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	'''Khudadad Khan''' ] (20 October 1888 – 8 March 1971) was the first ]n recipient of the ], the highest military award given to ] and ] forces. He was the first native-born Indian to win the VC.		'''Khudadad Khan''' ] (20 October 1888 – 8 March 1971) was the first ]n recipient of the ], the highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to ] and ] forces. He was the first native-born Indian to win the VC.

	On 31 October 1914, at ], ], 26-year old Khan performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross during the ].		On 31 October 1914, at ], ], 26-year old Khan performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross during the ].

Revision as of 11:16, 4 March 2009

Khudadad Khan VC (20 October 1888 – 8 March 1971) was the first Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the first native-born Indian to win the VC.

On 31 October 1914, at Hollebeke, Belgium, 26-year old Khan performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War.

Details

Khan was born 20 October 1888 in the village of Dub in Chakwal District (Previously the District of Jhelum) of the Punjab Province of present day Pakistan. He belonged to the famous Mair-Minhas, Muslim Rajput tribe of Punjab.

Khan was a Sepoy in the 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis, British Indian Army.

Citation

War Office, 7th December, 1914.
His Majesty the KING-EMPEROR has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned soldiers of the Indian Army for conspicuous bravery whilst serving with the Indian Army Corps, British Expeditionary Force: —

4050, Sepoy Khudadad, 129th Duke of Counaught's Own Baluchis.
On 31st October, 1914, at Hollebeke, Belgium, the British Officer in charge of the detachment having been wounded, and the other gun put out of action by a shell, Sepoy Khudadad, though himself wounded, remained working his gun until all the other five men of the gun detachment had been killed.
— London Gazette 4 December 1914 (dated 7 December 1914)

He was left by the enemy for dead, but later managed to crawl away and rejoin his unit. Khan later achieved the rank of subedar.

References

"No. 28999". The London Gazette. 4 December 1914.

Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
VCs of the First World War - 1914 (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)

External links

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