Personal info
- Name: Abdul REHMAN
- D.O.B: 1st Dec, 1920
- D.O.A: 22nd Feb, 1946
- D.O.D: 22nd Feb, 1946
- Award: George Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Havildar, 3rd Battalion The Jat Regiment, 5th Division, Indian Army
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 3
Near Ketegan, Java, Dutch East Indies 22 February 1946
22 February 1946
AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1945-2013
After the end of the war in the Pacific, the British assisted the Dutch in attempting to restore their colonial administration in the East Indies. On 22 February 1946 while on its way from Kletek, Java, just south of Surabaya, to their Battalion HQ at Waroe a jeep carrying Indian soldiers near Ketegan hit a mine placed by Indonesian Nationalists. Three soldiers were trapped under the burning vehicle. Havildar Abdul Rehman rescued two of them but as he attempted to free the third the petrol tank exploded. The Dutch recognized Indonesian independence in 1949.
Citation
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the GEORGE CROSS in recognition of most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner to – No 12788 Havildar Abdul Rehman 3/9th The Jat Regiment Indian Army (Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 6 August 1946. 10 September 1946, Numb. 37717, p. 4507) All punctuation is missing on this page of the Gazette, and this particular Supplement, which should be the Third, is called the Second, although this already precedes it. RECOMMENDATION THE GEORGE CROSS (POSTHUMOUS) No. 12788 Havildar ABDUL REHMAN, 3rd Battalion, The Jat Regiment, Indian Army. On 22nd February, 1945, Havildar ABDUL REHMAN and a party of five Indian other ranks were proceeding from D Company at KLETEK to Battalion Headquarters at WAROE. Near KETEGAN their Jeep blew up on a mine, was thrown forward into a ditch and broke into flames. Havildar ABDUL REHMAN was thrown clear out of the Jeep and set to work to rescue the three men who lay, wounded or injured from the crash, beneath the Jeep. His task was rendered the more hazardous, since, owing to the fire, the ammunition carried in the Jeep began to explode. Nevertheless, he extricated one man, and although by this time the Jeep was burning fiercely, succeeded in dragging a second clear. He then turned to the third man who was lying under the Jeep by the front near wheel, but, as he took hold of him, the petrol tank under the driver’s seat exploded, spouting its flaming contents on him. Despite his condition, he continued his efforts until an ambulance party approached, when, calling out to them to complete his work quickly, he fell dead, over the Jeep. Havildar ABDUL REHMAN’s complete disregard of his personal safety and his determination to rescue his helpless comrades, in which he persisted even while being burned to death himself, constitute an example of resolute courage of the highest order.