Khuda Dad Khan Victoria Cross (1888-1971)

Sepoy Khuda Dad Khan By

Mohsin Shakil

Khuda Dad Khan VC (1888-1971) born in a Muslim Manhas family of Pothohar at village Dab (Chakwal) on 20 October 1888. He was the first South Asian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military medal for gallantry awarded by the British Empire. The fearless Dogra machine gunner Khuda Dad Khan, who was 26 years of age performed such an act of bravery that he was decorated with the Victoria Cross during the First World War.. The citation in London Gazette, 7 December 1914 read as; “His Majesty the King Emperor has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned soldier of the Indian Army for conspicuous bravery whilst serving with the Indian Army Corps, British xpeditionary 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”. Eventually Khudadad Khan’s own team was overrun. All the men were killed by bullets or bayonets except Khudadad Khan who, despite being badly wounded, had continued working his gun. He was left for dead by the enemy but despite his wounds he managed to crawl back to his regiment during the night. Thanks to his bravery, and that of his fellow Baluchis, the Germans were held up just long enough for Indian and British reinforcements to arrive. They strengthened the line, and prevented the German Army from reaching the vital ports.

Khudadad Khan retired as a “Subedar”. He died in 1971 and is buried in Chak No. 25, Mandi Bahaud Din, His Victoria Cross is on display at his ancestral house in Village Dab (Chakwal), Pakistan.

A statue of Khudadad Khan is at the entrance of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi. References: 1- Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin. (1998). History of the Baloch Regiment 1820-1939. Abbottabad: The Baloch Regimental Centre. pp. 173-78 2- The London Gazette (Supplement) no. 28999. p. 10425. 7 December 1914 3- Thatcher, WS. (1932). The Fourth Battalion, Duke of Connaught's Own, Tenth Baluch Regiment in the Great War. Cambridge: The University Press. pp. 13-17 4- VCs of the First World War 1914 (Gerald Gliddon, 1994 5- https:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/khudadad_khan