- Ali Haidar
Ali Haidar (21 August 1913 - 15 July 1999) was an ethnic
Pashtun India n recipient of theVictoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.Details
He was 31 years old, and a
Sepoy in the13th Frontier Force Rifles ,Indian Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.On 9 April 1945 near
Fusignano ,Italy , during the crossing of the Senio River, only Sepoy Ali Haidar and the two other men of his section managed to get across under heavy machine-gun fire. Then, while the other two covered him, the sepoy attacked the nearest strong point and, in spite of being wounded, put it out of action. In attacking a second strong-point he was again severely wounded but managed to crawl closer, throw a grenade and charge the post; two of the enemy were wounded, the remaining two surrendered. The rest of the company were than able to cross the river and establish a bridgehead.Further information
He was born in
Kohat toPashtun parents, N.W. Frontier, India which is now Pakistan. He later achieved the rank ofHavildar .References
*John Cawkill
ee also
*
List of Indian Victoria Cross recipients External links
* [http://haynese.winthrop.edu/india/medals/VC/2AHaider.html Ali Haider]
* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggpakist.htm Burial location of Ali Haider] "Pakistan"
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