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Indian soldiers of British Indian army were not eligible for Victoria Cross (VC) until 1911. The highest award that an Indian soldier could get was Indian Order of Merit (IOM) prior to the eligibility for VC. Indian winners of VC belonged to all religions and ethnicities. Many Jat, Marhatta, Dogra, Garhwali and Gujar Hindus, Gurkhas, Sikhs, Punjabi, Pathan and Rajput Muslims fought with utmost bravery in battlefields allover the globe. Many rightfully earned the highest gallantry award.
Eleven VCs were awarded to Indian soldiers in First World War and twenty eight in Second World War. In First World War, six VCs were won in France and Belgium, three in Mesopotemia and two in Palestine. In Second World War, eighteen VCs were won in Burma, six in Italy, two in North Africa and two in East Africa. Only one VC was awarded for gallantry on Indian soil. Sepoy Ishar Singh of 28th Punjabis (later 4th Battalion of 15th Punjab Regiment and now 12 Punjab Regiment of Pakistan army) won this sole VC on Indian soil at Haidri Kuch in Waziristan.
Gobind Singh of 28th Cavalry (later 7th Light Cavalry) attached to 2nd Gardner's Horse was the first VC winner from cavalry. Only one other cavalry soldier Badlu Singh won VC. He was from 14(TM) Murray's Jat attached to 29th Lancers. Only one VC winner Subedar Major Umrao Singh was from artillery (30(TM) Mountain Regiment). Ganju Lama of Ist Battalion of 7th Gurkha Rifles who won VC in 1944 was a native of Sikkim and first Gujar VC holder was Sepoy Kamal Ram of 3rc* Battalion of 8(TM) Punjab Regiment (now 3 Baloch Regiment of Pakistan army).
Only two Indian commissioned officers won VC. First officer to win VC was Second Lieutenant (later Lieutenant General) Premindra Singh Bhagat (Engineers) and second officer winning this award posthumously was Lieutenant Karamjit Singh Judge of 4th Battalion of 15th Punjab Regiment (now 12 Punjab Regiment of Pakistan army). Permindra Singh Bhagat was serving with 21 Field Company and attached to 3(TM) Battalion of 12(TM) Frontier Force Regiment (now 5 Frontier Force Regiment of Pakistan army) when he won his VC at the battle of Keren. Bhagat later rose to become Lieutenant General of Indian army; however he still maintained...