A true blue Dogra
Lala Ram was born in Parol near Jullundur in Punjab on 20 April 1876. As there were no schools in that area then, he had no formal education. However, he could read and write Hindi. He enlisted in the newly raised 41st Dogra Regiment in 1901. He was a good sportsman.
He served initially on the Suez Canal defences and then went to France, where he was wounded and was nursed in the converted Brighton Pavilion, adapted as a hospital for Indian soldiers. On recovery, he joined his regiment in Mesopotamia. British and Indian forces had landed in the Persian Gulf in November 1914. Due to large losses, the force retreated to Kut -al-Amara. While the siege lasted, British and Indian reinforcements on a large scale were dispatched to Mesopotamia but ultimately futile attempts to relieve the besieged garrison.
41 Dogras were part of the force which, along with the 2nd Black Watch, 9th Bhopals, 37th Dogras and 6th Jats, assaulted the Turkish entrenchments near the ruins of Al Orah on the Tigris. The relief force (reduced to just 10,000 men) encountered 30,000 men of the Ottoman Sixth Army. The British force was beaten back sustaining 2,700 casualties. There was a freezing wind and the wounded lay in pools of rain and flooded marsh. It was typical of Dogra to strip himself and make a shield of his body for his Adjutant and the Adjutant was only one of five officers whom Lala saved that day.
Lance Naik Lala came across a Major in his regiment, 150 yards from the enemy line, completely exposed and trying to bandage a grievous wound. Lala dragged him a few yards only a few inches deep, and there bound up the Major’s wounds. Meanwhile, he heard other cries for help and dragged four more of his comrades to bind their wounds. Lala heard another voice calling for help. He recognised the voice and said to the Major: “That is my Adjutant Sahib calling. I must go out to help him”. “No, Lala, it is quite useless”, said the Major; “You will certainly be shot dead”.
Seeing Lala was determined to go, the Major said: I order you not to go; lie down”. Lala lay still for a while and then hearing the voice again, jumped up. This officer, before being taken to hospital, where he died, narrated his account to a brother officer: “I was shot down in the open about a hundred yards from the enemy. At the slightest movement, bullets whistled past. Then came a Sepoy to my assistance and he was also shot dead. Then it came on to rain and a bitter wind sprang up. Then, as I lay in great pain, suddenly appeared Lala and lay down beside me with cheering words. First, he bound up my wounds and then taking off his own coat spread it over me. He then lay down lengthways so as to protect me from the enemy’s bullets. At length, when it grew dark, he crept off and brought up some stretcher-bearers.”
Next morning, he was hale and cheerful as ever. He was granted Victoria Cross. Lala was also awarded the 1st Class of the Russian Cross of St. George and Mentioned in Dispatches (L.G. 17 Oct. 1916). Lala returned to India in 1917. The Governor-General of India, Lord Chelmsford, at a special parade on 30 January 1917, at the vice-regal lodge, Delhi, India, presented medals and orders to 200 Indian officers and men including the Victoria Cross to Lance-Naik Lala, 41 Dogras, and two other Indian soldiers.
Lala saw further action as a Havildar with the 41 Dogras in the Third Afghan War in 1919. He was later awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. He was promoted to the rank of Jemadar in 1923. He retired after 25 years’ service in 1926 and returned to his home in Parol. He contracted polio and died in March 1927. It is said that his last words were “We fought true”.