Sepoy Chatta Singh Kalchuri, VC

Sepoy Chatta Singh Kalchuri (1886–1961) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the British Empire’s armed forces.

Early Life and Background

Chatta Singh was born in 1886 in Uttar Pradesh, India. He belonged to the Kalchuri / Haihaivanshi Kshatriya community.

Military Service

He served as a Sepoy (infantry private) in the 9th Bhopal Infantry of the Indian Army during the First World War.

Victoria Cross Action

On 13 January 1916, during the Battle of the Wadi in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), Sepoy Chatta Singh performed an act of conspicuous bravery that earned him the Victoria Cross. Under intense enemy fire, he:

• Left cover to assist his Commanding Officer, who was wounded and lying helpless in the open.
• Bound up the officer’s wounds and began digging cover for him using only his entrenching tool, all while being fully exposed to rifle fire.
• Shielded the wounded officer with his own body on the exposed side for five hours, until nightfall.
• Once it was dark, he returned for help and brought the officer to safety.

Later Life

He later achieved the rank of Havildar (equivalent to Sergeant) and passed away in 1961 in Tilsara, Kanpur, India.