Kamal Ram
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Kamal Ram VC (17 December 1924 - 1 July 1982) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the youngest Indian recipient of the Second World War. He was born in a Gurjar Family on 17th December 1924 in Bholupura village, Sawai Madhopur tehsil, Jaipur State, Rajasthan, son of Shiv Chand Harsana.
[edit] Details
He was 19 years old, and a Sepoy in the 3rd Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment, British Indian Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 12 May 1944 at the River Gari on the Gustav Line in Italy, the company advance was held up by heavy machine-gun fire from four posts on the front and flanks. The capture of the position was essential and Sepoy Kamal Ram volunteered to get round the rear of the right post and silence it. He attacked the first two posts single-handed, killing or taking prisoner the occupants and together with a Havildar he then went on to complete the destruction of a third. His outstanding bravery unquestionably saved a difficult situation at a critical period of the battle.
He later achieved the rank of Subedar.
[edit] References
- The UK Ministry of Defence 'We Were There' exhibition
- Sharma, Gautam (1990). Valour and Sacrifice: Famous Regiments of the Indian Army, India: Allied Publishers. ISBN 817023140X, p.137
- The Tiger Triumphs: The Story Of Three Great Divisions In Italy, His Majesty's Stationery Office for the Government of India (1946), Chapter 7
