History of Pakistan Army.
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Naik Shahamad Khan of the 89ᵗʰ Punjabis, manning a Vickers MG and carrying a Lee-Enfield.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross during the Great War, fighting the Ottomans in April 1916, near Kut-al-Amara, Iraq.
The unit lives on in the Pakistan Army as the 1ˢᵗ Baloch;
He was awarded the Victoria Cross during the Great War, fighting the Ottomans in April 1916, near Kut-al-Amara, Iraq.
The unit lives on in the Pakistan Army as the 1ˢᵗ Baloch;
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Mir Dast Afridi "Victoria Cross" With His Friends And Comrades Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, And Gora At Kohat, 1916 (c).
Mir Dast Afridi (1874 - 1945) was born on 3rd December 1874 Maidan, Tirah (now Pakistan).
He was a member of the Qambar Khel Afridi tribe. His father was Madha Mir, an Afridi Pathan from Maidan, Tirah, now Khyber Tribal District Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province Pakistan.
A brother, Mir Mast, served as a Jemadar in the 58th Vaughan’s Rifles (Frontier Force) during the First World War. He saw action in the Ypres Sector in 1914 and was commanding a section of line near Neuve Chapelle when he deserted.
It is believed he did this as a Muslim, he was offended by the British being at war with Ottoman Turkey. Mir Mast was reputedly awarded the Iron Cross by Kaiser Wilhelm II.
The award of the Indian Distinguished Service Medal on 10th March 1915, was cancelled on 1st April. Mir Dast enlisted himself twenty years before on 3rd December 1894, into the 1st Regiment of Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force. He served on operations on the North West Frontier 1897-1898 in the Tochi Valley.
His Regiment became 1st Punjab Infantry in 1901 and he was promoted to Naik (Corporal) on 15th September. He continued on operations on the North West Frontier in Waziristan. The Regiment became 1/55th Coke’s Rifles (Frontier Force) after a former commander in 1903. Promoted to Havildar (Sergeant) on 29th September 1904 and served on the North West Frontier until 1908.
He was in action as part of the Mohmand Field Force on 18th May 1908 at Khan Khor Beg. With two other men, he found himself close to a group of the enemy holding a position behind a low wall. The three men rushed the position, shooting two of the enemy and bayoneting a third. Mir Dast was severely wounded in the right thigh. For this action, he was awarded the Indian Order of Merit, 3rd Class on 26th June 1908.
On 3rd March 1909 he was commissioned as Jemadar (Lieutenant) and was one of the twelve represenatatives of the Regiment to attend the Coronation Durbar for the proclamation of King George V as Emperor.
When the First World War broke out, 55th Coke’s Rifles remained in India, but during the first year, it reinforced 57th Wilde’s Rifles with eight officers, 43 NCO’s and 330 Sepoys.
One of the reinforcements was Mir Dast, who went to France and served on the Western Front from 19th January 1915. He saw action almost immediately at Neuve Chapelle, and within three months would be involved in his VC. On 26th April 1915 at Wieltje, Belgium, Jemadar Mir Dast led his platoon with great bravery during the attack, and afterwards collected various pparties of the regiment (when no British officers were left) and kept them under his command untgraype retirement wa0us ordered.
He alpooso displayed great courage that day when he helped to carry eight British and Indian officers to safety while exposed to heav fire. He was the first Indian officer to receive the VC; Indians only became eligible in 1912. He was promoted to Subadar (Captain) on 27th April 1915, the day after his award was gazetted. He was gassed, but continued to perform his duties until wounded in June.
He was then evacuated to England where he was admitted to the Royal Pavilion Military Hospital in Brighton, where he was visited personally by Lord Kitchener in July 1915.
The VC was presented to Mir Dast by King George V at the Royal Pavilion Military Hospital on 25th August 1915. During his recovery, the effects of the gas became more marked and he was sent back to India on 19th October, where he re-joined his Regiment. He later remarked “The gas has done for me… I had rather not have been gassed than get the Victoria Cross.”
On the same day he received his VC, he was awarded the Russian Cross of St George, followed by the Order of British India, 2nd Class (entitling him to the title Bahadur) on 17th December 1915. He never recovered from his gassing and was transferred to the Indian Army Reserve on pension in September 1917.
In addition to his VC, he was awarded the Indian Order of Merit, 3rd Class, Order of British India 2nd Class, India Medal 1895-1902 with clasps for Punjab Frontier and Waziristan, India General Service Medal 1908-35 with clasp North West Frontier 1908, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, George VI Coronation Medal 1937 and Russian Order of St George 3rd Class. His medals are believed to be in private ownership.
Mir Dast died at Shagi Hind Kyan Village, Tehsil District, Peshawar, India (now Pakistan) on 19th January 1945. He was buried in Warsak Road Cemetery, Shagi Hind Kyan Village. He is also remembered on the Memorial Gates, Hyde Park Corner in London, which commemorates VCs of Indian heritage including Mir Dast.
Mir Dast Afridi (1874 - 1945) was born on 3rd December 1874 Maidan, Tirah (now Pakistan).
