Kamal Ram


Kamal Ram VC was an Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the second-youngest Indian recipient of the award.

Details

Kamal Ram Gurjar was born into a Gurjar family on 17 December 1924, at Bindapura Bholupura village of Karauli District, Rajasthan, India. His father's name was Shiv Chand Gurjar.
During World War II, he served in the 3rd Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment, British Indian Army. He was 19 years old, with the rank of Sepoy, when, on 12 May 1944, his battalion assaulted the formidable German defences of the Gustav Line, across the River Gari in Italy; and he performed the deeds for which he was awarded the VC.
The citation reads as follows:
King George VI presented him with the medal in Italy in 1944. He remained in the Indian Army post-Independence, rising to the rank of havildar before receiving promotion to jemadar on 18 May 1960, to subedar on 1 March 1964 and to subedar-major on 1 January 1970. He retired in 1972 with the honorary rank of lieutenant, and died in 1982.

The Medal

His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.
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