British War Medal. Silver issue (4669 Sepoy Diwankhan, 9 Bhopal. Infy.)

The recipient Diwan Khan was by ethnicity & faith a 'Hindustani Mussalman', holding the rank of Sepoy (Private) while serving with 1st Battalion 9th Bhopal Infantry, of the British Indian Army

The recipients regimental number indicates a soldier that enlisted in period 1915-16, and would have deployed for active service in Mesopotamia circa 1916-18

On the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914, the 9th Bhopal Infantry was a single battalion regiment of the British Indian Army. Only soldiers of 1/9 Bhopals incurred casualties who had regimental numbers in the range 4000+ who died in Mesopotamia during the Great War. Each war-raised battalion (3 x battalions raised 1917-18) is identified by all having lower ranges of regimental numbers (each war-raised battalion having it's own range from No 1 onwards), and the regiment name 9th Bhopal Infantry preceded with a battalion prefix 2, 3 or 4 / preceding '9th'

Nick-named the 'Bo-Peeps' (a play on their geographic location name 'Bhopal'), the 1st Battalion had the distinction of including in its ranks one of the 11 x Victoria Cross recipients that were awarded to native ranks of the Indian Army during the Great War. By ethnicity & regiment the Indian recipients included: 2 x Garhwalis (39th Garwhal Rifles), 2 x Gurkhas (both 2nd Battalion 3rd Gurkha Rifles), 2 x Pathan's (129th Baluchis & 57th Wilde's Rifles), 2 x Hindu Rajput's (9th Bhopal's & 28th Light Cavalry), 1 x Hindu Jat (14th Murray's Jat Lancers) 1 x Punjabi Mussalman (89th Punjabis) & 1 x Hindu Dogra Rajput (41st Dogras)

The inspirational Victoria Cross recommendation for the 'Bo-Peeps' VC Bahadur, Chatta Singh, who performed his deeds of valour at the Battle of Wada, 1 January in 1916, was published in thein the London Gazette 21 June 1916:

Quote,

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned ...

No. .3398 .Sepoy Chatta Singh, 9th Bhopal Infy., Ind. Army.

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in leaving cover to assist his Commanding Officer who was lying wounded and. helpless in' the open. Sepoy C'hatta Singh bound up the Officer's wound and then dug cover.for him with his entrenching tool, being exposed all the time to very heavy rifle fire.

For five hours until nightfall he remained beside the wounded Officer, shielding-him with his own body on the exposed side. He then, under cover of darkness, went back for assistance, and brought the Officer into safety.

Unquote.

A scarce seen extant named example of the BWM to 1st Battalion 9th Bhopla Infantry - the vast majority of whose medals will have been lost to posterity via the silver-bazaars of the sub-continent

Condition: VF

Code: 26022