1. Risaldar Major Bichhattar Singh, IDSM, 13th Lancers (late 31st Lancers)
This is Risaldar Major and Hony Captain Bichhattar Singh, IDSM, 13th Lancers (late 31st Lancers). This photograph was kindly shared by his grandson Colonel MS Ahluwalia (Retd) and we were able to help not only trace his service history but also managed to dig up three generations worth of history of the family in the army dating all the way back to 1864. Col Ahluwalia was thrilled as he was able to connect the dots and now knows a lot more about his great great grandfather, great grandfather and grandfather all of whom rose to the highest ranks attainable and were decorated and distinguished soldiers.
Bichhattar Singh enlisted in the army on 1st May 1906. He was commissioned as a Jemadar on 20th March 1917 and became Risaldar on 1st July 1922. He was qualified in Machine Gun and Vickers Gun, had passed the course of Transport Instruction and was qualified at equitation school.During the Great War, he was with the 31st Lancers which later amalgamated with the 32nd Lancers in 1922 and became the 13th DCO Lancers.
He saw service in France from 29th October 1914 to 19th November 1916, in Iraq from 2nd February 1917 to December 1920 and apart from being
awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal (IDSM) in 1921 in Mesopotamia, he
was also Mentioned in Despatches on 3rd June 1917.
Bichhattar Singh's father; Tilok Singh, Bahadur, OBI, RVM was also in the same regiment and retired as the Risaldar Major of the regiment in 1909. His grandfather Risaldar Major and Hony Captain Hukam Singh, Bahadur, OBI, served in the 16th Bengal Lancers. His photograph has been added to our 'Indian Faces of the Great War'
Flickr photostream.