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{{more citations needed|date=September | {{Short description|Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross (1821–1945)}} | ||
{{more citations needed|date=September 2022}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
|name=Fazal Din | |name = Fazal Din | ||
|image=Naik Fazal Din VC.jpg | |image = Naik Fazal Din VC.jpg | ||
|caption= | |caption = Fazal Din {{circa|1945}} | ||
|birth_date={{birth date|1921|07|01|df=yes}} | |birth_date = {{birth date|1921|07|01|df=yes}} | ||
|death_date = {{death date and age|1945|03|02|1921|07|01|df=yes}} | |death_date = {{death date and age|1945|03|02|1921|07|01|df=yes}} | ||
|birth_place=[[Hoshiarpur District|Hoshiarpur]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]] | |birth_place = [[Hoshiarpur District|Hoshiarpur]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]] | ||
|death_place=[[Meiktila]], [[British Burma]] | |death_place = [[Meiktila]], [[British Burma]] | ||
| | |allegiance = [[British Raj]] | ||
|branch = [[British Indian Army]] | |||
|branch= | |serviceyears = 1940–1945 | ||
|serviceyears= 1940–1945 | |rank = [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] | ||
|rank=[[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] | |unit = 7th Battalion, [[10th Baluch Regiment]] | ||
|unit=7th Battalion, [[10th Baluch Regiment]] | |commands = | ||
|commands= | |battles = [[Second World War]] | ||
|battles=[[Second World War]] | |||
* [[Pacific War]] | * [[Pacific War]] | ||
** [[Burma campaign]] | ** [[Burma campaign]] | ||
*** [[Burma campaign (1944–45)|Burma campaign 1945]] | *** [[Burma campaign (1944–45)|Burma campaign 1945]] | ||
**** [[Battles of Meiktila and Mandalay|Battle of Meiktila]] {{DOW}} | **** [[Battles of Meiktila and Mandalay|Battle of Meiktila]] {{DOW}} | ||
|awards= | |awards = [[Victoria Cross]] | ||
|relations= | |relations = | ||
|laterwork= | |laterwork = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Fazal Din''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (1 July 1921 – 2 March 1945) was an Indian | '''Fazal Din''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (1 July 1921 – 2 March 1945) was an Indian<ref name="forcesnet">{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/heritage/incredible-story-fazal-din-vc|title=The Incredible Story of Fazal Din VC|work=Forces.net|date=12 November 2022}}</ref> recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://afma.org.uk/2017/01/24/our-heroes-fazal-din/|title=OUR HEROES: FAZAL DIN|date=24 January 2017|work=AFMA}}</ref> | ||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
He was born in 1921 to Punjabi Muslim family in the [[Hoshiarpur District]] of [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], British India.<ref name="forcesnet"/> | He was born in 1921 to a [[Punjabi Muslim]] [[Gujjar]] family in the [[Hoshiarpur District]] of [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], British India.<ref name="forcesnet"/> Fazal Din, having only passed Middle School, was inspired to join the [[British Indian Army]] by the outbreak of the World War. He was recruited as a [[rifleman]] and became a [[Section (military unit)|section]] gunner in the [[10th Baluch Regiment]], before rising to the rank of [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] - equivalent to a British Army corporal.<ref name="forcesnet"/> | ||
==Victoria Cross citation== | ==Victoria Cross citation== | ||
Fazal Din was 23 years old, and an acting | Fazal Din was 23 years old, and an acting naik in the 7th Battalion of [[10th Baluch Regiment]], [[British Indian Army]]{{efn|now 15th Battalion of The [[Baloch Regiment]] of the [[Pakistan Army]]}} during the battle of Mektila. | ||
The official citation to the award describes his actions: | |||
The | |||
{{Quotation|In Burma, on 2nd March, 1945, Naik Fazal Din was commanding a section during a Company attack on a Japanese bunkered position. During this attack, the section found itself in an area flanked by three bunkers on one side and a house and one bunker on the other side. This was the key of the enemy position and had held up a Company attack made earlier. Naik Fazal Din's section was accompanied by a tank but, at the time of entering the area, it had gone on ahead. On reaching the area, the section was held up by Light Machine Gun fire and grenades from the bunkers. Unhesitatingly Naik Fazal Din personally attacked the nearest bunker with grenades and silenced it. He then led his section under heavy fire against the other bunkers. Suddenly six Japanese, led by two officers wielding swords, rushed from the house. The [[Bren light machine gun|Bren gunner]] shot one officer and a Japanese other rank but by then had expended the magazine of the gun. He was almost simultaneously attacked by the second Japanese officer who killed him with his sword. Naik Fazal Din went to the Bren gunner's assistance immediately but, in doing so, was run through the chest by the officer, the sword point appearing through his back. On the Japanese officer withdrawing his sword, Naik Fazal Din, despite his terrible wound, tore the sword from the officer and killed him with it. He then attacked a Japanese other rank and also killed him. He then went to the assistance of a [[sepoy]] of his section who was struggling with another Japanese and killed the latter with the sword. Then, waving the sword, he continued to encourage his men. He staggered to Platoon Headquarters, about 25 yards away, to make a report and collapsed. He died soon after reaching the Regimental Aid Post.<ref name="forcesnet"/> | |||
