Fazal Din

Fazal Din was an Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross award, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

He was born in 1921 to a Punjabi agricultural family of Muslim Gujjars in Village Hussianpur of Hoshiarpur District of Punjab [Province (British India)]. Fazal Din, having only passed Middle School, was inspired to join the British Indian Army by the outbreak of the World War. He was recruited as a rifleman and became a section gunner in the 10th Baluch Regiment, before rising to the rank of Naik - equivalent to a British Army corporal.

Victoria Cross citation

Fazal Din was 23 years old, and an acting naik in the 7th Battalion of 10th Baluch Regiment, British Indian Army during the Battle of Meiktila.
The official citation to the award describes his actions: