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HomeThePrint ProfileIshar Singh–first Sikh soldier to receive Victoria Cross for heroics in Waziristan

Ishar Singh–first Sikh soldier to receive Victoria Cross for heroics in Waziristan

The soldier took a bullet to his chest while fighting Mahsud Tribes at Haidar Kach in 1921, but took the rifle of another soldier and launched a counter-attack.

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On 10 April 1921, during the British Empire’s year-long campaign against the powerful Pashto tribes of Waziristan, Ishar Singh of the 28th Punjabis, an infantry regiment of The British Indian Army, was wounded by a gunshot near his chest. Enveloped by enemy gunfire of the Mahsud Tribes at Haidar Kach, he took the rifle of an injured soldier and started to counter-attack the enemy.

He also stood like a shield to guard medical officers of the British Indian Army while they were dressing a wounded soldier.

For this display of bravery, in November 1921, King George V awarded Ishar Singh the Victoria Cross, becoming the first Sikh to be given this prestigious military honour.

The citation published in the London Gazette on 25 November 1921 stated, “His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned: — No. 1012 Sepoy Ishar Singh, 28th Punjabis, Indian Army for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 10th April, 1921, near Haidar Kach (Waziristan).”

As per the National Army Memorial in London, the Victoria Cross is Britain’s joint-highest award for gallantry. It was only equalled in status in 1940, when the George Cross was instituted for acts of conspicuous bravery not in the enemy’s presence. The Victoria Cross has been awarded to over 1,300 recipients since its inception in 1856.

Later, Ishar Singh was also awarded the Order of British India (OBI), First Class, an order of merit created by the East India Company. The OBI carried the title ‘Sardar Bahadur’. Jointly holding both the Victoria Cross and OBI was a unique honour for Singh, according to the National Army Memorial.

Soldiers from the subcontinent

Born on 30 December 1885 in Nainwan village in today’s Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, Ishar Singh’s story epitomises the valour and courage displayed by soldiers from the subcontinent, especially those from Punjab, in the campaigns of the British Indian Army and those of the allied forces during the Great War.

Records of nearly 3,20,000 soldiers from Punjab who served in World War I were uncovered in a museum in Lahore by researchers from the United Kingdom. Until the findings in November 2021, their records and stories were largely unknown, forgotten, and unrecognised.

As the book True to their Salt by Ravindra Rathee, who is a journalist, argues – the influence and importance of Indian soldiers to the British Empire were such that they were responsible for both its rise and fall.


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No. 1 of Lewis Gun Section

Serving as a sepoy in Waziristan in April 1921, Ishar Singh was No.1 of a Lewis Gun Section, essentially the soldier who is responsible for firing the Lewis gun – a light machine gun. His unit was escorting a supply convoy when they were attacked by the Mahsud Tribe.

Ishar Singh received a gun wound during the early stages of the battle near Haidar Kach. The bullet to his chest made him fall beside the Lewis gun, and the enemy seized it. Neither daunted, nor unfazed by the situation, “calling up two other men, he (Ishar Singh) got up, charged the enemy, recovered the Lewis gun, and, although bleeding profusely, again got the gun into action,” his citation states.

When his Jemdar (supervising officer) arrived, he ordered him to return to base and get his injury treated. Instead, Ishar Singh went to the medical unit and informed them about the whereabouts of other injured soldiers, so that they could all be treated. Forgetting his pain, he also carried water to the injured soldiers to help them.

“He made innumerable journeys to the riverbank and back for this purpose. It was over three hours before he finally submitted to be evacuated, being then too weak from loss of blood to object. His gallantry and devotion to duty were beyond praise. His conduct inspired all who saw him,” added his citation.


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Victoria Cross sold 3 times

After the battle, Singh recovered from the bullet wound and was presented the Victoria Cross by the Prince of Wales in Rawalpindi in March 1922.

He then served at the rank of Subedar during World War II and was later promoted to Captain. Reportedly, Singh was given 75 acres of land and a house by the British in exchange for his services.

The story of Ishar Singh’s Victoria Cross, however, after his death in 1963 runs into murky waters.

According to reports, his son, Harbhajan Singh, sold the medal in the United Kingdom to fund a new life in the country. Family members believe that he took the gallantry award from his mother to show it to his “friends in England.”

While the context is unknown, the Victoria Cross was sold in 1973 for £400. A few years later, the medal was reportedly again sold and purchased by a private collector.

Then, in 1997, the Victoria Cross was sold at London’s Sotheby’s. The highest bid of £55,000 was accepted. The bid was from Lord Michael Ashcroft, the philanthropist and member of the House of Lords. Today, the medal is displayed on rotation as part of The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum.

While the Sainik Rest House at Hoshiarpur has been named after Ishar Singh, the family has built a small memorial to keep the war hero’s memory alive,” Spectrum, the Sunday magazine of TheTribune reported.

Ishar Singh’s contributions show that he was a true leader who strived for the comfort and safety of his own troops.

(Edited by Tarannum)

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