Jemadar Parkash Singh VC, 1945 (c)

Photograph, World War Two, 1945 (c).

Parkash Singh (1913-1991) was serving as a havildar with the 8th Punjab Regiment when he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 6 January 1943 during the 14th Indian Division's campaign in the Arakan. He was driving a Bren Carrier at Donbaik on the Mayu Peninsula. During a Japanese attack he drove his own carrier forward and rescued the crews of two disabled carriers under very heavy fire. Again on 19 January in the same area he rescued two more carriers which had been put out of action by an enemy anti-tank gun. He then went out yet again and brought to safety another disabled carrier containing two wounded men.

Parkash Singh had joined the Indian Army in 1936 and served on the North West Frontier prior to World War Two. He received his VC from the Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow, at Delhi during July 1943. Parkash Singh was later commissioned and remained in the Indian Army after independence in 1947, eventually retiring with the rank of major in 1968.