the rank of [[Havildar]].

== The Medal ==
A contemporary copy of the Victoria Cross, which is believed to have been presented to Sepoy Chatta Singh 'in the field' on 8 March 1916, was sold by Dix Noonan Web on 22 September 2006.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/gginatof.htm Burial location]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Chatta}}
[[Category:Indian World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British Indian Army soldiers]]
[[Category:1886 births]]
[[Category:1961 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Kanpur Dehat district]]

Chatta Singh - Revision history

MargeneGoodfello at 13:33, 9 December 2023