Darwan Singh Negi
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Darwan Singh Negi (November 1881- 24 June 1950) was among the earliest Indian recipients 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.
He was approx. 33 years old, and a Naik in the 1st Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles, Indian Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On the night of 23/24 November 1914 at Festubert, France, the regiment was engaged in retaking and clearing the enemy out of our trenches. In this very dangerous operation Naik Darwan Singh Negi was the first to push round every traverse. Although he was wounded in the head and in the arm, he kept on going forward in the face of heavy fire from bombs and rifles at very close range.
He later achieved the rank of Subedar.
His Victoria Cross is on display in the Garhwal Rifles Museum in Lansdowne, Uttarakhand.
[edit] See also
- Khudadad Khan, the first Indian VC Winner
