The correct answer is: C. Somnath Sharma
Somnath Sharma was an Indian Army officer who was awarded 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. He was the first Indian to receive the award during World War II.
Sharma was born in 1918 in the village of village of Dharamshala in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. He joined the Indian Army in 1938 and was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, the Kumaon Regiment. He fought in the Second World War and was killed in action on 13 September 1947, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.
Sharma was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 13 September 1947. He was leading a company of soldiers in an attack on a Pakistani position when he was killed. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major and awarded the Victoria Cross.
The Victoria Cross is a military decoration awarded for gallantry in the face of the enemy. It is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. The Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856 and is awarded by the British monarch.
The Victoria Cross is a cross pattée made of bronze. The obverse of the cross bears the crowned head of Queen Victoria and the inscription “For Valour”. The reverse of the cross bears the name of the recipient and the date of the action for which the award was made.
The Victoria Cross is worn on a red ribbon around the neck. It is the only British military decoration that is not worn on the left breast.
The Victoria Cross is a very rare award. Only 1,355 Victoria Crosses have been awarded since the decoration was instituted in 1856.