Namdeo Jadhav was awarded the Victoria Cross for his brave action during the Second World War (1939–1945) when, on 9 April 1945, he came to the assistance of a small assault party which was under attack on the east bank of the River Senio in Italy. While under fire, the sepoy (Indian private soldier) carried two wounded men across the river and through a minefield, to safety. He promptly returned to destroy the enemy machine gun posts, and signalled to the remaining companies that it was now safe to cross the river.