Begum Pasha Shah: A Trailblazer in Indian Military History
Begum Pasha Shah etched her name in history as the first Muslim woman to join the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC) in India.
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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.
Khudadad Khan passed away in 1971 in Pakistan.
On Commonwealth Day, 9 March 2015, a commemorative Victoria Cross paving stone honouring Khan’s service was laid at the National Memorial Arboretum.
Khudadad Khan’s name is also recorded on the Memorial Gates at Hyde Park Corner, London alongside other Victoria Cross awardees. A statue of Khudadad Khan is also present at the main entrance of Pakistan Army Museum in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Begum Pasha Shah etched her name in history as the first Muslim woman to join the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC) in India.
Gaje Ghale was born on 1 August 1918 in Barpak, Gorkha District, Nepal. Barpak, a small village nestled in the rugged terrains of the Himalayas, is in a region that has produced some of the most esteemed soldiers to have served in the armed forces.
Records indicate that no Victoria Crosses were awarded to Indian soldiers specifically for their actions at Monte Cassino during The Second World War. However, Indian soldiers played a significant role in the gruelling battles for Monte Cassino, with many displaying exceptional bravery. One soldier, Sepoy Kamal Ram of the 8th Punjab Regiment, did receive the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Garigliano River in Italy in May 1944.
The George Cross (GC) is the highest civilian gallantry award given in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
The first of the Trust’s projects is the South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM), which first took place in 2020 and runs from the 18th of July to the 17th of August each year.
SAHM seeks to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities.
It seeks to understand the diverse heritage and cultures that continue to link the UK with South Asia.
© South Asian Heritage Trust | All Rights Reserved
