WW1 - Indian Soldier - Victoria Cross Medal Recipient - Shahamad Khan

Victoria Cross Medal Recipient during WW1 Shahamad Khan was born in Takhti near Rawalpindi, India (now Pakistan). He was born  on 1^st July 1879. He was Niak in the 89th Punjabis, British Indian Army serving on the Tigris Front in Mesopotamia.

"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.”

The London Gazette, 26 September 1916.

 

His Victoria Cross medal was purchased privately by Lord Ashcroft collection in 1999. It is displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery and Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum

He died on 28^th July 1947 in Takhti, near Rawalpindi.