Editing Gian Singh (soldier)

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
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{{Infobox military person
|name= Gian Singh
| honorific_suffix  = VC
|birth_date= {{birth date|df=yes|1920|10|5}}
|death_date= {{Death date and age|1996|10|6|1920|10|5|df=yes}}
|birth_place= Sahabpur, [[Punjab (India)|Punjab, India]]
|death_place= [[Jullundur]]
|placeofburial= 
|image= Gian Singh VC.jpg
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{flag|British India|23px}}<br/>{{flag|India|23px}} 
|serviceyears= 
|rank= [[Subedar-Major]]
|branch= {{army|British India|23px}}<br/>{{army|India|23px}}
|commands= 
|unit= [[15th Punjab Regiment]]<br/>[[Sikh Regiment]]
|battles=[[World War II]]<br/>[[Sino-Indian War]]<br/>[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
|awards= [[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|30px]] [[Victoria Cross]]
|laterwork=
}}

'''Gian Singh''' {{post-nominals|VC}} (5 October 1920{{snd}}6 October 1996) was a 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.

[[Image:Victoria Cross 1939-1945.jpg|thumb|right|Singh's name on the "Memorial Gates" at [[Constitution Hill, London]] SW1]]

==Biography==
Singh was born into a [[Jats|Jat]] [[Sikh]] family in Sahabpur, a village in the Nawanshahr district (now, [[Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district]]) of eastern [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]].  He was 24 years old, and a [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]] in the [[15th Punjab Regiment]] in the [[British Indian Army]], when during the [[Burma Campaign 1944–45]] of [[World War II]] he performed the deeds for which he was awarded the VC. The citation reads:

{{blockquote|text=
The [[George VI|KING]] has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:—

No. 11620 Naik Gian SINGH, 15th Punjab Regiment, Indian Army.

In Burma, on 2nd March, 1945, the Japanese were holding a strong position astride the road Kamye-[[Myingyan]]. Two Companies of the 15th Punjab Regiment carried out successfully a wide encircling movement and established themselves on some high ground about one and a half miles in the rear of this enemy position. As all water supply points were within the enemy position it was vital that he should be dislodged.<br/>
The attack on to the first objective was successful and one platoon was ordered to attack a village to the right. This platoon's attack, with the aid of tanks, advanced slowly under very heavy enemy fire. Naik Gian Singh was in command of the leading section.<br/>
The enemy were well concealed in foxholes along cactus hedges and Naik Gian Singh soon observed enemy some twenty yards ahead. Ordering his Light Machine Gunner to cover him, he, alone, rushed the enemy fox-holes, firing his Tommy Gun. He was met by a hail of fire and wounded in the arm. In spite of this he continued his advance alone, hurling grenades. He killed several Japanese including four in one of the enemy main weapon pits.<br/>
By this time a troop of tanks moved up in support of this platoon and came under fire from a cleverly concealed enemy antitank gun. Naik Gian Singh quickly saw the danger to the tanks and, ignoring the danger to himself and in spite of his wounds, again rushed forward, killed the crew and captured the gun single-handed. His section followed him and he then led them down a lane of cactus hedges, clearing all enemy positions which were being firmly held. Some twenty enemy bodies were found in this area, the majority of which fell to Naik Gian Singh and his section.<br/>
After this action, the Company reformed to take the enemy positions to the rear.<br/>
Naik Gian Singh was ordered to the Regimental Aid Post but, in spite of his wounds, requested permission to lead his section until the whole action had been completed. This was granted.<br/>
There is no doubt that these acts of supreme gallantry saved Naik Gian Singh's platoon many casualties and enabled the whole operation to be carried out successfully with severe losses to the enemy.<br/>
The magnificent gallantry of this Naik throughout, his devotion to duty and leadership, although wounded, could not have been surpassed.|sign=London Gazette, 22 May 1945.
<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37086 |page=2607 |supp=y |date=22 May 1945 }}</ref>
}}

Refusing to be invalided from the Army, Singh received a mention in dispatches later that year. He was presented with his Victoria Cross by King George VI, in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 16 October 1945.

After Indian independence in 1947, Singh transferred to the 11th Sikhs when 15 Punjab was allocated to Pakistan. He was promoted to havildar (sergeant), with successive promotions to [[jemadar]] (now [[naib subedar]] in the Indian Army) on 29 December 1955,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=77  |date=21 April 1956 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> followed by promotion to [[subedar]] on 21 December 1961.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=23  |date=19 January 1963 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He saw action in both the 1962 Sino-Indian War and in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]. Promoted to [[subedar major]] on 15 June 1967,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=724  |date=23 September 1967 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> Singh retired from the army in August 1969 with the honorary rank of captain.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=84  |date=15 August 1969 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He died in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|title=Naik Gian Singh VC|url=http://www.defenceimagedatabase.mod.uk/fotoweb/wewerethere/ww2/g_singh.html|work=We were there|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=31 October 2022}}</ref>

==Awards==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=India_General_Service_Medal_1947.svg|width=106}} 
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|width=106}} 
|-
|[[File:IND_Samar_Seva_Star_Ribbon.svg|100px]]
|[[File:IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg|100px]]
|[[File:Indian Independence medal 1947.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|-
|[[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_1939-45_Star.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_Burma_Star.png|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_War_Medal_&_MiD.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_India_Service_Medal.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=UK Queen EII Coronation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=UK Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}   
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-

|[[General Service Medal 1947]]
|[[Samanya Seva Medal]]
|-
|Samar Seva Star
|Raksha Medal
|[[Indian Independence Medal]]
|20 Years Long Service Medal
|-
|9 Years Long Service Medal
|[[Victoria Cross]]
|[[1939–45 Star]]
|[[Burma Star]]
|-
|[[War Medal 1939-1945]]
|[[India Service Medal]]
|[[Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal]]
|[[Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal]]
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100812133217/http%3A//www.defencedynamics.mod.uk/wewerethere/ww2/g_singh.html We were there  – Naik Gian Singh VC]
*[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-gian-singh-vc-1360891.html Obituary: Gian Singh VC]
*[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggingtom.htm Burial location]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Gian}}
[[Category:Sikh warriors]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Indian World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British Indian Army soldiers]]
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]