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

Template:Legend2

Name Unit Date of action Conflict Place of action
Template:Sortname Bengal Ecclesiastical Department 1879 Second Anglo-Afghan War Killa Kazi, Afghanistan
Template:Sortname Corps of Guides 1897 Tirah Campaign Nawa Kili, India
Template:Sortname 0044th Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Amethi, India
Template:Sortname 01313th Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname Indian Armoured Corps 1944* Second World War Pin Hmi Road Bridge, Burma
Template:Sortname Indian Medical Service 1919* Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) Waziristan, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Police Battalion 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Suhejnee, Bengal
Template:Sortname Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners 1941 Second World War Metemma, Abyssinia
Template:Sortname 0022nd Bombay Light Cavalry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Neemuch, India
Template:Sortname Indian Staff Corps 1891 Hunza-Naga Campaign Nilt Fort, India
Template:Sortname 0011st European Bengal Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Narnoul, India
Template:Sortname 04646th Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Seerporah, India
Template:Sortname 05959th Scinde Rifles 1914* First World War Givenchy, France
Template:Sortname Commissariat Department 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname 0011st European Bengal Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname 0022nd European Bengal Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname 05656th Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Fort Ruhya, India
Template:Sortname Poona Mounted Infantry 1903 Fourth Somaliland Expedition Jidballi, Somaliland
Template:Sortname Bengal Staff Corps 1875 Perak War Perak, Malaya
Template:Sortname 02828th Bombay Native Infantry 1880 Second Anglo-Afghan War Kandahar, Afghanistan
Template:Sortname Indian Naval BrigadeIndian Naval Brigade 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Peroo, Bengal
Template:Sortname 01919th Madras Native Infantry 1859 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Chichumbah, India
Template:Sortname King's African Rifles 1902 Third Somaliland Expedition Erigo, Somaliland
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Jhelum, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Staff Corps 1878 Second Anglo-Afghan War Peiwar Kotal, Afghanistan
Template:Sortname 02222nd Punjab Infantry 1897 Tirah Campaign Malakand, India
Template:Sortname Bombay Staff Corps 1879 Second Anglo-Afghan War Kam Dakka, Afghanistan
Template:Sortname Bombay Medical Service 1889 Third Burmese War Lwekaw, Burma
Template:Sortname 01313th Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Chinhut, India
Template:Sortname 01212th Frontier Force Regiment 1942 Second World War Kuantan, Malaya
Template:Sortname 05555th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force) 1915 First World War Wieltje, Belgium
Template:Sortname 01111th Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Chota Behar, India
Template:Sortname 03434th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse 1914* First World War Festubert, France
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bolandshahr, India
Template:Sortname 01010th Baluch Regiment 1945* Second World War Meiktila, Burma
Template:Sortname 0011st Madras European Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Engineers 1865 Bhutan War Dewan-Giri, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bolandshahr, India
Template:Sortname India Medical Establishment 1860 Third China War Taku Forts, China
Template:Sortname Bengal Veterans Establishment 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname 0044th Bengal European Regiment 1863 Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) North-West Frontier, India
Template:Sortname 0055th Mahratta Light Infantry 1944* Second World War Upper Tiber Valley, Italy
Template:Sortname 0055th Gurkha Rifles 1943 Second World War Chin Hills, Burma
Template:Sortname Loodiana Regiment 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Benares, India
Template:Sortname Bombay Engineers 1859 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Kathiawar, India
Template:Sortname 0011st Bengal European Light Cavalry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Alumbagh, India
Template:Sortname 0055th Bengal European Cavalry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Khurkowdah, India
