Jemadar Mir Dost,
I.O.M., Bahadur

55th Coke's Rifles

Date of Action: 26 April 1915

Place of Action: Wieltje, Ypres, France

Date and Place of Birth:  1874; Naidan, Tirah, N.-W.F.P.; son of Madha Mir

Enrolled:  3 December 1894

CITATION

Jemadar Mir Dost was awarded the Victoria Cross "for the most conspicuous bravery and great ability at Ypres on the 26th April 1915, when he led his platoon with great gallantry during the attack, and afterwards collected various parties of his regiment (when no British Officers was left) and kept them under his command until regiment was ordered.

"Jemedar Mir Dost subsequently on that day displayed remarkable courage in helping to carry eight British and Indian officers into safety, whilst exposed to very heavy fire." (London Gazette, 29 June 1915)

Mir Dost -- then 836 Havildar, 55th Coke's Rifles -- had also been awarded the Indian Order of Merit, Third Class, for services on the North-West Frontier in 1908: "For Conspicuous gallantry duting the operations of the Mohmand Field Force. On the 18th May 1908, at Sardag, this non-commissioned officer with two men found himself in close proximity to a group of the enemy holding a position behind a low wall among bushes above a small nullah; with his two men he at once rushed the position shooting two and bayonetting one of the enemy; in the execution of this deed he was severely wounded." (Army Order 526 of 1908)

This dual award of the V.C. and I.O.M. was unique. He was also, apparently, awarded the Order of British India, 2nd class (hence, the "Bahadur" title); most likely this was a pre-war award (it was not a WWI award, so far as can be traced).

Mir Dost was also awarded the Russian Cross of St. George, 3rd class (approved in Army Order 958 of 1915).

His name is occasionally seen as "Mir Dast," but "Mir Dost" appears to be both more common and a more accurate transliteration.

A link to Mir Dost on Mike Chapman's VC pages.