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Kamal Ram: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross}} | {{short description|Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date= | {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
|name=Kamal Ram | |name=Kamal Ram | ||
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|allegiance = {{flag|British India|23px}} <br /> {{flag|India|23px}} | |allegiance = {{flag|British India|23px}} <br /> {{flag|India|23px}} | ||
|serviceyears =194?-1972 | |serviceyears =194?-1972 | ||
|rank = [[ | |rank = [[Junior commissioned officer#Honorary commission|Honorary Lieutenant]] | ||
|branch = {{army|British India|23px}} <br /> {{army|India|23px}} | |branch = {{army|British India|23px}} <br /> {{army|India|23px}} | ||
|unit = [[8th Punjab Regiment]] | |unit = [[8th Punjab Regiment]] | ||
|battles = [[World War II]] | |battles = [[World War II]] | ||
* [[Italian campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] | * [[Italian campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]] | ||
|awards = [[File:Victoria Cross | |awards = [[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|30px]] [[Victoria Cross]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Kamal Ram''' | '''Kamal Ram''', [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (17 December 1924{{snd}}1 July 1982) was an [[List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Indian Army|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 [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces. He was the second-youngest [[List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Indian Army|Indian recipient]] of the award. He was from the Gurjar community. | ||
== Life == | == Life == | ||
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[[Image:Victoria Cross 1939-1945.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Kamal Ram's name is inscribed on the [[Memorial Gates, London|Memorial Gates]] at [[Constitution Hill, London|Constitution Hill]] in [[London]].]] | [[Image:Victoria Cross 1939-1945.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Kamal Ram's name is inscribed on the [[Memorial Gates, London|Memorial Gates]] at [[Constitution Hill, London|Constitution Hill]] in [[London]].]] | ||
Kamal Ram was born into a [[Gurjar]]<ref>https://www.india.com/viral/kamal-ram-91st-birth-anniversary-remembering-brave-indian-sepoy-and-victoria-cross-recipient-791750/amp/</ref> family on 17 December 1924, in the village of Bholupura, [[Karauli district]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now in [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vconline.org.uk/kamal-ram-vc/4587254429 |title=Kamal Ram VC}}</ref> His father's name was Shiv Chand.{{sfn|Bawa|1972|pp=84}} During the [[World War II|Second World War]], he served in the 3rd Battalion, [[8th Punjab Regiment]], [[British Indian Army]] (now the 3rd Battalion, [[Baloch Regiment]], [[Pakistan Army]]). He was 19 years old, with the rank of [[Sepoy]], when, on 12 May 1944, his battalion assaulted the formidable [[Nazi Germany|German]] defences of the [[Winter Line|Gustav Line]], across the [[Gari River|River Gari]] in [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]]; and he performed the deeds for which he was awarded the VC. | Kamal Ram was born into a [[Gurjar]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.india.com/viral/kamal-ram-91st-birth-anniversary-remembering-brave-indian-sepoy-and-victoria-cross-recipient-791750/amp/ | title=Kamal Ram 91st birth anniversary: Remembering brave Indian Sepoy and Victoria Cross recipient | date=17 December 2015 }}</ref> family on 17 December 1924, in the village of Bholupura, [[Karauli district]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now in [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vconline.org.uk/kamal-ram-vc/4587254429 |title=Kamal Ram VC}}</ref> His father's name was Shiv Chand.{{sfn|Bawa|1972|pp=84}} During the [[World War II|Second World War]], he served in the 3rd Battalion, [[8th Punjab Regiment]], [[British Indian Army]] (now the 3rd Battalion, [[Baloch Regiment]], [[Pakistan Army]]). He was 19 years old, with the rank of [[Sepoy]], when, on 12 May 1944, his battalion assaulted the formidable [[Nazi Germany|German]] defences of the [[Winter Line|Gustav Line]], across the [[Gari River|River Gari]] in [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]]; and he performed the deeds for which he was awarded the VC. | ||
{{sfn|Ahmad|2006|pp=280}} The citation reads as follows: | {{sfn|Ahmad|2006|pp=280}} The citation reads as follows: | ||
{{ | {{blockquote|text= | ||
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:{{ndash}} | The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:{{ndash}} | ||
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[[File:King George VI is driven past cheering Indian troops on his way to a ceremony to invest Sepoy Kamal Ram with the Victoria Cross, Italy, 26 July 1944. NA17265.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[King George VI]] is driven past cheering [[British Indian Army|Indian troops]] on his way to a ceremony to invest Sepoy Kamal Ram with the [[Victoria Cross]], Italy, 26 July 1944.]] | [[File:King George VI is driven past cheering Indian troops on his way to a ceremony to invest Sepoy Kamal Ram with the Victoria Cross, Italy, 26 July 1944. NA17265.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[King George VI]] is driven past cheering [[British Indian Army|Indian troops]] on his way to a ceremony to invest Sepoy Kamal Ram with the [[Victoria Cross]], Italy, 26 July 1944.]] | ||
