Fazal Din
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Naik Fazal Din (1 July 1921 – 2 March 1945) was an Indian<ref name=LondonGazette/><ref name="forcesnet">Template:Cite web</ref> recipient of the Victoria Cross award, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.<ref name=AFMA>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=CWGC>War History Online (2017) Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Early life
He was born in 1921 to a Punjabi Muslim Gurjar <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> agricultural family in Village Hussianpur of<ref>VC & GC Association. Fazal Din VC. Victoria Cross and George Cross Association. Retrieved July 2, 2025, from https://vcgca.org/our-people/profile/1776/Fazal-DIN</ref> Hoshiarpur District of Punjab Province (British India).<ref name="forcesnet"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fazal Din, having only passed Middle School, was inspired to join the British Indian Army by the outbreak of the World War. He was recruited as a rifleman and became a section gunner in the 10th Baluch Regiment, before rising to the rank of Naik - equivalent to a British Army corporal.<ref name="forcesnet"/><ref name=CWGC/>
Victoria Cross citation
Fazal Din was 23 years old, and an acting naik in the 7th Battalion of 10th Baluch Regiment, British Indian ArmyTemplate:Efn during the Battle of Meiktila.<ref name=LondonGazette/>
The official citation to the award describes his actions:
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