Fateh Muhammad (Captain)
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Honorary Captain Sardar Bahadur Fateh Muhammad OBI, IOM | |
|---|---|
 Fateh Muhammad as King's Indian Orderly Officer, 1931 | |
| Born | 1881-82 Malot, Jhelum, British India |
| Died | 23 December 1972 Malot, Jhelum, Pakistan |
| Buried | |
| Service |  British Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1900–1933 |
| Rank | Honorary Captain (Subedar-Major) |
| Unit | 12th Frontier Force Regiment |
| Known for | Senior Aide-de-Camp to Commander-in-Chief, India (1930-33) King's Indian Orderly Officer 1931 |
| Battles / wars |
|
| Awards | Order of British India 1st Class Indian Order of Merit 2nd Class |
Honorary Captain Fateh Muhammad (Urdu: فتح محمد ), Sardar Bahadur, O.B.I, I.OM [1] was a distinguished officer of the British Indian Army's 12th Frontier Force Regiment and a World War 1 veteran. He hailed from a Gakhar family in the village of Malot, Jhelum.
Military career
[edit]Fateh Muhammad was enrolled as a non-commissioned officer in the British Indian Army on 1 January 1900.[2] By the onset of the first World War, Muhammad was a Havildar, the highest rank for a non-commissioned officer in the infantry branch.[3]
World War 1
[edit]At the action of Shaikh Sa’ad on the 6 and 7 January 1916, he was very specially conspicuous for the advance and assault. For the coolness and resource with which he handled his men, he was awarded the Indian Order of Merit (2nd Class) on 12 May 1916.[3][4]
Post World War 1
[edit]Following his heroic actions during World War I, where he served in Mesopotamia, he was awarded the Viceroy's Commission on 9 May 1917, thereby attaining the rank of Jemadar.[5]
Subsequently, he was promoted to Subadar following his participation in the Waziristan Campaign (1921–22).[5] His next promotion came on 19 April 1928, elevating him to Subedar-Major, the highest possible rank for an officer holding the Viceroy's Commission.[5] In recognition of his long and dedicated service to the Crown, he was bestowed the honorary rank of Lieutenant on 8 September 1928.[6]
During the visit of His Excellency the Viceroy of India to Calcutta in December 1928, after complimenting Muhammad on the smartness of the battalion, he presented him with a silver-mounted malacca walking-stick.[7]
After 29 years of distinguished service, he was formally conferred with the Order of British India, 1st class on 4 June 1929, which entitled him to use the title 'Sardar Bahadur'.[8]
Senior A.D.C to Commander-in-Chief, India (1930-33)
[edit]On 16 September 1930, Fateh Muhammad was appointed as the Senior Unseconded Indian Aide-de-Camp to his excellency, the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Philip Chetwode.[9] During his 3-year term as the senior ADC, he worked on the Indianisation of the British Indian Army.
Upon his retirement on 19 April 1933, Muhammad was appointed as an honorary Aide-de-Camp to the Commander-In-Chief. This honorary position was subsequently made a lifetime appointment.[10][1]
King's Indian Orderly Officer (1931)
[edit]On 7 April 1931, Muhammad was officially announced as one of the four King's Indian Orderly Officers selected to travel to London for the next four months.[11] On duty, they ranked only second to the Gentleman-at-Arms as the Sovereign's bodyguard.[12] At all court functions, their proximity was close to the throne.[13] Muhammad was the senior most officer of his group with 31 years of service. His counterparts included Subedar-Major Rahimdad Khan, Rissaldar-Major Malik Mihr Khan (father of Nur Khan), and Rissaldar Painda Khan, all of whom, like Muhammad, had served in the Great World War.[14] The combined service of these four men was above 110 years.[15][12]
Retirement
[edit]
After 33 years of distinguished service in the British Indian Army, Muhammad retired on 19 April 1933. In recognition of his dedicated service, he was conferred the honorary rank of Captain upon his retirement.[16] He was 51 years old at the time of his retirement.
Later life
[edit]Muhammad spent his later years in his village, Malot. During the 1947 Rawalpindi Massacres, Muhammad safeguarded the minorities of his village from the angry mobs and ensured their safe migration to India.
He passed away on 23 December 1972 due to old age, leaving behind a widow and five children.
Awards
[edit]
India Medal, Waziristan (1901–02)[17]
India General Service Medal, (1908 & 1921–22)[17]
WW1 Victory Medal (United Kingdom)[17]
Indian Order of Merit (1916)[3][4]
Order of British India (1929)[16][8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Authority Of The Council (1935). Indian Army List For Oct -1935.
- ^ Army Department Government Of India. Indian Army List April -1923.
- ^ a b c Adjunt General In India (1930). List Of Honors Awarded To The Indian Army.
- ^ a b M.S. Leigh (1922). The Punjab and the War. The Superintendent Government.
- ^ a b c Authority Of The Council (1929). Indian Army List For July -1929.
- ^ Authority Of The Council (1933). Indian Army List For April I -1933.
- ^ Condon (1962). The Frontier Force Regiment.
- ^ a b Authority Of The Council (1937). Supplement Indian Army List For Jan -1937.
- ^ Macmullen, c n (1952). Indian Army Orders His Excellency General Sir Philip W. Chetwode Commandar-in Chief In India 7thjanuary 1932.
- ^ Macmullen, c n (1952). Indian Army Orders His Excellency General Sir Philip W. Chetwode Commandar-in Chief In India 7thjanuary 1933.
- ^ "Western Daily Press, 07 April 1931". Western Daily Press, 07 April 1931.
- ^ a b "The Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 1931-05-02 (Page 39) | digitalcollections.lib.umanitoba.ca". digitalcollections.lib.umanitoba.ca. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ^ The Glasgow Herald. The Glasgow Herald.
- ^ The Glasgow Herald. The Glasgow Herald.
- ^ Diaries of the British officers of the Indian Army in charge of the King's Indian Orderly Officers. British Library. 1928–1933.
- ^ a b Authority Of The Council (1937). Supplement Indian Army List For Jan -1937.
- ^ a b c d e Authority Of The Council (1927). Supplement Indian Army List For Jan -1927.