Battle of Saragarhi, 12th September 1897

 On the agenda for viewing once again - the film Kesari.

An interesting treatment of the story of 21 Sikh soldiers holding a small heliograph signalling station at Saragarhi during the Tirah Campaign against overwhelming odds OTD 1897.

All 21 awarded the Indian Order of Merit posthumously (the Victoria Cross not an option for troops in the British Indian Army until 1911).

Outside the time frame for the Imperial War Museum but there are a few related objects in the National Army Museum collection.

As a slight Rabbit 'ole, 3 British officers in the British Indian Army were awarded the Victoria Cross during the same campaign. In the case of Lt Hector MacClean his award was not gazetted until 1907 when the rules were changed to allow for the award of posthumous VCs.

London Gazette 15th January 1907

MacClean's cousin was the better known (Charles) Bruce Bairnsfather.

#SaraghariDay #TirahCampaign #RabbitHoles