Premindra Singh Bhagat
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Premindra Singh Bhagat (14 October 1918-23 May 1975) 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.
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He was 22 years old, and a Second Lieutenant (King's Commissioned Indian Officer) in the Corps of Indian Engineers, Indian Army, attd. Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 31 January/1 February 1941 after the capture of Gallabat in Abyssinia, Second Lieutenant Premindra Singh Bhagat cleared Italian mine-fields while chasing the enemy. In four days he covered 55 mine-ridden miles, was twice blown up in his carrier, was ambushed and had one of his ear drums shattered. There were casualties too, amongst his men, but he would not rest until the mine clearing had been completed.
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He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant General.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
[edit] External links
- Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
- Second Lieutenant Premindar Singh Bhagat in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives
- Premindra Singh Bhagat