He was a member of the Qambar Khel Afridi tribe. His father was Madha Mir, an Afridi Pathan from Maidan, Tirah, now Khyber Tribal District Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province Pakistan.
A brother, Mir Mast, served as a Jemadar in the 58th Vaughan’s Rifles (Frontier Force) during the First World War. He saw action in the Ypres Sector in 1914 and was commanding a section of line near Neuve Chapelle when he deserted.
It is believed he did this as a Muslim, he was offended by the British being at war with Ottoman Turkey. Mir Mast was reputedly awarded the Iron Cross by Kaiser Wilhelm II.
The award of the Indian Distinguished Service Medal on 10th March 1915, was cancelled on 1st April. Mir Dast enlisted himself twenty years before on 3rd December 1894, into the 1st Regiment of Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force. He served on operations on the North West Frontier 1897-1898 in the Tochi Valley.
His Regiment became 1st Punjab Infantry in 1901 and he was promoted to Naik (Corporal) on 15th September. He continued on operations on the North West Frontier in Waziristan. The Regiment became 1/55th Coke’s Rifles (Frontier Force) after a former commander in 1903. Promoted to Havildar (Sergeant) on 29th September 1904 and served on the North West Frontier until 1908.
He was in action as part of the Mohmand Field Force on 18th May 1908 at Khan Khor Beg. With two other men, he found himself close to a group of the enemy holding a position behind a low wall. The three men rushed the position, shooting two of the enemy and bayoneting a third. Mir Dast was severely wounded in the right thigh. For this action, he was awarded the Indian Order of Merit, 3rd Class on 26th June 1908.
On 3rd March 1909 he was commissioned as Jemadar (Lieutenant) and was one of the twelve represenatatives of the Regiment to attend the Coronation Durbar for the proclamation of King George V as Emperor.
When the First World War broke out, 55th Coke’s Rifles remained in India, but during the first year, it reinforced 57th Wilde’s Rifles with eight officers, 43 NCO’s and 330 Sepoys.
One of the reinforcements was Mir Dast, who went to France and served on the Western Front from 19th January 1915. He saw action almost immediately at Neuve Chapelle, and within three months would be involved in his VC. On 26th April 1915 at Wieltje, Belgium, Jemadar Mir Dast led his platoon with great bravery during the attack, and afterwards collected various pparties of the regiment (when no British officers were left) and kept them under his command untgraype retirement wa0us ordered.
He alpooso displayed great courage that day when he helped to carry eight British and Indian officers to safety while exposed to heav fire. He was the first Indian officer to receive the VC; Indians only became eligible in 1912. He was promoted to Subadar (Captain) on 27th April 1915, the day after his award was gazetted. He was gassed, but continued to perform his duties until wounded in June.
He was then evacuated to England where he was admitted to the Royal Pavilion Military Hospital in Brighton, where he was visited personally by Lord Kitchener in July 1915.
The VC was presented to Mir Dast by King George V at the Royal Pavilion Military Hospital on 25th August 1915. During his recovery, the effects of the gas became more marked and he was sent back to India on 19th October, where he re-joined his Regiment. He later remarked “The gas has done for me… I had rather not have been gassed than get the Victoria Cross.”
On the same day he received his VC, he was awarded the Russian Cross of St George, followed by the Order of British India, 2nd Class (entitling him to the title Bahadur) on 17th December 1915. He never recovered from his gassing and was transferred to the Indian Army Reserve on pension in September 1917.
In addition to his VC, he was awarded the Indian Order of Merit, 3rd Class, Order of British India 2nd Class, India Medal 1895-1902 with clasps for Punjab Frontier and Waziristan, India General Service Medal 1908-35 with clasp North West Frontier 1908, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, George VI Coronation Medal 1937 and Russian Order of St George 3rd Class. His medals are believed to be in private ownership.
Mir Dast died at Shagi Hind Kyan Village, Tehsil District, Peshawar, India (now Pakistan) on 19th January 1945. He was buried in Warsak Road Cemetery, Shagi Hind Kyan Village. He is also remembered on the Memorial Gates, Hyde Park Corner in London, which commemorates VCs of Indian heritage including Mir Dast.
ghazi52
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circa 1905
Havaldar Fazal Khan of the 57ᵗʰ Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force) doing range time at Chakdara, Malakand.
the unit lives on in the Pakistan Army as the 9ᵗʰ FFR; fought at the Jhangar and Uri fronts in 1948, and at Phillaurah and Chawinda during the 1965 Operations.
Havaldar Fazal Khan of the 57ᵗʰ Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force) doing range time at Chakdara, Malakand.
the unit lives on in the Pakistan Army as the 9ᵗʰ FFR; fought at the Jhangar and Uri fronts in 1948, and at Phillaurah and Chawinda during the 1965 Operations.
ghazi52
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Regimental badges carved into the hillside at Cherat, North-West Frontier, 1932 (c).
Cherat, located in the Nowshera District, was a hill cantonment and sanatorium for British troops stationed in the hot and malaria-ridden Peshawar Valley. Many of the troops sent there carved and painted their regimental insignia on to nearby rock faces to mark their service on the frontier.
