Yashwant Ghatge was born in the small town of Mangaon, India, on 16 November 1921.

In 1944, Yashwant was serving as a Naik, equivalent to a Corporal in the British Army, with the 5^th Light Mahratta Light Infantry. He had previously served as a Sepoy, earning a Mention in Despatches for his conduct in 1941.

On 10 July 1944, the 5^th Light Mahratta Infantry was fighting in Italy, advancing up the Upper Tiber Valley. Fighting in Italy was incredibly tough, and the Indian Army sustained many casualties in the Italian theatre.

While on the advance, Yashwant’s rifle section came under heavy machine-gun fire at extremely close range. In a few deadly salvos, Yashwant’s unit was wiped out except for the young Naik.

Despite the horrendous damage to his squad, Yashwant leapt into action. He threw a grenade into the machine-gun nest, taking out the gunner, and shooting another of the gun crew.

While pausing the reload, Yashwant was struck by a sniper’s bullet and mortally wounded. One account of the action suggests Yashwant was also clubbed by German soldiers.

For his courage under fire and self-sacrifice, Yashwant was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross: Britain’s highest military honour.

Yashwant’s medal citation, as published in the London Gazette, reads as follows:

“In Italy, on 10th July 1944, a company of the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry attacked a position strongly defended by the enemy. A rifle section commanded by Naik Yashwant Ghatge came under heavy machine-gun fire, which killed or wounded all the section except the commander.

“Without hesitation, Naik Yashwant Ghatge rushed the machine-gun post. He threw a grenade, shot one of the crew, and then, grasping his gun by the barrel, killed the remaining two men.

“Finally he was shot by enemy snipers and died in the post which he had captured single-handed. The courage, determination, and devotion to duty of this Indian N.C.O. in a situation where he knew the odds against him gave little hope of survival were outstanding.”

Yashwant has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cassino Memorial.