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Ali Haidar, VC (21 August 1913[1] - 15 July 1999[1]) was an ethnic Pashtun recipient of 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 31 years old, and a Sepoy in the 6th battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles, in the Indian Army during World War II when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 9 April 1945 near Fusignano, Italy, at the start of the Allied spring 1945 offensive Haidar's battalion was tasked with a difficult assault crossing of the Senio River. Only Sepoy Ali Haidar and the two other men of his section managed to get across under heavy machine-gun fire. Then, while the other two covered him, the sepoy attacked the nearest strong point and, in spite of being wounded, put it out of action. In attacking a second strong-point he was again severely wounded but managed to crawl closer, throw a grenade and charge the post; two of the enemy were wounded, the remaining two surrendered. The rest of the company were than able to cross the river and establish a bridgehead.[2]
He was born in Kohat to Pashtun parents, in what is now N.W.F.P, Pakistan. He later achieved the rank of Havildar. His VC is now in the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection
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