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Indian Order of MeritThis page contains a description of the Indian Order of Merit (IOM) and details of the sole recipient of the award for the Boer War. DescriptionInstituted in 1837 by the East India Company, the Order of Merit as it was originally known was awarded for gallantry in battle displayed by members of the Indian Army. With the Introduction of the Order of Merit in 1902, the original award was renamed to be the Indian Order of Merit. There were three grades but the 1st Class was abolished in 1912 when Indian personnel became eligible to receive the VC in October 1911. Only one IOM was awarded for the Boer War. RecipientDost Muhammad Khan enlisted in March 1896 and first saw service in the Samana operations and with the Tirah expedition on the Punjab Frontier in 1897-98 (Medal with 3 clasps). As one of the relatively small number of Indian soldiers who served in South Africa during the Boer War, he uniquely won the Order of Merit for gallantry at Sanna’s Post (Queen’s medal with 6 clasps, King’s medal with 2 clasps). Order of Merit 3rd Class GGO 875 of 1901: ‘No. 1706 Sowar Dost Muhammad Khan 18th Bengal Lancers, was admitted to the 3rd class for conspicuous gallantry in action at Sanna’s Post, South Africa, on the 30th March 1900, on which occasion he, under a heavy rifle fire at close range, went with Lieutenant A. G. Maxwell to the assistance of a trooper of Roberts’ Horse, whose horse had been killed, and helped him to mount and retire with the rest of the corps’.
He was a member of the 1902 Indian Coronation Contingent (Medal)
and further distinguished himself in 1908, by winning the Indian Distinguished
Service Medal for services with the Consular Guard at Isphan, in Persia.
He attended the Delhi Durbar in 1911 (Medal) and served during the Great War,
being awarded the Order of British India 2nd class in 1917 for services in
France (1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals). QSA (3) CC Paard Dr [Joh DH Witt] (1706 Dafedar Dost Mslid Khan, 18th BL). DNW Dec 05 £1,500. |
