They Called Him Running Death
Screenplay by Michael Droberg
Story and research by Colin Heaton
Artwork by Tonmoy Rana
Fighting for an empire he became a hero for freedom
During WW II Great Britain's colonial soldiers fought on every front. One place was Burma, where 25 men of an Indian artillery battery found themselves overrun by 400 Japanese soldiers in 1944. After three days only three Indians were still alive. One was Umrao Singh, who earned the Victoria Cross for his heroism.
This Poster is based on the amazing true story of Major Umrao Singh. We may replace this with another edited version soon.
Singh (a Sergeant at the time) led a small artillery battery in Burma, that soon became a fight to the death as 25 Indian artillerymen held off over 400 Japanese infantry. After a two-day fight, out of shells, out of ammunition, and several Banzai suicide charges, Singh and two other men were the only soldiers left alive.
Singh killed an unknown number of enemy troops, but the last dozen he killed in hand to hand combat with a large breaker (crow) bar. When he was found, had been shot, cut with a sword, and stabbed, and was lying in a pile of 12 dead Japanese soldiers. These were the last batch he killed in hand to hand combat.
Singh's amazing bravery earned him the Victoria Cross, and a special place in military history.
