FOUGHT IN MALAKAND

Auckland Star, Volume LVX, Issue 268, 12 November 1934, Page 7

FOUGHT IN MALAKAND

A SIKH IN AUCKLAND.

DECORATED FOR BRAVERY. Of soldierly mien, with turbaned head and a war medal pinned to his breast, a picturesque figure on the deck of the liner Niagara when she arrived from Sydney this morning was Dalip Singh, a Sikh who for the last fifteen years has been in the Fijian police force. He is unable to speak English, but with the aid of an interpreter and many gesticulations, he told the story of a night attack on the North-West Indian frontier in 1897, when he carried a wounded officer to safety and returned to fight until he himself was wounded. This sepoy, or Indian infantryman, was in the Malakand campaign, the fighting, being in the Malakand Pass, in the mountains of the North-West Province of India, connecting the British district of Peshawar with the Swat Valley. It is now a military post and the headquarters of a political agency. It came into prominence for the first time in 1895 during the Chitral campaign, when 7000 Pathans held it against Sir Robert Low's advance, but were easily routed. After the campaign a fortified camp was formed on the Malakand to guard the road to Chitral.

During the frontier risings of 1897 the Swatis made a determined attack on the Malakand, where 700 were killed, and on the adjacent post of Chakdara, where 2000 were killed. A military force was hurried to the relief and took part in the prolonged frontier operations until 189 S.

The medal worn by Dalip Singh, which bears the head, of Queen Victoria, states: "Malakand Campaign, 1897. Punjab Frontier 1897-8." On the edge are the words "Sepoy Dalip Singh, 45tb Sikhs."

Dalip Singh has just been taking his wife and family to India, and is returning to complete another five years in the Fijian- police force. He is 00 years of age. Since 1849 the Sikhs have been loyal adherents of the British rule, especially during the mutiny of 1557. They love war and adventure and readily volunteer for service outside of India. ■1™ Indian Army contains eipht battalions entirely composed of Sikhs, and there are 21 other battalions of mixed races, into the r^ to£ largely enter. -ine a>i*» ments.