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| Page revised: 14 January, 2008 |
Second Lieutenant Premindra Singh BHAGAT VC |
| Born: | Bhagat Kot, Mussourie, India - 14 October 1914 | 
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| Died: | Calcutta, India - 23 May 1975 | ||
| Burial details: | Cremated; ashes consigned to River Moola, Poona, India | ||
| Corps service: | He was educated at the Royal Indian Military College (RIMC) before attending the Indian Military Academy from where he was commissioned into the Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners in July 1939. He joined 21 Field Company in September 1940 before it embarked for East Africa. | ||
| Towards the end of the war he attended Staff College, Camberley before returning to India in 1947. In the post-Independence Indian Army he rose through the Army's hierarchy holding several important and senior commands. He was awarded the Param Vashist Seva Medal (PVSM), the highest Indian military decoration for distinguished service outside the battlefield, for his work in preventing a total disaster when the River Gumti flooded near Lucknow in 1970's. He retired as a Lieutenant General in 1974. | |||
| VC awarded: | Won VC near Metemma, Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), on 31 January-1 February 1941 (Second World War 1939-45) | ||
| VC unit: | 21 Field Company, Bombay Sappers and Miners | ||
| VC presented: | VC presented by the Viceroy, HE the Marquess of Linlithgow KT, GCSI, GCIE at Delhi in November 1941 | ||
| VC citation: | For most conspicuous gallantry on active service in
the Middle East. During the pursuit of the enemy following the capture
of Metemma on the night 31 January-1 February 1941, Second-Lieutenant
Bhagat was in command of a section of a Field Company, Sappers and
Miners, detailed to accompany the leading mobile troops (Bren Carriers)
to clear the road and adjacent areas of mines. For a period of four
days and over a distance of 55 miles this officer in the leading carrier
led the Column. He detected and supervised the clearing of fifteen
minefields. Speed being essential, he worked at high pressure from
dawn to dusk each day. On two occasions when his carrier was blown
up with casualties to others, and on a third occasion when ambushed
and under close enemy fire he himself carried straight on with his
task. He refused relief when worn out with strain and fatigue and
with one eardrum punctured by an explosion, on the grounds that he
was now better qualified to continue his task to the end. His coolness, persistence over a period of 96 hours, and gallantry, not only in battle, but throughout the long period when the safety of the Column and the speed at which it could advance were dependent on his personal efforts, were of the highest order. (London Gazette: 10 June 1941) |
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| VC location: | Bombay Sapper Group Museum, Kirkee, Poona, India | ||
| Background: | Prem Bhagat won his VC during the Abyssinia campaign, his unit accompanied the the 5th Indian Division in their advance into Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) from Sudan. Their objective was to drive the Italians, commanded by Duke of Aosta, from the country. The Italians finally surrendered on 17 May 1941 | ||
| Source:
Additional material: SC Fenwick, FoREM Links to further reading:
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Royal Engineers Museum main site
