The Victoria Cross, the highest British military decoration for bravery, was awarded to five people for their actions in Manipur during the Battle of Imphal.
They were:
• Jemadar Abdul Hafiz of the 9th Jat Regiment on April 6, 1944, at Runaway Hill near the Iril River Valley. This was the first Victoria Cross awarded to a Muslim in the Second World War.
• Sergeant Hanson Victor Turner of the West Yorkshire Regiment on June 7, 1944, at Ningthoukhong on the Tiddim Road.
• Rifleman Ganju Lama of the 7th Gurkha Rifles on June 12, 1944, at Ningthoukhong again.
• Naik Agansing Rai of the 5th Gurkha Rifles on June 26, 1944, at Water Piquet on the Silchar-Bishenpur Track.
• Subedar Netrabahadur Thapa of the 5th Gurkha Rifles on June 26, 1944, at Mortar Bluff on the Silchar-Bishenpur Track.