Yeshwant Ghadge

Rank: Naik
Unit: 5th Mahratta Light Infantry, Indian Army
Awarded: 1st April 1944
Nationality: Indian

The citation in the London Gazette of 31st October 1944 gives the following details:

In Italy, on 10th July, 1944, a Company of the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry attacked a position strongly defended by the enemy. During this attack a rifle section commanded by Naik Yeshwant Ghadge came under heavy machine-gun fire at close range, which killed or wounded all members of the section except the commander. Without hesitation, and well knowing that none were left to accompany him, Naik Yeshwant Ghadge rushed the machine gun post. He first threw a grenade which knocked out the machine gun and firer, after which he shot one of the gun crew with his Tommy gun. Finally, having no time to change his magazine, he grasped his gun by the barrel and beat to death the remaining two men of the gun crew. Unfortunately Naik Yeshwant Ghadge was shot in the chest and back 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 gavelittle hope of survival were outstanding.

Additional Information

Yeshwant Ghadge has no known grave.
Name spelt differently on CWGC.

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