1897 Saragarhi Battle

The battle of Saragarhi is among top ten acts of bravery in War, in the history of mankind. Signaller Gurmukh Singh, on receipt of orders to close down Signal Communications, when all his Comrades except one had fallen dead, immediately laid down his Signalling Flag, picked up his rifle and continued firing at the tribal hordes. His Comrade was killed and he himself seriously wounded. Even after being wounded, he killed 20 Pathans and having fired his last round, fell dead.

During 1897, 4/11 Sikh Battalion was detailed to hold the Somana Hills between the Kurram and the Khanki Valleys in Baluchistan. Their defences lay over five miles of extremely difficult hilly terrain. Signal communications those days were provided between various posts using telephones on Field Cables, Signalling Flags and Helios during the day and lamps at night. The ranges of Signalling Flag and Lamp signalling being visual were very limited. With the use of binoculars, their ranges could be increased somewhat and the clarity of the signal received improved substantially.

Signal Platoon of the Sikh Battalion tried in vain to provide direct Signal Communication between Forts Lokhart and Gulistan due to large distances. The use of telephones on Field Cable was just not possible because not only the laying of field cable was extremely difficult but to maintain it in the hills occupied by the tribals was most dangerous. After detailed appreciation of the situation, it was decided to establish a Signalling Post at Saragarhi Hill top between Fort Lokhart and Gulistan in the Sumana Hills. Its sole aim was to relay messages between Lokhart and Gulistan Forts. The Post consisted of a small well-defended Stone House manned by twenty men of the Sikh Battalion under the command of Havildar Ishar Singh.

There was a general uprising of the Pathans led by the Mullahs from Tochi and Maklakand in North West Frontier (now in Pakistan). On the 3rd and 9th September 1897, the Pathans attacked Gulistan in large numbers. However, these attacks were repulsed by the Sikhs with very heavy losses to the enemy. To avenge these reverses, thousands of Afridi and Orakzai tribals fell on the small Saraharhi Post on the morning of September 12, 1897. The tiny Garrison of Saragarhi repulsed several determined attacks and killed over two hundred enemy troops during the six hours of their gallant resistance against overwhelming odds. Time and time again, the Pathans asked the small Garrison to surrender, but each time they were met with a volley of fire and challenge from the Sikhs.

Due to accurate fire as well as the tenacity and courage of the defenders, the enemy was unable to get near the Post. Thus, they set fire to the dry grass and bushes around the Post and, under the cover of thick smoke, breached the wall of the Picket forcing an entry. By this time, all except two of the defenders had fallen. Until then, Signaller Gurmukh Singh had maintained signal communication with Forts Lokhart and Gulistan and was giving graphic account of the battle. On receipt of permission to close down the Signal Communications, he immediately laid down his Signalling Flag, picked up his rifle and, along with only surviving Comrade, continued firing at the tribal hordes. Because of their overwhelming large numbers, the enemy forces ultimately succeeded in capturing the Post. Gurmukh Singh’s Comrade was killed and he himself was seriously wounded. Even after being wounded, he killed 20 Pathans, and having fired his last round, he fell dead.

The highest gallantry award those days was the Indian Order Of Merit(IOM). All intrepid martyrs of Saragarhi Battle were posthumously honoured with this highest award. The Government of India gave 26 acres of land and a cash award of 500 rupees to the family of each hero. Martyr Signaller Gurmukh Singh’s name should be written as a Pioneer in the History of the Corps of Signals in Gold.

SARAGARHI DEFENDERS’ PRAYER
Stay with me God, the night is dark. The night is cold, but my little spark,
of courage dies…The night is long. Be with me God and make me strong.
I love a game, I love a fight, I hate the dark, I love a light.
I love my child, I love my wife. I am No coward, I love my life.
Life with its change of mood and shade, I want to live, I’m not afraid.
But me and mine are hard to part, O Unknown God lift my heart.
You stilled the waters of Dunkirk, and saved your servants - all your work,
Is wonderful down God, you strode, before us down that dreadful road.
We were alone and hope had fled, we love our Country and our dead.
And we could not shame them, so we stayed, the course and we were not afraid.
Dear God that nightmare road-and then, the sea - we got there - we were men.
My eyes were blind, my feet were torn, but my soul sang like bird at dawn.
I know that death is but a door, I know what we are fighting for?
Peace for our children, our brothers freed, a kinder World, a cleaner breed.
I’m but the son of my mother bore, a simple man and nothing more.
But God of strength and gentleness, be pleased to make nothing less.
Help me God when death is near, to mock the haggard face of fear.
And when I fall- if fall I must, my soul may triumph in the dust.

"World War Veterans put their life on the line for Democracy in which different people could live together and enjoy freedom in peace. Remember them!"

Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal (Retd)
Founding President Indian Ex-Servicemen Society British Columbia
Saragarhi Battle
Tirah Campaign