Honorary Captain, Subedar-Major Jiwand Singh, M.V.O, Sardar Bahadur, O.B.I.
Captain Jiwand Singh served with the 45th Rattray’s Sikh Regiment, Indian Army for almost 30 years with distinction. This regiment was raised at Lahore in January 1856 by Captain Thomas Rattray, as a Bengal Military Police Battalion. This regiment is now the 3rd Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, Indian Army. Average height of a trained soldier in the Regiment in January, 1906 was 5’ 9” and the chest measurement was 35”. The regiment has always been famous for its marching powers, one of the famous march was in 1903 from Pezu to Dera Ismail Khan, a distance of 36 miles (approximately 58 Km) covered in six and half hours. For their loyal service during the Mutiny of 1857, the Government granted the Regiment the honor to bear the words “Defence of Arrah and Behar” on their regiment color. Also, for its services in the operations in 1897 in North West Frontier of India, the Regiment was granted the honour to bear on its colours the words “Punjab Frontier” and “Malakand”.
Captain Jiwand Singh became Subedar-Major of the 45th Rattray’s Sikh Regiment (the highest position an Indian could attain in the Indian Army at the time) from 15 March 1901 to 1 August 1904. He was made an Honorary Captain (two others were given the rank of Captain in this regiment till 1915). Following is information about his Medals:
Order of British India (O.B.I.) 1st Class, prior to this O.B.I. 2nd Class was awarded to him. He is wearing this around his neck. The O.B.I. (First Class) entitled Captain Jiwand Singh to bear the title ‘Sardar Bahadur’.
1st Medal – Afghanistan Medal, issued for 2nd Afghan War, 1878
2nd Medal – India General Service Medal (I.G.S) with Hazara clasp issued for Hazara Field Forces, 1888 Campaign
3rd Medal is India Medal (I.M) with 4 clasps – Punjab Frontier, Tirah, Wazristan and the Malakand clasps
In 1903, Captain Jiwand Singh was made A.D.C (one of the First Orderlies) to H.M. King Edward VII and awarded the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O). The Viceroy of India in 1903 issued a General Order establishing the annual appointment of Indian Orderly Officers to act as the King’s honorary bodyguard in the UK. Initially there were 6 Orderly officers, but their number was reduced to 4 officers from 1904. They were selected by the Commander in Chief of Indian Army from all branches, to attend the King at Courts and Levees, to stand near the throne at reviews and ceremonies that the King attended during the London session. They always appeared in full regalia.
Captain Jiwand Singh on assuming the duty of Orderly to H.M King Edward VII went to London, U.K. in 1903 and along with performing his duties to the Monarch, also visited various tourist sites. He was amazed to see Palace of Glass (Crystal Palace), which housed the ‘Kohinoor Diamond’ along with other artifacts from around the British Empire. He was impressed by the orderly and civil life of Londoners and service of its Policemen. He visited agriculture shows and was impressed by the livestock raised by the farmers. He was a very humble, honest, simple and sincere man. On a lighter note, once asked by his colleagues if he told his fellow villagers about his extraordinary experience in London, he replied that he had put in more than 30 years of service and that he was well respected. If he told them about the wonders of London, people would not believe him and he may lose his Izzat (honour).
Our sincere respect to Captain Jiwand Singh Ji. He was a distinguished soldier, was an honourable man and served the Indian Army and achieved great success in his 30 plus years of military career.
Sources:
This article has been compiled by gathering information from:
Regimental History of the 45th Rattray’s Sikhs by Lt. Col. R.H. Anderson
Col H St G McRae “Regimental History of the 45th Rattray’s Sikhs” Vol 1, 1856 – 1914
Sikh Military History Forum, valuable information by: Amandeep Madra, Gurmit Singh, Sushil Talwar
Images: From Google
