Soldiers from present-day Pakistan honoured for services in WWI

[FalconsForPeace]

Three soldiers from Pakistan were among 175 men honoured in a ceremony held by the British government for winning UK’s highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, for services rendered in the First World War.
The soliders include Sepoy Khudadad Khan, Jemadar Mir Dast and Naik Shahamad Khan. There are a total of 11 VCs that were awarded to soldiers from pre-partition of India and of them, three trace their origins to present day Pakistan.
As part of the British government’s First World War Centenary Programme, HRH The Duke of Kent and Senior Foreign Office Minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi unveiled commemoration plaques for 175 foreign men.
The 11 bronze memorial plaques, which were on display for public in London this week, bear the names of Victoria Cross holders and will be sent to the recipients’ home countries.
The plaques will be showcased at a prominent location while acting as a symbol of gratitude that is felt towards the recipients by the people of UK.
Meanwhile, the plaque commemorating the Pakistani recipients of the Victoria Cross will be presented to the government later this year.
Speaking about the event, Senior Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi said: "It is important to remember this was a truly global war, one which pulled in people from every corner of the earth. Sacrifices were made not only by people in the United Kingdom but by many millions across the world: whether it was the large proportion of Australian men who volunteered to fight in a war far from home, the 1.2 million troops from the Indian Subcontinent who took part in the war, or the essential support which came from the islands of the West Indies. It is truly inspiring that so many countries came together 100 years ago to uphold our way of life. This was a war which saw extraordinary courage and sacrifice from an entire generation."
"This year, we are marking our gratitude to 175 men from 11 countries, including Pakistan, who demonstrated the utmost bravery “in the face of the enemy” during the First World War. These extraordinary men were awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest award for valour for their actions during the War. We shall honour them by engraving their names on bronze memorial plaques, to be presented to their home countries, sending out a powerful message that people of all backgrounds and faiths can unite in the name of a common cause."
"I am determined that we ensure that people of all backgrounds and of all generations learn about the courage and heroism of their forefathers a hundred."
Soldiers from present-day Pakistan honoured for services in WWI - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

 

[Saifullah Sani]

Three soldiers from Pakistan were among 175 men from overseas who won Britain’s highest military honor the Victoria Cross for service in the First World War.

Commemorative plaques for these brave men were unveiled as part of the British government’s First World War Centenary Programme. A total of eleven plaques were awarded to soldiers from pre-partition India and of them three trace their origins to present day Pakistan. The soldiers include Naik Shahmad Khan, Sepoy Khudadad Khan and Jemadar Mir Dast.

The 11 bronze memorial plaques, which were displayed to the public for the first time in London this week, are inscribed with the names of the Victoria Cross holders and will be sent to the recipients’ home countries and displayed at a prominent location as a symbol of the gratitude that is felt towards them by the people of the United Kingdom.

The plaque remembering the three Pakistani recipients of the Victoria Cross will be presented to the Government of Pakistan in Islamabad later this year.
Speaking about the event, Senior Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi said: “It is important to remember this was a truly global war, one which pulled in people from every corner of the earth. Sacrifices were made not only by people in the United Kingdom but by many millions across the world: whether it was the large proportion of Australian men who volunteered to fight in a war far from home, the 1.2 million troops from the Indian Subcontinent who took part in the war, or the essential support which came from the islands of the West Indies. It is truly inspiring that so many countries came together 100 years ago to uphold our way of life. This was a war which saw extraordinary courage and sacrifice from an entire generation.”

“This year, we are marking our gratitude to 175 men from 11 countries, including Pakistan, who demonstrated the utmost bravery “in the face of the enemy” during the First World War. These extraordinary men were awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest award for valour for their actions during the War. We shall honour them by engraving their names on bronze memorial plaques, to be presented to their home countries, sending out a powerful message that people of all backgrounds and faiths can unite in the name of a common cause.”

“I am determined that we ensure that people of all backgrounds and of all generations learn about the courage and heroism of their forefathers a hundred.”

Pakistani heroes from First World War honoured by Britain - thenews.com.pk

 

[Kompromat]

If they fought against the caliphate, they've left a scar on us as most Muslims refused to fight the Ottoman Caliph with many fighting for them.

 

[FunkyGen]

If they fought against the caliphate, they've left a scar on us as most Muslims refused to fight the Ottoman Caliph with many fighting for them.

Muslim Ummah has proved to be a crappy concept, i hope you understand.

 

[Sardar_Pak_UK]

I don't want to say anything about past, but it's good to award Pakistani soldiers. I expect tht UK will play their role in solving the matter of Kashmir.

 

[qamar1990]

Muslim Ummah has proved to be a crappy concept, i hope you understand.

bro watch your mouth, the concept of universal brotherhood is not crappy.

 

[Sardar_Pak_UK]

Exactly bro Qamar! as we have UNO, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNHCR, NATO, SAARC, WHO, WMO.WFP, ICAO and so on.

 

[That Guy]

If they fought against the caliphate, they've left a scar on us as most Muslims refused to fight the Ottoman Caliph with many fighting for them.

