b. 1886 Cawnpore, India. d. 28/03/1961 Tilsara, India.
Chatta Singh (1886-1961) was born in Cawnpore, India, sometime during 1886. Little is known of his early life prior to his enlistment with the 9th Bhopal Infantry, which became part of the British Army during the Great War.
Chatta Singh VC
He was a Sepoy (Private) when he was posted to Mesopotamia in the early months of 1916, when he was involved in the Battle of the Wadi on the 13th January 1916, when he and John Alexander Sinton would both be awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 13th January 1916 during the Battle of the Wadi, Mesopotamia, Sepoy Chatta Singh left cover to assist his commanding officer, who was lying wounded and helpless in the open. The sepoy bound up the officer’s wounds and then dug cover for him with his entrenching tool, being exposed all the time to very heavy rifle fire. For five hours until nightfall he stayed with the wounded officer, shielding him with his body on the exposed side. He then, under cover of darkness, went back for assistance and brought the officer to safety.
He was gazetted for the Victoria Cross on 21st June 1916, and his medal was posted to the India Office on 26th June 1916, and it is believed it was presented to him by Captain Ralston, Indian Army at OC Depot, Fyzabad, United Provinces, India during July 1916. Chatta Singh later transferred to the 16th Punjab Regiment and survived the Great War.
He finished his Army career as a Havildar (Sergeant), and lived in latter life in the United Provinces near to Kanpur. He died on 28th March 1961 in Tilsanda District and was cremated in the village. His medals are not publicly held.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NOT PUBLICLY HELD. (SOLD AT AUCTION 2006)
BURIAL PLACE: CREMATED IN TILSARA VILLAGE, INDIA.