[[George VI|King George VI]] presented him with the medal in Italy in 1944.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defencedynamics.mod.uk/multimedia-library/419-Sepoy_Kamal_Ram_VC |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20101208180940/http://www.defencedynamics.mod.uk/multimedia-library/419-Sepoy_Kamal_Ram_VC |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 December 2010 |title=Sepoy Kamal Ram VC |website=nationalarchives.gov.uk |access-date=26 October | [[George VI|King George VI]] presented him with the medal in Italy in 1944.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defencedynamics.mod.uk/multimedia-library/419-Sepoy_Kamal_Ram_VC |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20101208180940/http://www.defencedynamics.mod.uk/multimedia-library/419-Sepoy_Kamal_Ram_VC |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 December 2010 |title=Sepoy Kamal Ram VC |website=nationalarchives.gov.uk |access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref> He remained in the [[Indian Army]] post-independence, rising to the rank of ''[[Havildar]]'' (sergeant) before receiving a promotion to ''[[Jemadar]]'' (now ''[[Junior commissioned officer|Naib subedar]]'') on 18 May 1960,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=197 |date=6 August 1960 |publisher=[[The Gazette of India]]}}</ref> and further promotions to ''[[Subedar]]'' on 1 March 1964 and to ''[[Junior commissioned officer|Subedar-major]]'' on 1 January 1970.<ref>{{cite news|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)|page=503|date=12 December 1964|publisher=[[The Gazette of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)|page=313|date=7 March 1970|publisher=[[The Gazette of India]]}}</ref> He retired in 1972 with the rank of ''[[Junior commissioned officer#Honorary commission|Honorary Lieutenant]]'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)|page=101|date=15 August 1972|publisher=[[The Gazette of India]]}}</ref> and died in 1982. | ||
== The medal == | == The medal == | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
{{reflist}} | |||
{{reflist | |||
== Bibliography == | == Bibliography == | ||
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[[Category:1982 deaths]] | [[Category:1982 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:People from Karauli district]] | [[Category:People from Karauli district]] | ||
[[Category: Gurjar]] | [[Category:Gurjar]] | ||
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]] | [[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]] | ||
[[Category:Rajasthani people]] | |||
Revision as of 17:14, 15 December 2022
Kamal Ram | |
|---|---|
 King George VI pinning the Victoria Cross on Sepoy Kamal Ram, 26 July 1944 | |
| Born | 17 December 1924 Bholupura, Rajputana Agency, British India |
| Died | 1 July 1982 (aged 57) Bholupura, Rajasthan, India |
| Allegiance |  British India  India |
| Service/ |  British Indian Army  Indian Army |
| Years of service | 194?-1972 |
| Rank | Honorary Lieutenant |
| Unit | 8th Punjab Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross |
Kamal Ram, VC (17 December 1924 – 1 July 1982) 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. He was the second-youngest Indian recipient of the award. He was from the Gurjar community.
Life
Kamal Ram was born into a Gurjar[1] family on 17 December 1924, in the village of Bholupura, Karauli district, British India (now in Rajasthan, India).[2] His father's name was Shiv Chand.[3] During the Second World War, he served in the 3rd Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment, British Indian Army (now the 3rd Battalion, Baloch Regiment, Pakistan Army). He was 19 years old, with the rank of Sepoy, when, on 12 May 1944, his battalion assaulted the formidable German defences of the Gustav Line, across the River Gari in Italy; and he performed the deeds for which he was awarded the VC. [4] The citation reads as follows:
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:–
No. 35408 Sepoy Kamal Ram, 8th Punjab Regiment, Indian Army.
In Italy, on 12 May 1944, after crossing the River Gari overnight, the Company advance was held up by heavy machine-gun fire from four posts on the front and flanks. As the capture of the position was essential to secure the bridgehead, the Company Commander called for a volunteer to get round the rear of the right post and silence it. Volunteering at once and crawling forward through the wire to a flank, Sepoy Kamal Ram attacked the post single handed and shot the first machine-gunner; a second German tried to seize his weapon but Sepoy Kamal Ram killed him with the bayonet, and then shot a German officer who, appearing from the trench with his pistol, was about to fire. Sepoy Kamal Ram, still alone, at once went on to attack the second machine-gun post which was continuing to hold up the advance, and after shooting one machine-gunner, he threw a grenade and the remaining enemy surrendered. Seeing a Havildar making a reconnaissance for an attack on the third post, Sepoy Kamal Ram joined him, and, having first covered his companion, went in and completed the destruction of this post. By his courage, initiative and disregard for personal risk, Sepoy Kamal Ram enabled his Company to charge and secure the ground vital to the establishment of the bridgehead and the completion of work on two bridges. When a platoon, pushed further forward to widen the position, was fired on from a house, Sepoy Kamal Ram, dashing towards the house, shot one German in a slit trench and captured two more. His sustained and outstanding bravery unquestionably saved a difficult situation at a critical period of the battle and enabled his Battalion to attain the essential part of their objective.
— London Gazette, 27 July 1944.[5]
King George VI presented him with the medal in Italy in 1944.[6] He remained in the Indian Army post-independence, rising to the rank of Havildar (sergeant) before receiving a promotion to Jemadar (now Naib subedar) on 18 May 1960,[7] and further promotions to Subedar on 1 March 1964 and to Subedar-major on 1 January 1970.[8][9] He retired in 1972 with the rank of Honorary Lieutenant,[10] and died in 1982.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.[11]
References
- ↑ "Kamal Ram 91st birth anniversary: Remembering brave Indian Sepoy and Victoria Cross recipient". 17 December 2015.
- ↑ "Kamal Ram VC".
- ↑ Bawa 1972, pp. 84.
- ↑ Ahmad 2006, pp. 280.
- ↑ "No. 36627". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 July 1944. p. 3501.
- ↑ "Sepoy Kamal Ram VC". nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 6 August 1960. p. 197.
- ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 12 December 1964. p. 503.
- ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 7 March 1970. p. 313.
- ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 15 August 1972. p. 101.
- ↑ "Kamal Ram VC".
Bibliography
- Bawa, Sundar Singh (1972). Tradition never dies: the genesis and growth of the Indian army. Lalvani Publishing House. ISBN 978-0856550775.
- Ahmad, Rifat Nadeem (2006). Unfaded Glory: The 8th Punjab Regiment 1798-1956. Naval & Military Press. ISBN 1783311045.