KHUDADAD KHAN

Despite severe wounds, Sepoy Khudadad Khan continued to man the Maxim gun with five other men from his detachment from the 129th Baluchi regiment. Their British officer had already been wounded. As the men around him fell to sustained enemy fire, and despite receiving several more wounds himself, Khudadad Khan continued to man the gun until he was the sole survivor. When it was clear his position was going to be overrun, he ensured that the Maxim gun was rendered inoperable and then feigned death. After the enemy had moved on, Khudadad Khan managed to crawl back to friendly lines and seek medical attention for his wounds.

It was only in 1911 that King George V signed the Warrant extending the Victoria Cross to members of the Indian Army. Prior to that date, men of the Indian armed forces would be awarded one of the three levels of the Indian Order of Merit for gallantry. There were several incidents on the North-West Frontier in India during the 1890s where a British officer was awarded the Victoria Cross and men of the Indian army involved in