An imposing symbol of righteousness (1920-2005)
Umrao Singh, son of Mohar Singh, was born on 21 November, 1920 in Palra village, Jajjhar district in Haryana. He attended a local school and joined the army in 1939, a tradition in Palra. He was promoted to the rank of Havaldar in Royal Indian Artillery. He served in Africa and later in Burma (now Myanmar). Captain Singh was Detachment Commander of a field gun in 30 Mountain Battery in Burma; it was supporting the 8th Gold Coast Regiment in 81st West African Division. They were facing the 28th Japanese Army commanded by Lt Gen Sakurai Seizo.
The Japanese carried out sustained bombing by artillery and mortars for an hour and half on 15/16 December 1944. It was followed by an attack by two Japanese companies. He inspired his men by personal example to beat back the attack. Though wounded twice by grenades in the first attack, he again held off the second attack by skilful control of his detachment’s small arms fire, handling the light machine gun himself. The third and fourth attacks were also beaten back by the resolute action of Umrao Singh. By then besides him only two soldiers had survived.
When the final attack came, the ammunition had been spent and he picked up a gun bearer and struck down three Japanese soldiers in close combat, after which he fell unconscious. Six hours later after a successful counter-attack, he was found with seven wounds and ten dead Japanese around him. Captain Singh was rewarded with Victoria Cross (VC) by King George VI at Buckingham Palace, the first noncommissioned officer in the Royal Artillery and Royal Indian Artillery to receive it.
After his recovery he was promoted to Subedar Major and retired in 1946. He rejoined service in the army in 1947 and served till 1965. Captain Singh retired and returned to his two-acre farm in his village and was awarded the rank of Honorary Captain in 1970. He was a popular figure in the village often exhorting the boys to join the army. Many people contacted him with offer to purchase his VC but he declined. He got offers of Rs. 70 lakhs.
He attended the celebrations of 50th anniversary of the VE Day (victory in World War 2) in 1995. Only seven of the 11 surviving VC awardees attended it. Prime Minister John Major got down from his car to shake hands with them and enquired about their well being.
Umrao Singh complained about the meager pension fixed in 1960 at the currency exchange rate of 1946 which then was Rs. 2 to pound. To which John Major commented that it was a bureaucratic muddle.
A week after his return to New Delhi, the British High Commission informed him that the VC allowance will be admitted at the prevailing currency exchange rate or the next higher rate. Six months later in March 1996, Christopher Thomas, South Asia correspondent of Times (London) came to his village and informed him that the VC allowance has been increased from 100 to 1300 pounds per year.
He passed away on 21 November 2005 in the Army Research and Referral Hospital, New Delhi after prolonged illness. He was cremated the next day in his village with all the military honours. He is survived by two sons and daughter. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief Minister of Haryana was present on the occasion and the Army Chief General J J Singh saluted the last remains just before the pyre was lit.