Template:Sortname Indian Staff Corps 1891 Manipur Expedition Thobal, Burma
Template:Sortname 0088th Gurkha Rifles 1904 British expedition to Tibet Gyantse Jong, Tibet
Template:Sortname 0022nd Gurkha Rifles 1945 Second World War Snowdon East, Tamandu, Burma
Template:Sortname 0088th Gurkha Rifles 1945 Second World War Taungdaw, Burma
Template:Sortname 0055th Gurkha Rifles 1944* Second World War Monte San Bartolo, Italy
Template:Sortname 01313th Frontier Force Rifles 1945 Second World War Fusignano, Italy
Template:Sortname 0099th Jat Infantry 1944* Second World War Imphal, India
Template:Sortname Corps of Guides 1879 Second Anglo-Afghan War Futtehabad, Afghanistan
Template:Sortname Bengal Staff Corps 1879 Second Anglo-Afghan War Kabul, Afghanistan
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Engineers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname 05151st Sikhs 1915* First World War Tochi Valley, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Engineers 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Sultanpore, India
Template:Sortname 0055th Mahratta Light Infantry 1945 Second World War Senio River, Italy
Template:Sortname 02626th Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Baroun, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname 01515th Punjab Regiment 1945* Second World War Meiktila, Burma
Template:Sortname Bengal Civil Service 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname Bombay ArtilleryBombay Artillery 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Chundairee, India
Template:Sortname 03939th Garhwal Rifles 1920 Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) Kot Kai, India
Template:Sortname 02424th Bombay Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Kolapore, India
Template:Sortname 129129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis 1914 First World War Hollebeke, France
Template:Sortname 08989th Punjabis 1916 First World War Beit Ayeesa, Mesopotamia
LalaLala 04141st Dogras 1916 First World War El Orah, Mesopotamia
Template:Sortname 0077th Gurkha Rifles 1944 Second World War Ningthoukhong, Burma
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname 07272nd Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Calpee, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Staff Corps 1872 Looshai Expedition Lalgnoora, India
Template:Sortname Corps of Guides 1897* Tirah Campaign Nawa Kili, India
Template:Sortname 0011st Madras European Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Mungulwar, India
Template:Sortname 0033rd Bombay Light Cavalry 1857 Anglo-Persian War Khoosh-ab, Persia
Template:Sortname Bengal Civil Service 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Arrah, India
Template:Sortname Indian Naval BrigadeIndian Naval Brigade 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Arrah, India
Template:Sortname Indian Staff Corps 1900 Second Boer War Korn Spruit, South Africa
Template:Sortname Bengal Civil Service 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Arrah, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname 0011st Bengal Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname 0011st Bengal Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname Indian Staff Corps 1900 Third Ashanti Expedition Obassa, Ashanti
Template:Sortname 01212th Frontier Force Regiment 1935* Second Mohmand Campaign Mohmand, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Ordnance Depot 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Futtehpore, India
Template:Sortname 0033rd Bombay Light Cavalry 1857 Anglo-Persian War Khoosh-ab, Persia
Template:Sortname 03939th Garhwal Rifles 1914 First World War Festubert, France
Template:Sortname 03939th Garhwal Rifles 1915* First World War Neuve Chapelle, France
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname 01111th Bengal Native Infantry 1857* Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname 0044th Punjab Infantry 1863 Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) North-West Frontier, India
Template:Sortname Madras Engineers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Mundisore, India
Template:Sortname 0022nd Punjab Cavalry 1857[5] Indian Rebellion of 1857 India
Template:Sortname 0066th Gurkha Rifles 1944 Second World War Mogaung, Burma
Template:Sortname 0055th Gurkha Rifles 1944 Second World War Bishenpur, Burma
Template:Sortname 01010th Baluch Regiment 1944 Second World War Arakan, Burma
Template:Sortname 0066th Rajputana Rifles 1943* Second World War Djebel Garci, Tunisia
Template:Sortname 0088th Punjab Regiment 1944 Second World War Gari River, Italy
