Gunning for prideUK remembers 2 WW-I heroes forgotten at home

At Badlu Singh's village in Jhajjar district, there is nothing that speaks of his chivalry a century ago, but for his name inscribed on the entrance of his house. Badlu Singh was just another herdsman from Dhakla village in Haryana's (then Punjab) hinterland, but his chance entry into the Indian Army and his "conspicuous bravery" immortalized the World War I hero.Today, his grandson Dharamveer lives there along with his family. As TOI lensman sets out to click pictures of him and his wife, they draw out the Victoria Cross from an almirah, where it has been lying safe for close to a hundred years now.
Last week, Britain honoured Badlu Singh and 10 other soldiers from undivided India who were awarded the VC for their service alongside 145 overseas-born fighters from Commonwealth countries. Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled individual paving stones for them at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Apart from Badlu Singh of 14th Murray's Jat Lancers, there was another hero from the region: Lala (known only by his first name) of 41st Dogras from Parol village in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. However, even as the kingdom is still grateful, the heroes are forgotten in their own land.
Risaldar Badlu Singh's great grandson Naveen Dhankar, a constable with Haryana police, says they grew up on his grandmother's tales of her father-in-law's bravery. "How, seeing his squadron suffer casualties, he gathered other ranks and captured the position, saving heavy casualties but giving in to fatal injuries near West Bank in Jordon in 1918. How in 1919 the British had come here to give my great grandmother the Victoria Cross," says Naveen. What began with Badlu Singh was to be taken up by the family and more than 10 joined the armed forces, including Naveen's brother Squadron Leader Y Dhankar.
The other symbol of unrelenting courage from the region is Jemadar Lala, who not only bandaged wounds of the adjutant of his regiment but also of a British soldier from another regiment.
Lala had no kids from his two marriages and after his death, his second wife was looked after by her niece's daughter and the 7 murabba (175 acre) land awarded to Lala also came to them. Today, her great granddaughter, Vijay Thakur, stays in the house. She remembers how when dadi was alive, they would make annual trips to Faizabad in UP where the Army would honour them. While Lala died in 1927 of polio (his final words 'We Fought True' have been oft-quoted since), she died in 1991. To show gratitude to the Army, she had handed over the Victoria Cross to it (Army), says Vijay's brother Kanwar Daler Singh, retired drug controller, Himachal. However, while the honour came easy, securing pension for her was a long legal battle in the 1980s, he rues.
Vijay says a village school has been named in his memory. "There was also a park called 'Lal' after him, but was changed to 'Bal' some years ago," she says. The many representations by the family to change it back to the war hero's name have fallen on deaf years.
In Badlu Singh's Haryana, there hasn't even been any commemoration of his brave act on the foreign shores 97 autumns ago, Dharamveer says. Thankfully, Risaldar Badlu Singh lives on.
Stories that inspire:
Badlu Singh:
"For the most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on the morning of September 23, 1918, when his squadron charged a strong enemy position on the West Bank of Jordan between the river and Khes Samariveh village. On nearing the position Ressaidar (Risaldar) Badlu Singh realized that the squadron was suffering casualties from a small hill on the left front occupied by machine guns and 200 infantry. Without the slightest hesitation, he collected six other ranks and with the greatest dash and an entire disregard of danger charged and captured the position, thereby saving very heavy casualties to the squadron. He was mortally wounded on the very top of the hill when capturing one of the machine guns single-handed, but the guns and infantry had surrendered before he died. His valour and initiative were of the highest order."
London Gazette, November 26, 1918
Lala:
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to confer the Victoria Cross on No. 501 Lance Naik Lala, 41st Dogras, Indian Army, for most conspicuous bravery.
Finding a British officer of another regiment lying close to the enemy, he dragged him into a temporary shelter, which he himself had made, and in which he had already bandaged four wounded men. After bandaging his wounds he heard calls from the Adjutant of his own regiment who was lying in the open severely wounded. The enemy were not more than one hundred yards distant, and it seemed certain death to go out in that direction, but Lance Naik Lala insisted on going out to his Adjutant, and offered to crawl back with him on his back at once. When this was not permitted, he stripped off his own clothing to keep the wounded officer warmer, and stayed with him till just before dark, when he returned to the shelter.
After dark he carried the first wounded officer back to the main trenches, and then, returning with a stretcher, carried back his Adjutant. He set a magnificent example of courage and devotion to his officers.
London Gazette, May 13, 1916