Gobind Singh ( VC ) Gobind Singh Rathore VC ( 7 December 1887 – 9 December 1942 ) was an Indian soldier , and recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest Commonwealth award for gallantry " in the face of the enemy " , during the First World War . Govind Singh hailed from a small village named Damoi ( dist . Nagaur ) in Rajasthan . He was 29 years old when he became a Lance - Daffadar in the 28th Light Cavalry . He was later attached to 2nd Lancers ( Gardner ' s Horse ) during the First World War . The Battle of Cambrai was an all - important battle not only because it was an effort by the allied forces to break the Hindenburg Line of the Germans , but also because it was there that tank s were used successfully for the first time in the history of warfare . On the night of 30 November and 1 December 1917 east of Peizieres , France , Lance - Dafadar Gobind Singh was in the midst of the Battle of Cambrai , when his regiment was cut off and surrounded by enemy . An urgent message had to be sent to the brigade headquarters giving the position of the regiment . The route was a 6 - mile stretch over open ground , under constant observation and enemy fire . Singh volunteered and not only delivered the message but also undertook a return message and a subsequent one . He survived enemy machine gun fire directed at him on all three occasions although his horse was killed every time . Citation . For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in thrice volunteering to carry messages between the regiment and brigade headquarters , a distance of over 1 1 / 2 miles over open ground which was under the observation and heavy fire of the enemy . He succeeded each time in delivering his message , although on each occasion his horse was shot dead and he was compelled to finish his journey on foot . " London Gazette " , 11 January 1918 Details . On 1 December 1917 when the 2nd Lancers was surrounded by the enemy brigade , the situation became very tense because the headquarters was about six miles from this place ( Epchy - France ) . At this time volunteers were called for to carry a message giving the position of the regiment to the headquarters on the outskirts of Piezeire . Lance Dafadar Govind Singh and Sowar Jot Ram were selected and given two different routes . Both of them started immediately on a gallop . Jot Ram was killed as he tried to make his way to the destination . L / Dfr . Govind Singh was given the open more difficult route which was under constant enemy fire . He had travelled about half a mile of the lower ground when his horse was killed by a machine gun fire . For some time Singh lay still close to his horse , then judging he was no longer watched , he got up and began to run on foot . Immediately there was a burst of machine gun fire upon him . He trembled over as if shot and waited before getting up again and running . By repeating this process varied by wriggling along the ground , he reached the brigade headquarters . A return message had now to be sent and he volunteered to take this too . He was given another horse and started back taking the high ground south of the valley until he reached the German post . Then dipping down and across the sunken road he had covered two - thirds the distance when his horse was shot and he had to make the rest of his way running and falling . An hour later another message had to be sent from the regiment . Although exhausted and wounded , Govind Singh came forward again . He was told that he has already done his share but he insisted that he knew the ground better than anybody else . On the strength of this the Adjutant allowed him to go . This time he started from the lower end of the road , turned right and passed ' Catelet Copse ' and went straight through the barrage in ' Epchy ' . Halfway through Epchy , his horse was cut in half by a direct hit from a shell just behind the saddle . Govind Singh then ran on and eventually got into dead ground in renterent which debouches into the valley . Thence he made his way out of the sight of the enemy to Peizeire . Thoroughly exhausted and badly wounded he arrived there at 11 . 55 AM . He volunteered to make the journey a fourth time , but was not allowed to do so . For his conspicuous bravery and unwavering devotion to duty in saving his regiment and fellow men , lance Dafadar Govind Singh was awarded the Victoria Cross . Medal . The medal is currently displayed in his regiment 2nd Lancers ( G . H . ) . See also . Victoria Cross