During WW1 and WW2, many colonized nations were forced to fight for the powers (through conscription). In fact, they were usually the first ones to go in, before the mainland soldiers even arrived. It's a sad fact, but they can't be blamed for it.

 

[third eye]

During WW1 and WW2, many colonized nations were forced to fight for the powers (through conscription). In fact, they were usually the first ones to go in, before the mainland soldiers even arrived. It's a sad fact, but they can't be blamed for it.

Soldiers from the Indian Sub continent were not conscripted. We produced the largest volunteer army.

Where in the mainland were they the first to go ?

 

[That Guy]

Soldiers from the Indian Sub continent were not conscripted. We produced the largest volunteer army.

Where in the mainland were they the first to go ?

Not during the two world wars. Conscription was commonplace in all the colonized nstions during this time.

France was the biggest perpetrater of this method. There was an Al jazeera documentary about this. Im on my phone, otherwise id post a link.

 

[Marwat Khan Lodhi]

If they fought against the caliphate, they've left a scar on us as most Muslims refused to fight the Ottoman Caliph with many fighting for them.

This soldier and some others thought on your pattren
Mir Mast Afridi, recipient of Germany's Iron Cross, a forgotten hero
Shakil afridi, who is known as traitor in pakistan, is grandson of this gentleman's brother Mir dast , who stayed loyal to british and was awarded victoria cross.

 

[livingdead]

Not during the two world wars. Conscription was commonplace in all the colonized nstions during this time.

France was the biggest perpetrater of this method. There was an Al jazeera documentary about this. Im on my phone, otherwise id post a link.

indian life was cheap.. they never needed to conscript as many were ready to fight to earn their livelihood.

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

indian life was cheap..

sad but true. hate these mofos...............

 

[FaujHistorian]

Story of the martial people.



Naik Shahamad Khan-Victoria Cross-Beit Ayeesa, Mesopotamia on 12th/13th April, 1916

sources: wiki and A.H. Amin blog

Naik Shahamad Khan was born in district Rawalpindi (modern day Pakistan) on July 1, 1879.
During WW1, He was part of the 89th Punjabis, British Indian Army (now 1st Battalion The Baloch Regiment, Pakistan Army).

"Shahamad Khan was in charge of a machine-gun section 150 yards from the enemy's position, covering a gap in the New Line at Beit Ayeesa, Mesopotamia on 12th/13 April 1916. After all his men, apart from two belt-fillers, had become casualties, Shamahad Khan, working the gun single-handed, repelled three counter-attacks. Under extremely heavy fire, he continued to hold the gap, whilst it was being made secure, for three hours. When his gun was disabled by enemy fire, he and the two belt-fillers continued to hold the ground with their rifles until they were ordered to retire. Along with the three men who were sent to his assistance, he brought back to his own lines, his gun, ammunition and a severely wounded man. Eventually he returned to remove all remaining arms and equipment, except for two shovels."

Can you guys figure out who was the opposing army?



Khudadad Khan, VC

sources: wiki

Born on 20 October 1888 in the village of Dab in Chakwal District (then a tehsil of District Jhelum) of the Punjab Province, British India (now Pakistan), Khudadad Khan was a Sepoy in the 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis, British Indian Army (now 11th Battalion The Baloch Regiment of Pakistan Army). The battalion formed part of the Indian Corps, which was sent to France in 1914, to shore up the British forces fighting on the Western Front during the First World War.

"In October 1914, the Germans launched a major offensive in northern Belgium, in order to capture the vital ports of Boulogne in France and Nieuport in Belgium. In what came to be known as the First Battle of Ypres, the newly arrived 129th Baluchis were rushed to the frontline to support the hard-pressed British troops. On 31 October, two companies of the Baluchis bore the brunt of the main German attack near the village of Gheluvelt in Hollebeke Sector. The out-numbered Baluchis fought gallantly but were overwhelmed after suffering heavy casualties. Sepoy Khudadad Khan’s machine-gun team, along with one other, kept their guns in action throughout the day; preventing the Germans from making the final breakthrough."



Jamedar Mir Dast VC

source: wiki

Mir Dast was born on 3 December 1874 in the Maidan valley, Tirah, Khyber Agency (now Pakistan), and died on 19 January 1945 at Shagi Landi Kyan Village, Tehsil, Peshawar. He is buried at Warsak Road Cemetery, Shagi Landi Kyan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan.

"On 26 April 1915 at Ypres, Belgium, Jemadar Mir Dast led his platoon with great bravery during the attack, and afterwards collected various parties of the regiment (when no British officers were left) and kept them under his command until the retirement was ordered. He also displayed great courage that day when he risked his life to carry eight wounded British and Indian officers to safety while exposed to very heavy fire."

 

[ghoul]

I read the comments on dawn.com under this news, and people were calling these deceased soldiers mercenaries who fought against Turkish caliphate. Only one of these people fought against Turks, the rest of them fought against the Germans. And even the one who fought in Mesopotamia, well, he took British salary all his life. Did it make sense for him to be all namak haraam, and stop fighting? And what about the Saudis and Wahaabis, who betrayed the caliphate on British behalf?