Gobind Singh (VC)

Gobind Singh Rathore VC (7 December 1887 – 9 December 1942) was an Indian soldier, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest Commonwealth award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy", during the First World War.

Govind Singh hailed from a small village named Damoi (dist. Nagaur) in Rajasthan. He was 29 years old when he became a Lance-Daffadar in the 28th Light Cavalry. He was later attached to 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) during the First World War.

The Battle of Cambrai was an all-important battle not only because it was an effort by the allied forces to break the Hindenburg Line of the Germans, but also because it was there that tanks were used successfully for the first time in the history of warfare.

On the night of 30 November and 1 December 1917 east of Peizieres, France, Lance-Dafadar Gobind Singh was in the midst of the Battle of Cambrai, when his regiment was cut off and surrounded by enemy. An urgent message had to be sent to the brigade headquarters giving the position of the regiment. The route was a 6-mile stretch over open ground, under constant observation and enemy fire. Singh volunteered and not only delivered the message but also undertook a return message and a subsequent one. He survived enemy machine gun fire directed at him on all three occasions although his horse was killed every time.

Citation
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in thrice volunteering to carry messages between the regiment and brigade headquarters, a distance of over 1 1/2 miles over open ground which was under the observation and heavy fire of the enemy. He succeeded each time in delivering his message, although on each occasion his horse was shot dead and he was compelled to finish his journey on foot.

London Gazette, 11 January 1918

Details
On 1 December 1917 when the 2nd Lancers was surrounded by the enemy brigade, the situation became very tense because the headquarters was about six miles from this place (Epchy-France).

At this time volunteers were called for to carry a message giving the position of the regiment to the headquarters on the outskirts of Piezeire. Lance Dafadar Govind Singh and Sowar Jot Ram were selected and given two different routes. Both of them started immediately on a gallop. Jot Ram was killed as he tried to make his way to the destination. L/Dfr. Govind Singh was given the open more difficult route which was under constant enemy fire. He had travelled about half a mile of the lower ground when his horse was killed by a machine gun fire. For some time Singh lay still close to his horse, then judging he was no longer watched, he got up and began to run on foot. Immediately there was a burst of machine gun fire upon him. He trembled over as if shot and waited before getting up again and running. By repeating this process varied by wriggling along the ground, he reached the brigade headquarters.

A return message had now to be sent and he volunteered to take this too. He was given another horse and started back taking the high ground south of the valley until he reached the German post. Then dipping down and across the sunken road he had covered two-thirds the distance when his horse was shot and he had to make the rest of his way running and falling.

An hour later another message had to be sent from the regiment. Although exhausted and wounded, Govind Singh came forward again. He was told that he has already done his share but he insisted that he knew the ground better than anybody else. On the strength of this the Adjutant allowed him to go. This time he started from the lower end of the road, turned right and passed 'Catelet Copse' and went straight through the barrage in 'Epchy'. Halfway through Epchy, his horse was cut in half by a direct hit from a shell just behind the saddle. Govind Singh then ran on and eventually got into dead ground in renterent which debouches into the valley. Thence he made his way out of the sight of the enemy to Peizeire. Thoroughly exhausted and badly wounded he arrived there at 11.55 AM. He volunteered to make the journey a fourth time, but was not allowed to do so. For his conspicuous bravery and unwavering devotion to duty in saving his regiment and fellow men, lance Dafadar Govind Singh was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Medal
The medal is currently displayed in his regiment 2nd Lancers (G.H.).