Badlu Singh

One act of extraordinary courage on the banks of the River Jordan turned a moment of grave danger into an unforgettable story of sacrifice. Risaldar Badlu Singh, a cavalryman of the British Indian Army, gave his life on 23 September 1918 while leading a daring attack against an enemy position in Palestine. His exceptional bravery earned him the Victoria Cross posthumously, Britain's highest award for gallantry.

Born on 13 January 1876 in Dhakla, Punjab, India, Badlu Singh served in the 14th Murray's Jat Lancers. During the First World War, he served on the North-West Frontier and was later attached to the 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse) during the campaign in Palestine. By September 1918, he held the rank of Risaldar, a senior position of responsibility within the Indian cavalry.

On the morning of 23 September 1918, during an attack near Kh. es Samariyeh on the west bank of the River Jordan, Singh's squadron came under devastating fire from a small hill occupied by machine guns and approximately 200 enemy infantry. Recognising that his comrades were facing potentially catastrophic casualties, Singh acted without hesitation. He gathered six other ranks and led a courageous charge against the strongly defended position. Despite overwhelming danger, his small party captured the hill and neutralised the enemy resistance, saving the squadron from very heavy losses. Singh was mortally wounded at the summit while capturing one of the machine guns single-handedly. Before he died, however, all the enemy machine guns and infantry had surrendered.

For this extraordinary act of bravery and self-sacrifice, His Majesty King George V approved the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Risaldar Badlu Singh. His citation was published in the London Gazette, Supplement No. 31034, on 26 November 1918. It concluded with the powerful words: "His valour and initiative were of the highest order."

Badlu Singh was cremated where he fell, but his sacrifice was never forgotten. His name is commemorated on the Heliopolis Memorial at Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo, Egypt. His Victoria Cross is preserved in the Lord Ashcroft Collection at the Imperial War Museum, ensuring that the extraordinary courage of this Indian cavalryman continues to inspire future generations.

Risaldar Badlu Singh remains a remarkable example of courage, leadership and selfless devotion to comrades. His story stands as a lasting tribute to the Indian soldiers who served and sacrificed during the First World War.