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Service Profile
- Branch
- Indian Army
- Rank
- Subedar (Captain)
- Service Era
- World War II, East African Campaign, Battle of Keren
- Medals Recorded
- 5
Richhpal Ram
Subedar (Captain), Indian Army
Support & adopt this hero ↓World War IIEast African CampaignBattle of Keren
Awards & Decorations
- Victoria Cross
- India General Service Medal 1936–1939
- North West Frontier 1936-37
- 1939-1945 Star
- Africa Star
- War Medal 1939-1945
Ribbon Rack
Biography
He led bayonet attacks and stood against six counterattacks.
Richhpal Ram was born at Barda in India on 20 August 1899. He enlisted in August 1920 and made a career in the Rajputana Rifles, eventually becoming a subadar. He was married and had two sons.
In February 1941 the 4th Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles, was fighting Italian forces around Keren in Eritrea. During the night of 7-8 February he accompanied the leading platoon and took command when his company commander was wounded. He led a bayonet assault that seized the objective and organized the isolated party against six counterattacks. With ammunition exhausted, he fought his way back with the survivors.
On 12 February he again led an attack. A shell shattered his foot, but he continued urging his men forward before dying of his wounds. His posthumous Victoria Cross recognized sustained leadership in both actions. His death ended a career of more than twenty years.
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