INDIAN OFFICERS

The following are accounts of the military careers of selected Indian Officers who served in the years before, during and after the Great War 1. The medals issued and named to the recipients, and are often all that remains of these men who served in actions, battles and theatres largely forgotten today.

Biographies on this page

Subedar Major Muhd .Ismail

OBI 1st Class, IOM 2nd Class

39th Mtn.Battery

Subedar Kifayat Ullah I.D.S.M

32nd Mtn.Battery

INDIAN OFFICERS

The following are accounts of the military careers of selected Indian Officers who served in the years before, during and after the Great War. The medals issued and named to the recipients, and are often all that remains of these men who served in actions, battles and theatres largely forgotten today.

BIOGRAPHIES ON THIS PAGE

Subedar-Major Muhammad. Ismail

OBI, IOM

39th Mtn.Battery

Subedar Kifayat Ullah IDSM

32nd Mtn.Battery

HONORARY CAPTAIN - SUBEDAR MAJOR. MUHAMMAD ISMAIL

SARDAR BAHADUR. OBI . 1st CLASS. IOM 2nd CLASS

39th (MAYMYO) MOUNTAIN BATTERY.

Courtesy of Mr. Badar Kabeer

Muhammad Ismail joined the Indian Army on 9th November 1886. He would quickly see field service in thick and dangerous jungle with the Indian Mountain Artillery during the Lushai Campaign and then Burma, earning the 1854 India General Service Medal with two clasps 1885-87 &1887-89.

By 1897, Muhammad Ismail had been promoted to Havildar-Major and was serving with the 6th (Bombay) Mountain Battery. On the 10th of June of that year, the 6th Mountain Battery was assigned to serve as part of an escort to Mr.Gee, Political Officer, during a meeting with the Madda Khel at Maizar deep in the Tochi Valley of the North-West Frontier. Despite being invited and during entertainment, a barrage of fire was opened upon the British Officers of the escort and their Sikh bodyguards without warning. The guns of the 6th Mountain Battery opened fire and did great damage to the enemy, but were nonetheless in a very dire spot.

From the History of Indian Mountain Artillery by Brig.Gen.Graham:

The carriage mule of No.3 gun was wounded, so Havildar Nihal Singh and a naik and gunner carried the load to the relief line, 170 yards away. No.4 gun somersaulted twice, but was picked up and went on firing; two lanyards also broke at this gun, but the detachment under Naik Sharaf Ali carried on. When limbering up, the gun mule was wounded and bolter; then the gun was carried to the relief by Havildar-Major Mahomet Ismail [Mohammad Ismail]and two gunners. Salutri Kewal dressed Captain Browne's wounds under fire, and the drivers behaved admirably, even loading up the greatcoats on the relief mule lines.

The gunners of the 6th Battery remained in action until the relief force was The gunners of the 6th Battery remained in action until the relief force was finally in a position on safety later in the day. For his gallantry and devotion to duty at Maizar, Havildar-Major Muhammad Ismail was awarded the Indian Order of Merit 3rd Class as well as the 1895 India General Service Medal with one clasp.

On 22nd October 1900, Muhammad Ismail was promoted to Jemadar. As a junior Indian Officer, he took part in operations in the Aden interior during the 1903-04 campaign. On 1st September 1907, he was promoted to Subedar, and posted to the 32nd Mountain Battery that same year.

On 1st December 1910, Muhammad Ismail was promoted to Subedar-Major. In 1911, he attended the great Delhi Durbar and was awarded the Delhi Durbar medal. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he was awarded the Order of British India 1st Class with title of Sardar Bahadur on 4th December 1916 for his long and honourable service.

Muhammad Ismail's soldiering days were not yet done however. In April 1918, the 32nd Mountain Battery was mobilized at Maymyo and divided into two batteries: the 32nd (Poonch) and the 39th (Maymyo). Muhammad Ismail was assigned to be the Subedar-Major in the 39th Battery. Both were ordered at once to proceed on active field service to Palestine.

