Major Parkash Singh VC (31 March 1913 – 23 March 1991) was a Sikh Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Biography

Parkash Singh was born on 31 March 1913 in Sharikar village, in the Lyallpur District of what was British India (now modern Pakistan) into a Jat Sikh family. He enlisted in the 8th Punjab Regiment of the British Indian Army on 21 November 1936, seeing service on the North-West Frontier. During the Second World War, Singh was a 28-year-old Havildar serving in the Bren Gun Carrier Platoon of 5th Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment, British Indian Army (now 5th Battalion The Baloch Regiment of Pakistan Army). In January 1943, his battalion was engaged in fighting on the Mayu Peninsula in the Arakan, Burma, against Japanese forces, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC: On 15 August 1943, Singh was commissioned in the VCO (Viceroy's Commissioned Officer - the present-day Junior Commissioned Officer) rank of jemadar (now naib subedar), with the war-substantive rank of subedar. Singh remained in the Indian Army post-Independence, transferring to the Sikh Regiment as 8 Punjab had been allotted to the Pakistan Army. Effective 19 July 1948, he was selected for a short-service commission in the rank of lieutenant (seniority from 19 July 1946), and received a regular commission in the same rank on 6 October 1952. He was promoted to captain and then to major on 19 July 1961, retiring on 21 November 1968 after 32 years of service. He died in 1991 aged 77, whilst undergoing heart surgery in England, at Ealing, London. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum, London.

Awards