Gobind Singh (VC)

Three horses fell beneath him as he bore some messages back.

Gobind Singh was born at Damoi in Rajasthan on 7 December 1887. He joined the Jodhpur Lancers in 1910, later served in the 28th Light Cavalry and was attached to the 2nd Lancers during the First World War. His cavalry service took him to France and the fighting around Cambrai.

During the withdrawal at the end of November 1917, his regiment became isolated near Epehy. On 1 December he volunteered to carry a message across exposed ground to brigade headquarters. His horse was shot, but he continued on foot and delivered it. He then undertook the return journey with the reply.

When another message was needed, he volunteered again. Across three journeys his horses were repeatedly killed beneath him. He used folds in the ground, ran on despite exhaustion and continued after narrowly escaping shellfire. The messages gave headquarters essential information about the regiment's position. Even after the third journey, he offered to go once more, but his condition made further exposure impossible. George V presented his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace in February 1918.

After the war, Singh pursued military education and continued his cavalry career. He became a jemadar and later a risaldar, retiring in 1934. He received agricultural land in the Punjab and maintained close ties with his home community. He and his wife Jattal Kanwar had a son, Ganga Singh, who also followed a military career. Gobind Singh died at Nagaur on 9 December 1942 and was cremated at Damoi.