CHAKWAL: The soldier whose statue stands tall at the entrance of the Army Museum in Rawalpindi is Khudadad Khan who is remembered as ‘Baba-i-Baloch Regiment’ (The Father of Baloch Regiment).

Khudadad Khan born in the Dub village of Chakwal district was the first Muslim soldier to have been awarded the United Kingdom’s highest military award, Victoria Cross, for valour in the First Battle of Ypres at Hollebeke, Belguim in World War I.

Recently under the banner of ‘First World War Centenary Programme’, a ceremony to honour the 175 Victoria Cross recipients was held in London. Among those 175, three including Khudadad Khan belonged to present day Pakistan. The two others were Jemadar Mir Dast of Tirah and Naik Shahamad Khan of Rawalpindi. The British Government has prepared bronze plaques bearing the names of Victoria Cross holders. The three plaques would be handed over to Pakistan Government this year and will be displayed at important public places.

Officers visit Khudadad Khan at Military Hospital (MH) in Rawalpindi.

On October 31, Britain’s leading daily newspaper ‘The Telegraph’ reported that two former heads of the British army General Lord Dannatt and General Lord Richards led a group of peers, Members of Parliament, historians and religious leaders in calling for a greater recognition of the first Muslim soldier to have been awarded the Victoria Cross.

It reported, “in a letter to The Telegraph they say that the actions of Sepoy Khudadad Khan in a battle at Ypres 100 years ago on Friday exemplified the courage of many who served in the war.” They further said that children should be told about the role played by Muslim troops in the First World War.

The news came as a pleasant surprise for Khudadad Khan’s grandsons, who are hoping that their grandfather’s great service can be recognised with a university for the children of his native Chakwal.

“Our district does not have a university despite having the second highest literacy rate in Punjab province,” said Ghulam Rabbani Minhas, a grandson of Khudadad Khan

“Our region sent thousands of young men to both World War I and World War II who fought courageously and many even died fighting for the British Government. So, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of WWI, we demand of the British Government to recognise this service and sacrifice with a university in Khudadad Khan’s name,” says Abdul Ghafoor, another grandson of Khudadad Khan.

The Victoria Cross.

Khan was a 26-year-old sepoy in the 129th Duke of Connaught’s Own Baluchis, British Indian Army (now 11th Battalion The Baloch Regiment of Pakistan Army). He fought gallantly in the effort of thwarting major German offensive meant to capture the vital ports of Boulogne in France and Nieuport in Belgium. Khudadad Khan’s machine-gun team along with another kept firing at the Germans, preventing them from making the final breakthrough.

Eventually all the men in the two teams were killed except Khudadad Khan who although badly wounded continued to fire at the enemy. He eventually killed the five men and managed to crawl back to his regiment. The Victoria Cross was awarded to Khan as recognition for his bravery and he was promoted to the rank of Subidar Major.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2014