Darwan Singh Negi

Darwan Singh Negi VC (4 March 188324 June 1950) was one of the first Indian soldiers to be awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life Negi was born to a farming family in Kafarteer village in the Garhwal District of the North-Western Provinces in India. In 1902, at the age of 19, he joined the 39th Garhwal Rifles, Indian Army. Negi was a 31 year old naik (equivalent to corporal) in the 1st Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles, British Indian Army during the First World War when he performed the deed during the Defence of Festubert for which he was awarded the VC.

Victoria Cross The citation of the VC reads:

He was awarded the medal on the same day as Khudadad Khan's VC; but Khan's VC action was of earlier date, so that he is regarded as the first Indian recipient.

Negi returned to India in January 1915 and undertook recruiting duty. After the First World War he served in Iraq, He retired in May 1926 with the rank of subedar, equivalent to a British captain. In the Second World War he again acted as a recruiting officer within India. He died on 24 June 1950 and was cremated in his home village of Kafarteer in the Garhwal division, India.

Negi's son Balbir served in the Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army; and achieved the rank of colonel and Balbir's son is still serving as a Brigadier in the Indian Army. The Victoria Cross is held by the family. The regimental museum of the Garhwal Rifles in Lansdowne, Uttarakhand is named the Darwan Singh Museum in his honour.

Awards and decorations

Victoria Cross1914 Star (5th AUG.–22nd NOV. 1914)British War MedalVictory MedalIndia General Service Medal (Malabar 1921–22)General Service Medal (Kurdistan) (Iraq)King George V Silver Jubilee MedalKing George VI Coronation Medal