Subedar Major Nausher
Khan, I.O.M.
King George's Own Sapper and Miners
(circa 1931)
by
Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis ©2008
Subedar Major Khan, a Muslim officer, is wearing a khaki service dress and knickerbockers. He is wearing a brown leather Sam Browne belt, leather sword slings, and dark blue puttees. His sword is encased in a leather scabbard with metal tip. Khan's paggari (or turban) is khaki with a gold fringe and King George's Own Sappers and Miners cap badge of the Prince of Wales plume design. He is also wearing unit shoulder titles and his badges of rank on the shoulder straps of his tunic. The Subedar Major is wearing the following medals:
1. Indian Order of Merit (I.O.M.)(2nd Class)
2. India Distinguished Service Medal and bar (1007 Havildar, 1st Sappers and Miners).
3 1914 Star and bar.
4. British War Medal.
5. Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches.
6. Coronation 1911 or Delhi Durbar 1911.
7. Russian Medal of St. George, 2nd Class.
Khan served as a Havildar in No. 4 Company, Bengal Sapper and Miners in France and Flanders. He distinguished himself in action at Festubert in December of 1914 when at great risk to himself he stood in the open at Piquet House and directed the blocking of a trench until he was severely wounded. Havildar Khan subsequently won the I.D.S.M for services in Mesopotamia and was awarded the Indian Order of Merit in 1919. The citation for his I.O.M. reads as follow:
Awarded the Indian Order of Merit, 2nd Class
Jemadar Nausher Khan, I.D. S.M., 1st King George's Own Sappers and Miners. For conspicuous gallantry and leadership on the 19th September 1918, during the attack on the enemy's trenches. He was in command of his section of sappers making a gun road across "No Man's Land" and the enemy trench system, under enemy shell fire, and carried-out his work so efficiently that the road kept pace with the advancing infantry and the artillery were able to advance immediately the infantry reached their objective. He has displayed ability and power of command on other occasions.
REFERENCES:
1. With the Indians in France, p.355.
2. SANDES, E.W.C. The Indian Sappers and Miners. The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1948, p.445.
3. Honours and Awards of the Indian Army, August 1914 - August 1921. J.B. Hayward & Sons, Ltd., p. 3 1. Originally published in 1931 as the Roll of Honour. Indian Army- 1914-1921 9 Army Order 2078 of 1919.
