From hills to trenches: The Dogra who won Victoria Cross

Lala Ram, a decorated soldier from Parol village in Bhoranj subdivision of Hamirpur district, was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest gallantry decoration of the British Royal Forces, for his exceptional bravery during World War I. His courage under impossible odds was a testament to the indomitable spirit and unwavering loyalty of Indian soldiers who fought on foreign soil.

His heroic act at the Battle of Hanna in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) on January 21, 1916, not only earned him the prestigious medal but also inspired generations to remain steadfast in adversity and fearless in service to the nation.

Path to historic bravery

Born on April 20, 1876, into a martial Rajput family, Lala Ram was encouraged by his father, Dhinag Ram (popularly known as Ramditta), to pursue a life of discipline and courage. A keen footballer, he joined the Indian Army in 1901 at the age of 25, despite having little formal education. He was, however, proficient in Hindi, English and Urdu — a rarity for soldiers of that era.

Over a century ago, his gallantry during the fierce Mesopotamian campaign earned him the Victoria Cross for “most conspicuous bravery”, making him one of the most celebrated soldiers of his regiment.

A legacy remembered

Lala Ram was married to Gurdei, but the couple had no children. He passed away on March 23, 1927, due to polio. His widow, Gurdei, lived on and was cared for by his nephew, Captain Bhagat Ram, who also served in the Indian Army. The family’s legacy continues through Bhupinder Singh, Bhagat Ram’s son, who remains the custodian of Lala Ram’s memories.

Bhupinder Singh recalls that much of what the family knows about Lala Ram came from Gurdei’s own stories. “Till she was alive, the family used to receive invitations from the British government, but now there is hardly any communication,” he said.

He added that during the tenure of Dr YS Parmar, Himachal’s first Chief Minister, the village school was named Lala Memorial School and a link road leading to the village was also christened in his honour. “However,” Bhupinder laments, “not enough has been done to make people aware of such great warriors. Heroes like Lala Ram deserve chapters in school history books.”

The Battle of Hanna

The act that earned Lala Ram the Victoria Cross remains one of sheer heroism. Serving with the 41st Dogra Regiment (now 3rd Dogra), his unit was deployed in Mesopotamia to secure vital oil fields from Turkish forces.

On January 21, 1916, amid relentless shelling and freezing weather, Lala Ram repeatedly ventured into open fire to rescue wounded soldiers stranded just 100 yards from enemy trenches. He saved six men, including his Adjutant, Captain ELE Lindop, MC, who later succumbed to his wounds but recounted Lala’s unmatched bravery.

Praise from commanders

Sir George Younghusband, who commanded the 7th Division, noted in his memoir A Soldier’s Memories of Peace and War that “Lala was out all day and most of the night and earned his VC a dozen times.”

He added, “The Victoria Cross had only recently been granted to Indian soldiers and perhaps there is no worthier wearer of the badge of honour than Lance Naik Lala of the Dogras.”

Lala Ram was later commissioned as Jamadar in 1923 and retired from service in 1926, leaving behind an enduring tale of courage and devotion.

Honour yet to find its place

Jagjit Thakur, Lala Ram’s great-grandson, shared that repeated efforts have been made to include the stories of Victoria Cross (VC) and Gallantry Cross (GC) winners in school curricula, but such heroes are yet to receive their rightful space in textbooks.

“Children should grow up knowing about warriors like Lala Ram,” he said. “Their courage is part of our history and deserves to be remembered.”