Fazal Din VC (1 July 1921 – 2 March 1945) was an Indian[1][2] recipient of the Victoria Cross award, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.[3][4][5]
Fazal Din | |
|---|---|
 Fazal Din c. 1945 | |
| Born | 1 July 1921 Hoshiarpur, Punjab Province British Indian Empire |
| Died | 2 March 1945 (aged 23) Meiktila, British Burma |
| 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 Award by the British Government in 1945 for devotion to duty and bravery |
Early life
editHe was born in 1921 to a Muslim Punjabi Gujjar family in the Hoshiarpur District of Punjab, British India.[2][6] 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.[2][4]
Victoria Cross citation
editFazal Din was 23 years old, and an acting naik in the 7th Battalion of 10th Baluch Regiment, British Indian Army[a] during the Battle of Mektila.[1]
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.[2][3][7]
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.[2]
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.[1][2]
Notes
edit- ^ now 15th Battalion of The Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army
References
edit- ^ a b c "Fazal Din's act of bravery and its description". The London Gazette (Supplement). No. 37091. 22 May 1945. p. 2647.
- ^ a b c d e f John-Paul Tooth (12 November 2015). "The Incredible Story of Fazal Din VC (Victoria Cross Award)". Forces.net website. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ a b "OUR HEROES: FAZAL DIN". Armed Forces Muslim Association website. 24 January 2017. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ a b War History Online (2017) "Man Who Fought on despite the Hole in His Chest - Fazal Din's Citation note (24 May 1945)". Commonwealth War Graves website. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "Fazal Din - Indian Army, 7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment". Memorials to Valour website. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Naik Fazal Din VC, 10th Baluch Regiment". Burma Star Memorial Fund.
- ^ "WWII Memorials - Rangoon Memorial, Yangon, Myanmar - Profiles of Victoria Cross Award Recipients including Fazal Din". World War II Cemeteries.com website. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.