Template:Sortname 0066th Rajputana Rifles 1941* Second World War Keren, Eritrea
Template:Sortname 0033rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles 1918 First World War El Kefr, Egypt
Template:Sortname Bengal Veterans Establishment 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Staff Corps 1879 Basuto War Konoma, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Khodagunge, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Army 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Kuthirga, India
Template:Sortname 0011st Bombay Grenadiers 1903 Third Somaliland Expedition Daratoleh, Somaliland
Template:Sortname 03737th Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Benares, India
Template:Sortname 0011st Madras European Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname 101101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers) 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Engineers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname 0066th Bengal Cavalry 1874 First Ashanti Expedition Abogu, Ashanti
Template:Sortname Bengal Staff Corps 1877 Balochistan Campaign Quetta, India
Template:Sortname 01616th Punjab Regiment 1945* Second World War Kyeyebyin, Burma
Template:Sortname 01414th Murray's Jat Lancers 1918* First World War River Jordan, Palestine
Template:Sortname 0099th Bhopal Infantry 1916 First World War Wadi, Mesopotamia
Template:Sortname 01515th Punjab Regiment 1945 Second World War Kamye, Burma
Template:Sortname 02828th Light Cavalry 1917 First World War Épehy, France
Template:Sortname 02828th Punjab Regiment 1921 Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) Haidari Kach, India
Template:Sortname 01111th Sikh Regiment 1944 Second World War Maungdaw-Buthidaung Road, Burma
Template:Sortname 0088th Punjab Regiment 1943 Second World War Donbaik, Burma
Template:Sortname 01313th Frontier Force Rifles 1945* Second World War Kanlan Ywathit, Burma
Template:Sortname 0011st Punjab Regiment 1944* Second World War Kennedy Peak, Burma
Template:Sortname Royal Indian Artillery 1944 Second World War Kaladan Valley, Burma
Template:Sortname Indian Medical Service 1916 First World War Orah Ruins, Mesopotamia
Template:Sortname 06060th Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Sappers and Miners 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname 0011st Madras European Fusiliers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname Indian Staff Corps 1891 Hunza-Naga Campaign Nilt Fort, India
Template:Sortname 01515th Ludhiana Sikhs 1915 First World War Richebourg L'Aouve, France
Template:Sortname Bengal Engineers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname 0033rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles 1915 First World War Fauquissart, France
Template:Sortname 0022nd Gurkha Rifles 1943 Second World War Rass-es-Zouai, Tunisia
Template:Sortname 0055th Gurkha Rifles 1944* Second World War Bishenpur, Burma
Template:Sortname 0099th Gurkha Rifles 1944* Second World War San Marino, Italy
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery 1857 Indian of 1857 Delhi, India
Template:Sortname 0022nd Bengal Native Infantry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Indore, India
Template:Sortname Bengal Engineers 1865 Bhutan War Dewan-Giri, India
Template:Sortname 06666th Bengal Native Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Choorpoorah, India
Template:Sortname 0055th Punjab Cavalry 1879 Second Anglo-Afghan War Kabul, Afghanistan
Template:Sortname 0044th Gurkha Rifles 1903 Third Somaliland Expedition Daratoleh, Somaliland
Template:Sortname 02525th Bombay Light Infantry 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Gwalior, India
Template:Sortname 0011st Punjab Cavalry 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Lucknow, India
Template:Sortname 0099th Gurkha Rifles 1917 First World War Shumran, Mesopotamia
Template:Sortname 0077th Hariana Lancers 1915* First World War Shaiba, Mesopotamia
Template:Sortname 0033rd Bombay European Regiment 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Jhansi, India
Template:Sortname Indian Medical Service 1895 Chitral Expedition Chitral Fort, India
Template:Sortname 02020th Bombay Native Infantry 1856 Anglo-Persian War Bushire, Persia

References

Specific
  1. ↑ Ashcroft, M, preface; XI–XIII
  2. ↑ Parker 2005, p. 62.
  3. ↑ Template:London Gazette
  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.
    Template:London Gazette
General

Template:Victoria Cross recipients

Template:Featured list

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