_42nd Division, 167th Infantry, Machine-Gun Company_
He was cited for rushing into the open under fire January 2, 1918,
through an area flooded with poisonous gas, to the assistance of a
wounded comrade who was lying in an exposed position. He brought the
wounded man back safely in his arms.]
The jemadar—corresponding to our lieutenant—had already distinguished
himself before coming to Europe to fight for his King-Emperor. He
possesses the coveted Indian Order of Merit for gallant services on the
Indian frontier while acting as guardian of the northern boundary.
During both battles of Ypres the Indians fought magnificently. After
the enemy’s poison-gas attack had made a temporary dent in the British
line in the Ypres area, Sir John French ordered the Lahore Division
of the Indian Corps, to which Mir Dast’s regiment was attached, to be
moved up and placed at the disposal of the Second Army.
A few days later, this corps, supported by the British cavalry, was
pushed up into the front firing-line. The time had come for the British
to assume the offensive. Fighting with the French on one of their
wings, the Indians were successful in pushing the enemy back some
little distance toward the north. Again the Germans let loose their
poison gas, and rendered further advance impossible. Such was the
position on April 26th.
The Indians fought with determination to carry the German positions. A
formidable series of trenches had to be assaulted in order to dislodge
the enemy and so relieve the pressure on the rest of the line. Jemadar
Mir Dast got his men ready and was waiting to advance. When the order
was given to dash from the trenches, Mir Dast found himself detailed
off to remain with his platoon in reserve. The others, advancing by
short rushes, reached the crest of the first slope without a check,
although a number fell by shell fire. On reaching the crest, however,
the line came under a terrific machine gun and rifle fire. Whole
swathes of men fell as if a scythe had been drawn across their legs. In
spite of this, the line pressed on.
Then came the dramatic sequel. The Germans suddenly released their gas.
Although the French Colonials were the chief sufferers, the Indian
troops were affected by it. The poor fellows were totally unprovided
with any form of protection against this devilish device, and were
falling fast, being at the same time under a hail of machine gun fire.
No troops could have withstood the terrible conditions, and the line
was forced to give way.
Jemadar Mir Dast, from his trench, had seen the oncoming poison cloud,
and noticed the retirement of a part of the line. He had one of two
alternatives presented to him. Either he must retire in conformity with
the rest of the troops, or endeavor to get his men to stand firm and
resist the attack. Mir Dast decided to remain.