Cherat, located in the Nowshera District, was a hill cantonment and sanatorium for British troops stationed in the hot and malaria-ridden Peshawar Valley. Many of the troops sent there carved and painted their regimental insignia on to nearby rock faces to mark their service on the frontier.
ghazi52
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Circa April 1915...
an artist's impression of an assault on Imperial German lines, during the Second Battle of Ypres, carried out by the British Indian Army's 40ᵗʰ Pathans.
The unit lives on in the Pakistan Army as the 16ᵗʰ Punjab.
an artist's impression of an assault on Imperial German lines, during the Second Battle of Ypres, carried out by the British Indian Army's 40ᵗʰ Pathans.
The unit lives on in the Pakistan Army as the 16ᵗʰ Punjab.
ghazi52
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it's common knowledge that the Pakistan Army and Indian Army have donned the iconic 'khaki' and 'olive-green' uniforms post-1947, more recently as digitalized camouflage. during the Second World War, both colours were in use; khaki in North Africa, and the olive-green in Burma.
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Jirga of Afridi headmen at Walai, 1908 (c).
Photograph by Captain E T Rich, Corps of Royal Engineers, North-West Frontier, 1908 (c).
The Bazar Valley Field Force, consisting of 14,000 men under the command of Major-General Sir George Wilcocks, was dispatched on 13 February 1908, against the Zakha Khels, because of a wholesale robbery under arms.
The expedition was well conducted, and a great success, as the troops involved were well experienced in hill fighting. They made the tribesmen sue for peace and come to terms within three weeks.
From an album of photographs compiled by General Sir S F Muspratt.
Photograph by Captain E T Rich, Corps of Royal Engineers, North-West Frontier, 1908 (c).
The Bazar Valley Field Force, consisting of 14,000 men under the command of Major-General Sir George Wilcocks, was dispatched on 13 February 1908, against the Zakha Khels, because of a wholesale robbery under arms.
The expedition was well conducted, and a great success, as the troops involved were well experienced in hill fighting. They made the tribesmen sue for peace and come to terms within three weeks.
From an album of photographs compiled by General Sir S F Muspratt.
ghazi52
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An Infantry In Action Against Afridis In Khajuri Plains, Circa 1930.
The Afridi Redshirt Rebellion was a military campaign conducted by British and Indian armies against Afridi tribesmen in the North West Frontier region of the Indian Empire, now in Pakistan in 1930–1931. The Afridi are a Karlani Pashtun tribe who inhabit the border area of Pakistan, notably in the Spin Ghar mountain range to the west of Peshawar and the Maidan Valley in Tirah.
The Afridis often clashed with the British and Indian Armies during India’s expansion towards the Afghan border, notably during the Anglo-Afghan Wars. In the summer of 1930 a rebellion by dissident Afridi tribesmen, known as Redshirts, broke out. As this threatened the security of Peshawar, two Brigade Groups were sent to occupy the Khajuri Plain, west of Peshawar and south of the Khyber Pass. Their role was to open up the area by constructing roads and strong points.
This would help prevent any future tribal infiltration towards Peshawar as well as being a punitive measure, since the Afridis had been accustomed to pasture their flocks on this low ground during the winter months. On 17 October 1930 the British-led force crossed into the Tirah Valley at Bara, six miles from Peshawar, and advanced a further seven miles to Miri Khel. Here a fortified camp was constructed from which operations against the Afridis were conducted. On 16 January 1931, the force was withdrawn, having accomplished its objective.
British and Indian Army forces that took part in the campaign received the India General Service Medal with the clasp North West Frontier 1930-31.
The Afridi Redshirt Rebellion was a military campaign conducted by British and Indian armies against Afridi tribesmen in the North West Frontier region of the Indian Empire, now in Pakistan in 1930–1931. The Afridi are a Karlani Pashtun tribe who inhabit the border area of Pakistan, notably in the Spin Ghar mountain range to the west of Peshawar and the Maidan Valley in Tirah.
The Afridis often clashed with the British and Indian Armies during India’s expansion towards the Afghan border, notably during the Anglo-Afghan Wars. In the summer of 1930 a rebellion by dissident Afridi tribesmen, known as Redshirts, broke out. As this threatened the security of Peshawar, two Brigade Groups were sent to occupy the Khajuri Plain, west of Peshawar and south of the Khyber Pass. Their role was to open up the area by constructing roads and strong points.
This would help prevent any future tribal infiltration towards Peshawar as well as being a punitive measure, since the Afridis had been accustomed to pasture their flocks on this low ground during the winter months. On 17 October 1930 the British-led force crossed into the Tirah Valley at Bara, six miles from Peshawar, and advanced a further seven miles to Miri Khel. Here a fortified camp was constructed from which operations against the Afridis were conducted. On 16 January 1931, the force was withdrawn, having accomplished its objective.
British and Indian Army forces that took part in the campaign received the India General Service Medal with the clasp North West Frontier 1930-31.
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