Dalpat Singh (soldier)
First World War | |
|---|---|
| Awards | Military Cross (posthumously) |
Thakur Dalpat Singh MC (November 1892 – 23 September 1918) was a British Indian Army officer, known as the "Hero of Haifa" for his actions in the Battle of Haifa during World War I.[1]
Early life
Singh was born to a noble family
Military career
By 1918, Singh was commander of the
On 23 September 1918, a combined British-Indian force, including the Jodhpur Lancers, successfully captured the crucial
After the battle, Singh was awarded the Military Cross. His citation read as follows:[2]
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer, accompanied only by his trumpeter, charged an entrenched machine gun killing and scattering the crew and capturing the gun. At the same time he captured the commandant of a regiment and another officer.
Commemoration
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During a visit to Haifa, Israel, in 2017, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Indian Cemetery and unveiled a plaque to Singh, with Singh's "Hero of Haifa" moniker.[3]
The Mayor of Haifa Yona Yahav, during the centenary year of the battle, paid tribute to Singh, asserting:[4]
Dalpat Singh not only changed the history of my city but the history of the Middle East.
References
- ^ "Haifa Day: 104 years ago, gallant Indian cavalrymen liberated this city in Israel from Ottoman rule". The Free Press Journal. 22 September 2022.
- ^ a b c Bowden, Bill. "Major Thakur Dalpat Singh" (PDF). Old Eastbournian. Eastbourne College. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
- ^ Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
- Economic Times (India). 6 September 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2023.