Destiny found him on the battlefields of the First World War. In October 1914, Khan, a sepoy (private) in the 129th Duke of Connaught’s Own Baluchis, arrived in war-torn France. He was among 20,000 Indian troops sent to bolster the weary British Expeditionary Force (BEF) against the German advance threatening vital ports.

The defining moment of Khan’s life came on 31 October 1914, at Hollebeke, Belgium. As a machine gunner, he found himself amidst a fierce German attack. Outnumbered five-to-one, the Baluchis held their ground with determination. One by one, Khan’s comrades fell, leaving him the sole survivor of his machine gun detachment. Despite his own wounds, Khan’s spirit remained unbroken. With remarkable courage, he continued to fire his machine gun until it was silenced. Feigning death, he waited until nightfall before escaping back to his regiment.

Khan’s bravery, along with that of his fellow Baluchis, bought precious time for reinforcements to arrive, ultimately stopping the German advance. After recovering from his wounds at the Indian Hospital in Brighton Pavilion<add link to Royal Pavilion story> , Khudadad Khan was transferred to the Indian Hospital in New Milton. It was there, on 26 January 1915, that he received a visit from King George V, who personally awarded him the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for gallantry “in the presence of the enemy”.

After recovering from his wounds, Khan was hailed a hero. He continued to serve with distinction, eventually retiring as a Subedar (equivalent to a captain) in 1929.

In June 1956, marking the centenary of the Victoria Cross award, Khudadad Khan joined a Hyde Park parade alongside fellow VC recipients, hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. He further cemented his place among heroes by becoming a Committee Member of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association, attending its inaugural reunion at the Café Royal, London, in July 1958.