Mir Dast Afridi


Mir Dast, Mir Dost or Mir Dost Afridi was a British Indian soldier and a recipient of the Victoria Cross for action during the First World War, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Mir Dast returned to British India as a handicapped and injured soldier and received a hero's welcome.

Early life

Mir Dast was a Pashtun from the Afridi tribe and was born on 3 December 1874 to a Muslim family in the Maidan valley, Tirah, British India, in what is now Pakistan. Mir Dast enlisted in the British Indian Army in December 1894. He served in the North-West Frontier and Waziristan prior to the First World War, and for the Mohmand Expedition he received the Indian Order of Merit, 3rd Class on 26 June 1908. He was promoted to the rank of jemadar in March 1909.
His younger brother was Mir Mast Afridi who was promoted to a jemadar rank before the outbreak of the First World War while he was in service with the 58th Vaughan's Rifles of the British Indian Army and would later defect to German lines on 4 March 1915. Mir Mast was reportedly offended by the British being at war with the Muslim Ottoman Empire. It is widely believed that he deserted due to his Islamic beliefs and did not want to fight against the fellow Muslims in the German–Ottoman alliance.

Victoria Cross award

During the First World War, Dast was a jemadar in the 55th Coke's Rifles, British Indian Army, attached to the 57th Wilde's Rifles when he performed the service for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross during the Second Battle of Ypres near the Belgium-France border area.
On 26 April 1915 at Ypres, Belgium, Jemadar Mir Dast led his platoon with great gallantry during a German counter-attack, and afterwards collected various parties of the regiment and kept them under his command. He also displayed remarkable courage that day in helping to carry eight British and Indian Officers into safety, while exposed to very heavy fire and chlorine gas attacks which left Dast wounded and in severe pain.
The citation read:
"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 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".
Dast was subsequently sent for treatment in the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, where he received his medal from King George V who pinned it on his chest himself on 25 August 1915. His was the fourth Victoria Cross awarded to an Indian since Indians had become eligible for the award in 1912.

Other awards

  • Before this on 26 June 1908, he was awarded the Indian Order of Merit,.
  • Cross of St. George, on 25 August 1915.

    Later life and legacy

Dast retired from active service in 1917 with the rank of subedar. He died on 19 January 1945 at Shagi Hindkyan Village, Tehsil, Peshawar, and was buried at Warsak Road Cemetery, Shagi Hindkyan.
A monument stands at the Memorial Gates at Hyde Park Corner in London to commemorate the Victoria Cross awards of Indian heritage, including Mir Dast's award.
A blue plaque was erected in May 2016 in honour of Mir Dast next to the Indian Gate at Royal Pavilion Gardens in Brighton, England.