Remembering the Heroes awarded with the Victoria Cross

Sepoy Chatta Singh from Uttar Pradesh, in 1916.

United Kingdom introduced new digital archives which unfold the stories of six Indian soldiers who were dignified with the Victoria Cross award for their bravery during World War I.

To mark the celebrations of World War I, the UK government launched new digital documents narrating the tales of the war heroes.

Along with 175 men from 11 countries, six Indian soldiers were honoured with the Victoria Cross (VC) award for their bravery during the First World War. These soldiers fought in the World War I as part of the British Indian Army.

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration for valour in the face of the enemy that is awarded to the members of armed forces of various commonwealth countries.

The legendary Indian heroes who will be remembered through the fresh released archives include Risaldar Badlu Singh from Punjab, Sepoy Chatta Singh from Uttar Pradesh, Naik Darwan Singh Negi and Rifleman Gabar Sing Negi from Uttarakhand, Lance Daffadar Gobind Singh from Rajasthan and Lance Naik Lala from Himachal Pradesh.

“Behind every name engraved on the memorial plaques there is a truly remarkable story. It is fitting that we pay tribute to the Victoria Cross recipients from overseas by bringing their stories together in this digital archive,” said Foreign and Commonwealth Office minister Hugo Swire.

“By doing so we are sending a message that these men, and the important role played by their home countries in the First World War, will never be forgotten by the people of the United Kingdom,” he said.

Besides six heroes from India, archives for soldiers from other countries were also released which includes 3 from Pakistan, 2 from Nepal, 70 VC’s from Canada, 66 from Australia, 16 from New Zealand, 14 from South Africa, 5 from US, 2 from Denmark and one from Belgium and Ukraine.