Naik Fazal Din's action was seen by almost the whole Platoon who, undoubtedly inspired by his gallantry and taking advantage of the bewilderment created amongst the enemy by the loss of its leaders, continued the attack and annihilated the garrison which numbered 55.<ref name="forcesnet"/> | Naik Fazal Din's action was seen by almost the whole Platoon who, undoubtedly inspired by his gallantry and taking advantage of the bewilderment created amongst the enemy by the loss of its leaders, continued the attack and annihilated the garrison which numbered 55.<ref name="forcesnet"/> | ||
Such supreme devotion to duty, even when fatally wounded, presence of mind and outstanding courage, have seldom been equalled and reflect the unquenchable spirit of a singularly brave and gallant N.C.O.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37091|date=22 May 1945|page=2647|supp=y}}</ref><ref name="forcesnet"/>}} | Such supreme devotion to duty, even when fatally wounded, presence of mind and outstanding courage, have seldom been equalled and reflect the unquenchable spirit of a singularly brave and gallant N.C.O.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37091|date=22 May 1945|page=2647|supp=y}}</ref><ref name="forcesnet"/>}} | ||
==Notes== | |||
{{notelist}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 15:46, 5 November 2022
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2022) |
Fazal Din | |
|---|---|
 Fazal Din c. 1945 | |
| Born | 1 July 1921 Hoshiarpur, Punjab, British India |
| Died | 2 March 1945 (aged 23) Meiktila, British Burma |
| Allegiance | British Raj |
| Service/ | British Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1940–1945 |
| Rank | Naik |
| Unit | 7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Fazal Din VC (1 July 1921 – 2 March 1945) was an Indian[1] recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.[2]
Early life
He was born in 1921 to a Punjabi Muslim Gujjar family in the Hoshiarpur District of Punjab, British India.[1] Fazal Din, having only passed Middle School, was inspired to join the British Indian Army by the outbreak of the World War. He was recruited as a rifleman and became a section gunner in the 10th Baluch Regiment, before rising to the rank of Naik - equivalent to a British Army corporal.[1]
Victoria Cross citation
Fazal Din was 23 years old, and an acting naik in the 7th Battalion of 10th Baluch Regiment, British Indian Army[lower-alpha 1] during the battle of Mektila.
The official citation to the award describes his actions:
In Burma, on 2nd March, 1945, Naik Fazal Din was commanding a section during a Company attack on a Japanese bunkered position. During this attack, the section found itself in an area flanked by three bunkers on one side and a house and one bunker on the other side. This was the key of the enemy position and had held up a Company attack made earlier. Naik Fazal Din's section was accompanied by a tank but, at the time of entering the area, it had gone on ahead. On reaching the area, the section was held up by Light Machine Gun fire and grenades from the bunkers. Unhesitatingly Naik Fazal Din personally attacked the nearest bunker with grenades and silenced it. He then led his section under heavy fire against the other bunkers. Suddenly six Japanese, led by two officers wielding swords, rushed from the house. The Bren gunner shot one officer and a Japanese other rank but by then had expended the magazine of the gun. He was almost simultaneously attacked by the second Japanese officer who killed him with his sword. Naik Fazal Din went to the Bren gunner's assistance immediately but, in doing so, was run through the chest by the officer, the sword point appearing through his back. On the Japanese officer withdrawing his sword, Naik Fazal Din, despite his terrible wound, tore the sword from the officer and killed him with it. He then attacked a Japanese other rank and also killed him. He then went to the assistance of a sepoy of his section who was struggling with another Japanese and killed the latter with the sword. Then, waving the sword, he continued to encourage his men. He staggered to Platoon Headquarters, about 25 yards away, to make a report and collapsed. He died soon after reaching the Regimental Aid Post.[1]
Naik Fazal Din's action was seen by almost the whole Platoon who, undoubtedly inspired by his gallantry and taking advantage of the bewilderment created amongst the enemy by the loss of its leaders, continued the attack and annihilated the garrison which numbered 55.[1]
Such supreme devotion to duty, even when fatally wounded, presence of mind and outstanding courage, have seldom been equalled and reflect the unquenchable spirit of a singularly brave and gallant N.C.O.[3][1]
Notes
- ↑ now 15th Battalion of The Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "The Incredible Story of Fazal Din VC". Forces.net. 12 November 2022.
- ↑ "OUR HEROES: FAZAL DIN". AFMA. 24 January 2017.
- ↑ "No. 37091". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1945. p. 2647.