Mir Dast

Early life Mir Dast (some sources spell his name as Mir Dost) 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 (warrant officer) 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 (Frontier Force) of the British Indian Army and would later defect to German lines on 4 March 1915.

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, (3rd Class). Cross of St. George, (3rd Class) (Russia) 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 (now in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan).

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.