Mir Dast

Mir Dast

Dast depicted on a Gallaher's cigarette card (c. 1908–1919)
Born (1874-12-03)3 December 1874
Tirah, British India
Died 19 January 1945(1945-01-19) (aged 70)
Tehsil, Peshawar
Service/branch Indian Army
Rank Subedar
Unit 55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force), attached 57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force)
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Victoria Cross
Indian Order of Merit

Mir Dast VC IOM (3 December 1874 – 19 January 1945) was an Indian recipient of 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.

Personal data

Mir Dast, Afridi, was born on 3 December 1874 in the Maidan valley, Tirah, of what is now Pakistan, and died on 19 January 1945 at Shagi Landi Kyan Village, Tehsil, Peshawar. He is buried at Warsak Road Cemetery, Shagi Landi Kyan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan.

Mir Dast enlisted in the British Indian Army in December 1894. He served in the North-West Frontier and Waziristan prior to World War I, and was promoted to the rank of jemadar in March 1909. He was retired from active service in 1917 with the rank of subedar.

Victoria Cross

During the First World War Dast was a jemadar in the 55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force), British Indian Army, attd. 57th Wilde's Rifles (F.F.) during when he performed the service for which he was awarded the VC.

On 26 April 1915 at Ypres, Belgium, Jemadar Mir Dast led his platoon with great bravery during the attack, and afterwards collected various parties of the regiment (when no British officers were left) and kept them under his command until the retirement was ordered. He also displayed great courage that day when he risked his life to carry eight wounded British and Indian officers to safety while exposed to very heavy fire.[1]

Today a monument stands at the Memorial Gates at Hyde Park Corner in London to commemorate the VCs of Indian heritage, including Mir Dast.

References

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29210. p. 6269. 29 June 1915. Retrieved 3 April 2015.

Further reading

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