THE FIRST VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO A MUSLIM

As my collection of Victoria Crosses (VCs) nears the 200 mark, I am delighted to reveal that I have become the custodian of a particularly special medal group.

I have purchased the gallantry and service medals that were awarded to Subadar (equivalent to a captain) Khudadad Khan. He was the very first Muslim to be awarded Britain and the Commonwealth’s most prestigious decoration for bravery and his medal group will soon go on public display at the Imperial War Museum, London.

Khan, who was also the first Indian soldier to be awarded the VC, was awarded his decoration when, while serving as a sepoy (equivalent to a private), he displayed exceptional gallantry in battle early in the First World War.

In a world in which a tiny minority of Muslims – notably those fighting for ISIS and those extremists responsible for terrorists acts around the world – tarnish their religion, this is a wonderful time for us to recognise the many, many loyal and brave Muslims who have risked, and sometimes given, their lives for Britain, its allies and for wider freedoms.

Make no mistake, Muslims made an immense contribution to the Allied effort during the Great War, and beyond. Of the 1.3 million Indians who volunteered to serve the Empire during the 1914-18 global conflict, approximately 400,000 were Muslims.

Khan had been born on October 26 1888 in Jhelum, Punjab, India (now Pakistan). He had enlisted as a sepoy in the 129th Duke of Connaught’s Own Baluchis, Indian Army, on August 3 1914 at a time when the regiment was recruiting on the North-West Frontier.

Initially, Khan had been sent to the Suez Canal Zone but he was then diverted to France because of the desperate need for more troops. On October 18 1914, he moved with the Ferozepore Brigade from Orleans, France, to be attached to the British Cavalry Corps that was attempting to hold the line between Zandvoorde and Ploegsteert Wood, Belgium. On 22 October, his regiment joined the 3rd Cavalry Brigade.

As the battle raged on October 31, Khan shrugged off his serious injuries and continued to work his gun as German shells reined down on the six men. One by one, Havildar Ghulam Mahomed, Sepoy Lal Sher, Sepoy Said Ahmed, Sepoy Kassib and Sepoy Afsar Khan were killed by enemy fire.

Before his position was finally overrun by the Germans, Khan put the machine-gun out of action so that the much-prized weapon did not fall into enemy hands. As the enemy advanced, he initially feigned death but he eventually crawled back to rejoin his company and receive medical assistance.

Khan’s VC was announced in the London Gazette on December 7 1914 and he received his decoration under the terms of the Royal Warrant of 1911, which extended the reward to native troops. Previously Indians who showed exceptional gallantry received the Indian Order of Merit (First Class). The other five men manning the second machine-gun on October 31 received a different but lesser posthumous gallantry award.

Initially, Khan was too weak to attend his planned investiture but he eventually received his VC from King George V at Buckingham Palace on January 26, 1915.

To read the complete article, see:
Lord Ashcroft: Why I feel so privileged to take possession of the first Victoria Cross awarded to a Muslim (www.conservativehome.com/platform/2016/06/lord-ashcroft-why-i-feel-so-privileged-to-take-possession-of-the-first-vc-awarded-to-a-muslim.html)

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