Shahamad KhanVC (1 July 1879 – 28 July 1947) was a subject of the British Empire and one of the first people from the Indian Subcontinent to receive the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
"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. But for his action, the line would undoubtedly have been penetrated by the enemy."[1]
He later achieved the rank of Subedar. He is buried in his ancestral village of Takhti, Pakistan.
See alsoedit
Geoghegan, Col NM, and Campbell, Capt MHA. (1928). History of the 1st Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment. Aldershot: Gale & Polden.
Ahmad, Maj Rifat Nadeem, and Ahmed, Maj Gen Rafiuddin. (2006). Unfaded Glory: The 8th Punjab Regiment 1798-1956. Abbottabad: The Baloch Regimental Centre.
shahamad, khan, july, 1879, july, 1947, subject, british, empire, first, people, from, indian, subcontinent, receive, victoria, cross, highest, most, prestigious, award, gallantry, face, enemy, that, awarded, british, commonwealth, forces, naik, 89th, punjabis. Shahamad Khan VC 1 July 1879 28 July 1947 was a subject of the British Empire and one of the first people from the Indian Subcontinent to receive the Victoria Cross the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces Shahamad KhanNaik Shahamad Khan VC 89th Punjabis 1916 Born1 July 1879Rawalpindi Punjab British India now Pakistan Died28 July 1947 aged 68 BuriedTakhti PakistanAllegiance British IndiaService wbr branch British Indian ArmyRankSubedarUnit89th PunjabisBattles warsWorld War IMesopotamiaAwardsVictoria Cross Contents 1 Military career 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksMilitary career editA Punjabi Muslim Rajput from District Rawalpindi in the then British India he was 36 years old and a Naik in the 89th Punjabis British Indian Army now 1st Battalion the Baloch Regiment Pakistan Army during the First World War He served first on the Western Front from May to December 1915 and then on the Tigris Front in Mesopotamia when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC 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 But for his action the line would undoubtedly have been penetrated by the enemy 1 He later achieved the rank of Subedar He is buried in his ancestral village of Takhti Pakistan See also editGeoghegan Col NM and Campbell Capt MHA 1928 History of the 1st Battalion 8th Punjab Regiment Aldershot Gale amp Polden Ahmad Maj Rifat Nadeem and Ahmed Maj Gen Rafiuddin 2006 Unfaded Glory The 8th Punjab Regiment 1798 1956 Abbottabad The Baloch Regimental Centre Monuments to Courage David Harvey 1999 The Register of the Victoria Cross This England 1997 References edit No 29765 The London Gazette Supplement 26 September 1916 pp 9418 9419 External links editShah Ahmad Khan Shahamad Khan at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shahamad Khan amp oldid 1215158612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
