Kirpa Ram

Naik Kirpa Ram (1916 – 12 September 1945) was a posthumous recipient of the George Cross, the highest British (and Commonwealth) medal for gallantry not in the face of the enemy.

Born in 1916, Kirpa volunteered to join the Indian Army. During the Second World War he was a member of 8th Battalion, 13th Frontier Force Rifles. He served in the Burma Campaign and his unit then returned to India.

On 12 September 1945, during a field firing exercise at a rest camp at Thondebavi, Bangalore a rifle grenade misfired and fell only eight yards from Kirpa's section. The 28-year-old soldier rushed forward, shouting at his men to take cover and attempted to throw it to a safe distance. It exploded in his hand, wounding him fatally, but his self-sacrifice meant that only two men of the section were slightly wounded. The posthumous award of the George Cross was announced on 15 March 1946, the citaiton read:

"St. James's Palace, S.W.1, 15th March, 1946.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the GEORGE CROSS, in recognition of most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner, to:-

No. 15634 Naik KIRPA RAM, 8th Battalion, 13th Frontier Force Rifles, Indian Army."

In 2002 Kirpa's GC was among the contents of a trunk stolen from his widow's house at Bhupral, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. Although investigations were made at the time, no trace was found until the medal was presented for auction in London in late 2009. The medal was due to go under the hammer on 2 December 2009, but after the widow, Brahmi Devi, was alerted to the sale steps were taken to suspend the sale.