Mir Dast Afridi

Rescued eight wounded officers amid very heavy fire at Ypres

Mir Dast was born on 3 December 1874 at Landai in Tirah, now Pakistan. An Afridi from the Kambar Khel community, he enlisted in the Punjab Frontier Force in December 1894. He served on the North West Frontier, became a naik in 1901 and a havildar in 1904, and fought with the regiment later designated the 55th Coke's Rifles.

In May 1908, during the Mohmand operations, he joined two men in rushing an enemy position behind a wall. He was severely wounded in the thigh and received the Indian Order of Merit, third class. Commissioned as a jemadar in 1909, he subsequently represented his regiment at the Delhi Durbar.

In January 1915 he went to France as a reinforcement for the 57th Wilde's Rifles. On 26 April, during the Second Battle of Ypres, his unit advanced through a battlefield affected by poison gas. When British officers became casualties, he gathered scattered soldiers and kept them under control until withdrawal was ordered. Later he repeatedly exposed himself to fire to help carry eight wounded British and Indian officers to safety.

His Victoria Cross recognised both his battlefield leadership and the rescues. Gas exposure and further wounds led to evacuation to Britain, where he was treated in the Royal Pavilion military hospital at Brighton. George V presented his cross there on 25 August 1915. He also received the Russian Cross of St George and became a member of the Order of British India, second class.

He returned to India in October 1915, but the effects of gas continued to limit his health. He retired on pension in 1917 after more than twenty years' service. He died at Shagi Landi Kyan near Peshawar on 19 January 1945 and was buried locally. His name is commemorated at Brighton and on London's Memorial Gates.

Official citation:

For most conspicuous bravery and great ability at Ypres on 26th April 1915, when he led his platoon with great gallantry during, the attack, and afterwards collected various parties of the regiment (when no British Officers were left) and kept them under his command until the retirement was ordered. Jemadar Mir Dast subsequently on this day displayed remarkable courage in helping to carry eight British and Indian Officers into safety, whilst exposed to very heavy fire.