The Lost Victoria Cross: A Medal's Three-Day Disappearance
The Victoria Cross, Britain's highest gallantry award, once vanished into obscurity for three days, tied to the heroic legacy of Lieutenant General PS Bhagat. This remarkable incident underscores the personal stories behind military honors and the unexpected twists that preserve history.
Bravery in the Karen Battle
During World War II, Second Lieutenant PS Bhagat displayed extraordinary courage in the Karen battle in Abyssinia, now Ethiopia, in 1941. Despite suffering a punctured eardrum and flesh wounds from shrapnel, he spent five days solo, neutralizing and detonating mines with a recklessness that bordered on possession. His actions earned him the Victoria Cross, making him the first Indian Army officer and perhaps the youngest to receive this valorous award in WWII.
A Chance Encounter and a Driving Feat
In February 1964, while serving in Sikkim, a young officer had the privilege of spending a day with Major General PS Bhagat. The general was assessing defense dispositions against potential PLA incursions into the Siliguri Corridor. During a return journey to Gangtok, heavy snow turned the road treacherous, especially at the "Death Gallery," a perilous three-mile stretch. With the driver panicking, the officer, experienced in hill driving, took the wheel and safely navigated the Jonga to "Black Cat Lodge." In gratitude, General Bhagat gifted him his expensive gold-capped black Parker pen, praising the excellent driving.
Supersession and a Wounded Heart
Before his retirement, Field Marshal SHFJ Maneckshaw recommended Lieutenant General Bhagat as his successor. However, Bhagat was superseded and appointed Chairman of the Damodar Valley Corporation. Heartbroken, he succumbed to a freak illness just ten months later, a loss deeply felt by India and its Army.
The Medal's Mysterious Disappearance
After General Bhagat's demise, the Bombay Engineers Group sought to honor him with a memorial, requesting memorabilia, including the coveted Victoria Cross medal. Mrs. Bhagat agreed but first promised to show the medals to an acquaintance. En route, she stopped to chat with a friend, placing the container of medals on the car roof. Forgetting them, she drove off, and the medals slid into anonymity for three days. Lance Naik SC Ghosh of the Signal Regiment fortuitously spotted the container under a shrub and handed it to his Commanding Officer.
Restoration and Legacy
The medals were joyfully returned to Mrs. Bhagat and presented in a touching ceremony on February 1, 1976, to the Bombay Engineer Group in Pune, where they remain on display. Ashali Verma, the general's daughter, recalled this emotional moment in her biography, 'The Victoria Cross, A Love Story: The Life of Lt Gen PS Bhagat', highlighting the relief and pride in preserving her father's legacy.
Literary Connections and Historical Echoes
This story evokes memories of Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize-winning novel, 'The English Patient', set in WWII. The character Lieutenant Kirpal Singh, a Sapper trained in mine neutralization, mirrors Second Lieutenant Bhagat's wild bravery. Ondaatje acknowledged sources from the Directorate of Public Relations in New Delhi, including books like 'Martial India' and 'A Roll of Honour', linking fiction to real-life heroism.
Lieutenant General PS Bhagat and his wife rest in Valhalla, their story a testament to valor, chance, and the enduring spirit of India's military heritage.
