Victoria Cross recipients

Since it was instituted by Royal Warrant on 29 January 1856, there have been 1,358 awards of the Victoria Cross (VC), to 1,355 individuals, including one presented to the American Unknown Soldier of the First World War.  Over the years, awards of the VC have become increasingly sparse, when compared with the Victoria era.  For example, while no fewer than twenty-four were awarded for a single day – 16 November 1857 – during the Indian Mutiny, and there were 628 awards during the First World but just 182 awards (to 181 recipients), of which 85 were posthumous, during the Second World War.

Of the Second World War awards, twenty-nine were for service during the Burma Campaign between January 1943 and the effective end of the war in Burma in mid-1945.  All were to members of the British or Indian Armies, with the exception of that to an officer in The Royal Norfolk Regiment serving with No. 1 Commando.  Seventeen VCs were awarded to members of the Indian Army – which then included the Gurkhas – thus fully reflecting the multi-national nature of the Fourteenth Army.  Five of these VCs were awarded for actions in India, rather than Burma: three in Manipur State (Imphal) and two in Assam (Kohima).

It is highly relevant that no fewer than seventeen of these awards were posthumous – including all dozen awards to British officers and men – a significantly higher proportion than those made for the Second World War as a whole: almost 60% versus 47%.  As a foe, the Japanese proved to be implacable, highly skilful and extraordinarily determined, with a very un-Western willingness to sacrifice their lives for the cause.  No fewer than ten of these awards were earned in 1945, when the Japanese, though clearly losing the war, nevertheless continued to resist doggedly.  The citations which follow demonstrate the dogged fighting skills and fine leadership of the Fourteenth Army. 

All these recipients displayed remarkable and humbling gallantry on multiple occasion, with, as is stipulateded, a 90 to 100 per cent chance of death in action.  Although it is almost invidious to single out just one example, that of Naik Fazal Din of the 10th Baluch Regiment is almost unbelievable.  The ranks shown in the headings are those which the recipients were holding – whether acting, temporary or substantive – at the time of the events to which the award relates. 

Awards of the Victoria Cross for actions in Burma and India 1943-1945