GEORGE SOPER (BRITISH 1870-1942)
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE ENGLISH COLLECTION
Ressaidar Badlu Singh winning the Victoria Cross, II
inscribed George Soper (lower right)
drypoint
20 x 30 cm

Illustated as no. 92 in The Catalogue Raisonné of Prints and Etchings of George and Eileen Soper (1995).

Ressaidar Badlu Singh was a recipient of the Victoria Cross.
On 23" September 1918 on the west bank of the River Jordan, Palestine, when his squadron was charging a strong enemy position, Ressaidar Badlu Singh of the 14th Murray's Jat Lancers realised that heavy casualties were being inflicted from a small hill occupied by machine-guns and 200 infantry. Without any hesitation he collected six other ranks and with entire disregard of danger he charged and captured the position. He was mortally wounded on the very top of the hill when capturing one of the machine-guns single handed, but all the guns and infantry had surrendered to him before he died. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
(92) catalogue raisonée of the prints and etchings of George and Eileen Soper, published in 1995.
The citation for the Victoria Cross appeared in the London Gazette of 27th November 1918 and reads as follows:
"For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on the morning of 23r September 1918, when his squadron charged a strong enemy position on the west bank of the River Jordan, between the river and Kh. Es Samariveh village.
"On nearing the position Ressaidar Badlu Singh realized that the squadron was suffering casualties from a small hill on the left front occupied by machine guns and 200 infantry. Without the slightest hesitation he collected six other ranks and with the greatest dash and an entire disregard of danger charged and captured the position, thereby saving very heavy casualties to the squadron. He was mortally wounded on the very top of the hill when capturing one of the machine guns single-handed, but all the machine guns and infantry had surrended to him.