Once arrived, and after intense training, the 39th Battery was assigned to the 53rd (Welsh) Division and tasked with supporting the 160th Infantry Brigade. On 19th September 1918, General Allenby's massive Megiddo offensive began. During the initial assault, the 53rd Division was ordered to advance against the Turks on the east side of the Jerusalem-Nablus Road. The 39th Battery fired 236 rounds on that day, and took part in the advance despite rough conditions and a lack of available water. By the 21st September, the Turkish Army had disintegrated and fighting, at least for the infantry, was over.â€¦.

The 39th Battery remained in Palestine for the next two years as part of the

The 39th Battery remained in Palestine for the next two years as part of army of occupation, and even served for a period in Jerusalem. Subedar-Major Mohammad Ismail was mentioned, and later received a grant of land for his service. A number of Muslims of the Battery also made the pilgrimage to Mecca while stationed in Palestine, paid for by the government of India. It can only be

Assumed that Muhammad Ismail was one these men, as he was the senior Indian in the Battery. On 16th October 1919, Subedar-Major Muhammad Ismail, Sardar Bahadur, OBI 1st Class, IOM 2nd class, was promoted Honorary Captain, and retired upon the completion of a long and distinguished military career.

Full Medal Entitlement

Order of British India 1st Class

Indian Order of Merit, 2nd Class

In IIndia General Service Medal with clasps ,Lushai, 1885-87 & Burma 1887-89'

India General Service Medal with clasp 'Punjab Frontier 1897-98

Royal Victorian Medal 1910

1911 Delhi Durbar Medal

1914-15 Star

British War Medal 1914-1918

Victory Medal 1914-1919

1935 Coronation & 1936 Jubilee Medals

.....................................................................................

Subedar Kifayat Ullah IDSM

32nd (Poonch) Mountain Battery

Courtesy of Mr. Badar Kabeer

Kifayat Ullah the son of Hon.Captain Subedar-Major Muhammad Ismail, joined the Indian Army on 1st October 1907. Like his father, he served in the 32nd Mountain Battery, and was also present at the 1911 Delhi Durbar. Well after the outbreak of the Great War, and still serving in India, Kifayat Ullah was promoted to Jemadar on 1st August 1917.

After much waiting, the 32rd Mountain Battery finally received orders to proceed overseas to Palestine in April 1918. It was at once re-organized as two four gun batteries, with one Battery remaining the 32nd (Poonch) while the other became the 39th (Maymyo) Battery. Jemadar Kifayat Ullah remained with the 32nd Battery, while his father would serve as Subedar-Major of the 39th Battery.

* From the History of Indian Mountain Artillery by Brig.Gen.Graham *

the 10th Indian Mountain Artillery Brigade under the command of Lt.Col.A.M.Colville. The three Batteries would not serve together long however, for in preparation for General Allenby's September Offensive, the 39th Battery was removed from the Brigade to be attached to the 53rd Division. The HQ and the two remaining Batteries were then attached to Chaytor's Force; a mobile mixed cavalry force on the far right of the British position.

On 19th September 1918, Allenby's offensive began. All along the line Turkish resistance quickly crumbled. During the ensuing advance, Chaytor,s Force

received orders to cut off the Turkish retreat from Amman As part of this action, on 25th September, the 32nd Battery went into action and had some shooting

on trenches from a covered position, and F.O.O. knocked out some machine guns, but the affair was soon over For this action, Jemadar Kifayat Ullah was awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal .

The remainder of the campaign for the 32nd would be a series of long, hard, and hot marches under the most trying conditions. It would remain in the Holy Land until December 1920, when it returned to Jutogh, India.

Kifayat Ullah would continue to service in the Indian Army for a brief period longer including service on the North-West Frontier of India. He would retire as a Subedar in the mid-1920s.

Full Medal Entitlement

Indian Distinguished Service Medal. 1911Delhi Durbar Medal,

1914 -15 Star. British War Medal 1914 -18. Victory Medal 1914 -19

1908 India General Service Medal with Clasp Waziristan 1921-24.

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