Badlu Singh VC

Name: Badlu Singh

Conflict: First World War

Gazetted: November 27, 1918

Service: Indian Army

Place/date of birth: Dhakla, Punjab, India/November 1876

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Ressaidar

Date of bravery: September 23, 1918

London Gazette citation:

Ressaidar Badlu Singh, late 14th Lancers, attached 29th Lancers, Indian Army.

For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on the morning of the 23rd September, 1918, when his squadron charged a strong enemy position on the west bank of the River Jordan, between the river and Kh .es Samariveh Village.

On nearing the position Ressaidar Badlu Singh realised that the squadron was suffering casualties from a small hill on the left front occupied by machine guns and 200 infantry. Without the slightest hesitation he collected six other ranks and with the greatest dash and an entire disregard of danger charged and captured the position, thereby saving very heavy casualties to the squadron. He was mortally wounded on the very top of the hill when capturing one of the machine guns single-handed, but all the machine guns and infantry had surrendered to him before he died.

His valour and initiative were of the highest order.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: River Jordan, Palestine/September 23, 1918

Grave/memorials: Cremated (location of ashes unknown); The Heliopolis Memorial, Heliopolis War Cemetery, Cairo, Egypt

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Sotheby’s, Billingshurst, West Sussex, 1995

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum