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.
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. 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. 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.
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
This along with the *, indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously.
Name |
Unit |
Date of action |
Conflict |
Place of action
|
James Adams |
Bengal Ecclesiastical Department |
1879 |
Second Anglo-Afghan War |
Killa Kazi, Afghanistan
|
Robert Adams |
Corps of Guides |
1897 |
Tirah Campaign |
Nawa Kili, India
|
Frederick Aikman |
0044th Bengal Native Infantry |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Amethi, India
|
Robert Aitken |
01313th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
Michael Allmand |
Indian Armoured Corps |
1944* |
Second World War |
Pin Hmi Road Bridge, Burma
|
Henry Andrews |
Indian Medical Service |
1919* |
Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) |
Waziristan, India
|
Charles Baker |
Bengal Police Battalion |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Suhejnee, Bengal
|
Premindra Bhagat |
Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners |
1941 |
Second World War |
Metemma, Abyssinia
|
James Blair |
0022nd Bombay Light Cavalry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Neemuch, India
|
Guy Boisragon |
Indian Staff Corps |
1891 |
Hunza-Naga Campaign |
Nilt Fort, India
|
Francis Brown |
0011st European Bengal Fusiliers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Narnoul, India
|
Sam Browne |
04646th Bengal Native Infantry |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Seerporah, India
|
William Bruce |
05959th Scinde Rifles |
1914* |
First World War |
Givenchy, France
|
John Buckley |
Commissariat Department |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
Thomas Butler |
0011st European Bengal Fusiliers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
Thomas Cadell |
0022nd European Bengal Fusiliers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
William Cafe |
05656th Bengal Native Infantry |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Fort Ruhya, India
|
Herbert Carter |
Poona Mounted Infantry |
1903 |
Fourth Somaliland Expedition |
Jidballi, Somaliland
|
George Channer |
Bengal Staff Corps |
1875 |
Perak War |
Perak, Malaya
|
William Chase |
02828th Bombay Native Infantry |
1880 |
Second Anglo-Afghan War |
Kandahar, Afghanistan
|
George Chicken |
Indian Naval BrigadeIndian Naval Brigade |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Peroo, Bengal
|
Herbert Clogstoun |
01919th Madras Native Infantry |
1859 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Chichumbah, India
|
Alexander Cobbe |
King's African Rifles |
1902 |
Third Somaliland Expedition |
Erigo, Somaliland
|
William Connolly |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Jhelum, India
|
John Cook |
Bengal Staff Corps |
1878 |
Second Anglo-Afghan War |
Peiwar Kotal, Afghanistan
|
Edmond Costello |
02222nd Punjab Infantry |
1897 |
Tirah Campaign |
Malakand, India
|
Garrett Creagh |
Bombay Staff Corps |
1879 |
Second Anglo-Afghan War |
Kam Dakka, Afghanistan
|
John Crimmin |
Bombay Medical Service |
1889 |
Third Burmese War |
Lwekaw, Burma
|
William Cubitt |
01313th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Chinhut, India
|
Arthur Cumming |
01212th Frontier Force Regiment |
1942 |
Second World War |
Kuantan, Malaya
|
Mir Dast |
05555th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force) |
1915 |
First World War |
Wieltje, Belgium
|
John Daunt |
01111th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Chota Behar, India
|
Frank de Pass |
03434th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse |
1914* |
First World War |
Festubert, France
|
Bernard Diamond |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Bolandshahr, India
|
Fazal Din |
01010th Baluch Regiment |
1945* |
Second World War |
Meiktila, Burma
|
Thomas Duffy |
0011st Madras European Fusiliers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
James Dundas |
Bengal Engineers |
1865 |
Bhutan War |
Dewan-Giri, India
|
Richard Fitzgerald |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Bolandshahr, India
|
Andrew Fitzgibbon |
India Medical Establishment |
1860 |
Third China War |
Taku Forts, China
|
George Forrest |
Bengal Veterans Establishment |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
George Fosbery |
0044th Bengal European Regiment |
1863 |
Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) |
North-West Frontier, India
|
Yeshwant Ghadge |
0055th Mahratta Light Infantry |
1944* |
Second World War |
Upper Tiber Valley, Italy
|
Gaje Ghale |
0055th Gurkha Rifles |
1943 |
Second World War |
Chin Hills, Burma
|
Peter Gill |
Loodiana Regiment |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Benares, India
|
Charles Goodfellow |
Bombay Engineers |
1859 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Kathiawar, India
|
Hugh Gough |
0011st Bengal European Light Cavalry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Alumbagh, India
|
Charles Gough |
0055th Bengal European Cavalry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Khurkowdah, India
|
Charles Grant |
Indian Staff Corps |
1891 |
Manipur Expedition |
Thobal, Burma
|
John Grant |
0088th Gurkha Rifles |
1904 |
British expedition to Tibet |
Gyantse Jong, Tibet
|
Bhanbhagta Gurung |
0022nd Gurkha Rifles |
1945 |
Second World War |
Snowdon East, Tamandu, Burma
|
Lachhiman Gurung |
0088th Gurkha Rifles |
1945 |
Second World War |
Taungdaw, Burma
|
Thaman Gurung |
0055th Gurkha Rifles |
1944* |
Second World War |
Monte San Bartolo, Italy
|
Ali Haidar |
01313th Frontier Force Rifles |
1945 |
Second World War |
Fusignano, Italy
|
Rao Abdul Hafiz Khan |
0099th Jat Infantry |
1944* |
Second World War |
Imphal, India
|
Walter Hamilton |
Corps of Guides |
1879 |
Second Anglo-Afghan War |
Futtehabad, Afghanistan
|
Arthur Hammond |
Bengal Staff Corps |
1879 |
Second Anglo-Afghan War |
Kabul, Afghanistan
|
Hastings Harington |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
James Hills |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
Duncan Home |
Bengal Engineers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
Eustace Jotham |
05151st Sikhs |
1915* |
First World War |
Tochi Valley, India
|
James Innes |
Bengal Engineers |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Sultanpore, India
|
Namdeo Jadhav |
0055th Mahratta Light Infantry |
1945 |
Second World War |
Senio River, Italy
|
Hanson Jarrett |
02626th Bengal Native Infantry |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Baroun, India
|
Edward Jennings |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
Karamjeet Judge |
01515th Punjab Regiment |
1945* |
Second World War |
Meiktila, Burma
|
Thomas Kavanagh |
Bengal Civil Service |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
Richard Keatinge |
Bombay ArtilleryBombay Artillery |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Chundairee, India
|
William Kenny |
03939th Garhwal Rifles |
1920 |
Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) |
Kot Kai, India
|
William Kerr |
02424th Bombay Native Infantry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Kolapore, India
|
Khudadad Khan |
129129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis |
1914 |
First World War |
Hollebeke, France
|
Shahamad Khan |
08989th Punjabis |
1916 |
First World War |
Beit Ayeesa, Mesopotamia
|
LalaLala |
04141st Dogras |
1916 |
First World War |
El Orah, Mesopotamia
|
Ganju Lama |
0077th Gurkha Rifles |
1944 |
Second World War |
Ningthoukhong, Burma
|
Thomas Laughnan |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
Harry Lyster |
07272nd Bengal Native Infantry |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Calpee, India
|
Donald Macintyre |
Bengal Staff Corps |
1872 |
Looshai Expedition |
Lalgnoora, India
|
Hector MacLean |
Corps of Guides |
1897* |
Tirah Campaign |
Nawa Kili, India
|
Patrick Mahoney |
0011st Madras European Fusiliers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Mungulwar, India
|
John Malcolmson |
0033rd Bombay Light Cavalry |
1857 |
Anglo-Persian War |
Khoosh-ab, Persia
|
Ross Mangles |
Bengal Civil Service |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Arrah, India
|
Arthur Mayo |
Indian Naval BrigadeIndian Naval Brigade |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Arrah, India
|
Francis Maxwell |
Indian Staff Corps |
1900 |
Second Boer War |
Korn Spruit, South Africa
|
William McDonell |
Bengal Civil Service |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Arrah, India
|
Hugh McInnes |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
John McGovern |
0011st Bengal Fusiliers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
James McGuire |
0011st Bengal Fusiliers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
Charles Melliss |
Indian Staff Corps |
1900 |
Third Ashanti Expedition |
Obassa, Ashanti
|
Godfrey Meynell |
01212th Frontier Force Regiment |
1935* |
Second Mohmand Campaign |
Mohmand, India
|
James Miller |
Bengal Ordnance Depot |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Futtehpore, India
|
Arthur Moore |
0033rd Bombay Light Cavalry |
1857 |
Anglo-Persian War |
Khoosh-ab, Persia
|
Darwan Negi |
03939th Garhwal Rifles |
1914 |
First World War |
Festubert, France
|
Gabbar Negi |
03939th Garhwal Rifles |
1915* |
First World War |
Neuve Chapelle, France
|
William Olpherts |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
James Park |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
Everard Phillipps |
01111th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857* |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
Henry Pitcher |
0044th Punjab Infantry |
1863 |
Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) |
North-West Frontier, India
|
Harry Prendergast |
Madras Engineers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Mundisore, India
|
Dighton Probyn |
0022nd Punjab Cavalry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
India
|
Tulbahadur Pun |
0066th Gurkha Rifles |
1944 |
Second World War |
Mogaung, Burma
|
Agansing Rai |
0055th Gurkha Rifles |
1944 |
Second World War |
Bishenpur, Burma
|
Bhandari Ram |
01010th Baluch Regiment |
1944 |
Second World War |
Arakan, Burma
|
Chhelu Ram |
0066th Rajputana Rifles |
1943* |
Second World War |
Djebel Garci, Tunisia
|
Kamal Ram |
0088th Punjab Regiment |
1944 |
Second World War |
Gari River, Italy
|
Richhpal Ram |
0066th Rajputana Rifles |
1941* |
Second World War |
Keren, Eritrea
|
Karanbahadur Rana |
0033rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles |
1918 |
First World War |
El Kefr, Egypt
|
William Raynor |
Bengal Veterans Establishment |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
George Renny |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
Richard Ridgeway |
Bengal Staff Corps |
1879 |
Basuto War |
Konoma, India
|
Frederick Roberts |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Khodagunge, India
|
Patrick Roddy |
Bengal Army |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Kuthirga, India
|
George Rolland |
0011st Bombay Grenadiers |
1903 |
Third Somaliland Expedition |
Daratoleh, Somaliland
|
Matthew Rosamund |
03737th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Benares, India
|
John Ryan |
0011st Madras European Fusiliers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
Miles Ryan |
101101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers) |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
Philip Salkeld |
Bengal Engineers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
Reginald Sartorius |
0066th Bengal Cavalry |
1874 |
First Ashanti Expedition |
Abogu, Ashanti
|
Andrew Scott |
Bengal Staff Corps |
1877 |
Balochistan Campaign |
Quetta, India
|
Sher Shah |
01616th Punjab Regiment |
1945* |
Second World War |
Kyeyebyin, Burma
|
Badlu Singh |
01414th Murray's Jat Lancers |
1918* |
First World War |
River Jordan, Palestine
|
Chatta Singh |
0099th Bhopal Infantry |
1916 |
First World War |
Wadi, Mesopotamia
|
Gian Singh |
01515th Punjab Regiment |
1945 |
Second World War |
Kamye, Burma
|
Gobind Singh |
02828th Light Cavalry |
1917 |
First World War |
Épehy, France
|
Ishar Singh |
02828th Punjab Regiment |
1921 |
Waziristan campaign (1919–1920) |
Haidari Kach, India
|
Nand Singh |
01111th Sikh Regiment |
1944 |
Second World War |
Maungdaw-Buthidaung Road, Burma
|
Parkash Singh |
0088th Punjab Regiment |
1943 |
Second World War |
Donbaik, Burma
|
Prakash Singh |
01313th Frontier Force Rifles |
1945* |
Second World War |
Kanlan Ywathit, Burma
|
Ram Sarup Singh |
0011st Punjab Regiment |
1944* |
Second World War |
Kennedy Peak, Burma
|
Umrao Singh |
Royal Indian Artillery |
1944 |
Second World War |
Kaladan Valley, Burma
|
John Sinton |
Indian Medical Service |
1916 |
First World War |
Orah Ruins, Mesopotamia
|
Robert Shebbeare |
06060th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
John Smith |
Bengal Sappers and Miners |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
John Smith |
0011st Madras European Fusiliers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
John Smith |
Indian Staff Corps |
1891 |
Hunza-Naga Campaign |
Nilt Fort, India
|
John Smyth |
01515th Ludhiana Sikhs |
1915 |
First World War |
Richebourg L'Aouve, France
|
Edward Thackeray |
Bengal Engineers |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
Kulbir Thapa |
0033rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles |
1915 |
First World War |
Fauquissart, France
|
Lalbahadur Thapa |
0022nd Gurkha Rifles |
1943 |
Second World War |
Rass-es-Zouai, Tunisia
|
Netrabahadur Thapa |
0055th Gurkha Rifles |
1944* |
Second World War |
Bishenpur, Burma
|
Sher Bahadur Thapa |
0099th Gurkha Rifles |
1944* |
Second World War |
San Marino, Italy
|
Jacob Thomas |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
Henry Tombs |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857 |
Indian of 1857 |
Delhi, India
|
James Travers |
0022nd Bengal Native Infantry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Indore, India
|
William Trevor |
Bengal Engineers |
1865 |
Bhutan War |
Dewan-Giri, India
|
John Tytler |
06666th Bengal Native Infantry |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Choorpoorah, India
|
William Vousden |
0055th Punjab Cavalry |
1879 |
Second Anglo-Afghan War |
Kabul, Afghanistan
|
William Walker |
0044th Gurkha Rifles |
1903 |
Third Somaliland Expedition |
Daratoleh, Somaliland
|
William Waller |
02525th Bombay Light Infantry |
1858 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Gwalior, India
|
John Watson |
0011st Punjab Cavalry |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Lucknow, India
|
George Wheeler |
0099th Gurkha Rifles |
1917 |
First World War |
Shumran, Mesopotamia
|
George Wheeler |
0077th Hariana Lancers |
1915* |
First World War |
Shaiba, Mesopotamia
|
Frederick Whirlpool |
0033rd Bombay European Regiment |
1857 |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
Jhansi, India
|
Harry Whitchurch |
Indian Medical Service |
1895 |
Chitral Expedition |
Chitral Fort, India
|
John Wood |
02020th Bombay Native Infantry |
1856 |
Anglo-Persian War |
Bushire, Persia
|
References
- Specific
- General