Mir Khudadad Khan Baloch (Urdu: میر خداداد خان بلوچ) was the Khan (ruler) of the princely state of Kalat in what is now the Balochistan province of Pakistan from 1857 to … He was the first Indian to receive the award.Move cursor over images to enlarge them.In October 1914, almost immediately after arriving in France, the 129th Baluchis were among 20,000 Indian soldiers sent to the front line.
In fact, the 129th Baluchis were outnumbered five to one. His citation reads:The story of Pakistani First World War Victoria Cross recipient Khudadad Khan.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.3 men from Pakistan received the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest award for gallantry, during the First World \nWar. Very few tribesmen of Baluchistan were recruited from Muslims of various tribes within India. Subadar Khudadad Khan VC (1888-1971), 10th Baluch Regiment, c1935 More details: NAM. He served in the First World War with the 129th Baluchis, and was the first soldier of Indian origin to be awarded the Victoria Cross.The 129th Baluchis faced the advancing Germans in the village of Hollebeke in Belgium under terrible condition; water-logged trenches, insufficient hand grenades and barbed wire, and gaps in the line due to a shortage of soldiers. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Some of his descendants now live in Leeds.Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.Credit: © IWM ( detail of VC 694)The bravery of Khan and his fellow Baluchis gave the Allies enough time for British and Indian reinforcements to arrive and stop the German army from reaching the vital ports. His family were Pathans who had moved to the Punjab from the North-West Frontier between India and Afghanistan. Khan was the only survivor. Khudadad Khan was born in the Punjab (now in Pakistan) in 1887. 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. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone. The Germans attacked on 30 October, and many Indian soldiers were killed or wounded. Khudadad Khan VC born in Chakwal in what is now Pakistan was the first South Asian recipient of the Victoria Cross the highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to British and Commonwealth forces. Although he served in a Baluchi Regiment, he was a Pathan. Khan, who was born in the village of Dab in the Punjab province of present day Pakistan, was a 26-year-old machine gunner in the 129th Duke of …