Umrao Singh Yadav 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 forces.
14 Facts About Umrao Singh
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Umrao Singh was a non-commissioned officer in the Royal Artillery or the Royal Indian Artillery to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the Second World War, and the last survivor of only 40 Indian soldiers to be awarded the VC between 1912, when Indians first became eligible to be awarded the VC, to Indian independence in 1947.
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Umrao Singh attended a local school and joined the Indian Army during World War II in November 1939.
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Umrao Singh was promoted to Havildar in the Royal Indian Artillery, Indian Army in 1942.
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Umrao Singh used a Bren light machine gun and directed the rifle fire of the gunners, holding off the assault.
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Undaunted, Umrao Singh picked up a "gun bearer" and used that as a weapon in hand-to-hand fighting.
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Umrao Singh was seen to strike down three infantrymen, fatally wounded, before succumbing to a rain of blows.
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Umrao Singh was presented with his VC by King George VI at Buckingham Palace on 15 October 1945.
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Umrao Singh retired from the British Indian army in 1946, but rejoined the army in 1947 following independence.
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On 1 February 1950, Umrao Singh was promoted to the junior commissioned officer rank of jemadar.
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Umrao Singh was promoted to subedar major on 2 May 1968, and to the honorary rank of captain on 15 August 1970.
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Umrao Singh attended the service of dedication of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Memorial in Westminster Abbey on 14 May 2003.
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Umrao Singh was cremated in his native village with full military honours, attended by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, General Joginder Jaswant Singh, and Lt Gen Charanjit Singh.
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Umrao Singh's name was the last one to be added to the memorial of Victoria Cross winners of the Royal Artillery in the apse of St George's Garrison Church in Woolwich, London, near the Royal Artillery Barracks.