2/Lieutenant Premindra Singh Bhagat

Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners

Date of Action: 31 January/1 February 1941

Place of Action: Gallabat, Gondar, Ethiopia

Date and Place of Birth:  14 October 1918; Mussoorie, U.P.

Commissioned:  15 July 1939

CITATION

Second Lieut Premindra Singh Baghat was with Corps of Engineers who were serving with Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners in Abyssinia on 31 January 1941. During the pursuit of the enemy, he was commanding a section of his field company detailed to accompany the adavnce mobile troops in Bren carriers. For four days and over a distance of 44 miles, 2nd Lieut Bhagat conducted and supervised the clearing of 15 minefields. As speed was essential, he worked at high pressure each day from dawn to dusk. On two occasions his carrier was blown up and one of his eardrums was punctured. But his coolness and persistent disregard for danger and fatigue was phenomenal.

He was presented the V.C. on 10 November 1941, at New Delhi, by the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow. He was also mentioned in dispatches.

After the war, he continued to serve in the Indian Army, retiring as a Lieutenant-General and also having been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

This pairing of the V.C. and P.V.S.M. is unique.

A link to Premendra Singh Bhagat on Mike Chapman's VC pages.