Darwan Singh Negi
Darwan Singh Negi VC was one of the first Indian soldiers to be awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Early life
Negi was born to a farming family in Kafarteer village in the Garhwal District of the North-Western Provinces in India. In 1902, at the age of 19, he joined the 39th Garhwal Rifles, [British British Raj|Indian Army|Indian Army].World War I
When the First World War broke out in 1914, the regiment travelled to France as part of the 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Corps. Negi was a 31 year old naik in the 1st Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles, British Indian Army during the First World War when he performed the deed during the Defence of Festubert for which he was awarded the VC.Victoria Cross
The citation of the VC reads:He was awarded the medal on the same day as Khudadad Khan's VC; but Khan's VC action was of earlier date, so that he is regarded as the first Indian recipient.
Negi returned to India in January 1915 and undertook recruiting duty. After the First World War he served in Iraq, He retired in May 1926 with the rank of subedar, equivalent to a British captain. In the Second World War he again acted as a recruiting officer within India. He died on 24 June 1950 and was cremated in his home village of Kafarteer in the Garhwal division, India.
Negi's son Balbir served in the Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army; and achieved the rank of colonel and Balbir's son is still serving as a Brigadier in the Indian Army. The Victoria Cross is held by the family. The regimental museum of the Garhwal Rifles in Lansdowne, Uttarakhand is named the Darwan Singh Museum in his honour.