LEST WE FORGET: GUTS AND GLORY ON FOREIGN SOILS – VII
Badlu Singh’s Valour
(Maj Gen Harvijay Singh, SM)
Victoria Cross winner Risaldar Badlu Singh’s statue was unveiled in his village Dhakla in Jhajjar District of Haryana 01 Sep 2019. Badlu Singh belonged to 14th Murray’s JAT LANCERS, was attached with 29th LANCERS (DECCAN HORSE) during World War I.
During World War I, the Arabs joined the British against the Ottomans.
29th LANCERS landed in Egypt on 10 April 1918 and moved to Tell El Kebir, Kantara and finally to Belah on 27 April 1918 to join the 14th Cavalry Brigade of the 5th Cavalry Division. The regiment was involved in frequent encounters with the Turkish forces in July and Aug 1918. The regiment moved to Deiran (Palestine) and fought in the Battle of Megiddo.
On 23 Sep 1918 on the west bank of the River Jordan, Palestine, when his squadron was charging a strong enemy position, Risaldar Badlu Singh realised that heavy casualties were being inflicted from a small hill occupied by machine-guns and 200 infantry. Without any hesitation he collected six other ranks and with entire disregard of danger he charged and captured the position. He was mortally wounded on the very top of the hill when capturing one of the machine-guns single handed. Shaken by the charge, all the machine guns and infantry had surrendered to him before he died
His valour and initiative were of the highest order.
Risaldar Badlu Singh is commemorated at the HELIOPOLIS (PORT TEWFIK) MEMORIAL which commemorates 3,726 Indians who served during World War I in Egypt and Palestine.
Panels bearing the names, erected in the entrance pavilions to Heliopolis War Cemetery, were unveiled by the Indian Ambassador to Egypt in Oct 1980. The original memorial at Port Tewfik was damaged during the Israeli-Egyptian Six day War of 1967. It is maintained by the Common Wealth War Graves Commission.
The Indian Armed Forces stand tall among their global peers because of their rich battle-hardened heritage, high motivation and tough training.
………………Contd, because these stories must be told