Kishanbir Nagarkoti
Kishanbir Nagarkoti, IOM*** (born 1847/48 - died?) was a Nepalese soldier in the British Indian Army who was awarded the Indian Order of Merit (IOM) four times. He served in the 5th Gurkha Rifles. He is the only person to have won the IOM award four times.
Four awards of the Indian Order of Merit[edit]
The First Class of the IOM was the highest gallantry award that a native soldier of the British Indian Army could be awarded, until 1911, when these soldiers as well as native officers became eligible for the Victoria Cross.
Nagarkoti received his first three IOMs in a single campaign, the Second Anglo-Afghan War:[1]
- His first IOM (3rd class) was for gallantry in the battle of Mangiar Pass, Afghanistan, in December 1878. He was then a sepoy.[2]
- His second IOM (2nd class) was for gallantry at the battle of Charasia in October 1879. He was then still a sepoy.[2]
- His third IOM (1st class) was for gallantry at Kabul in December 1879. He was then a Naik.[2]
His fourth and final IOM was a gold bar to his IOM, when he was a Subedar, for gallantry during the Hazara Expedition of 1888.[1]
His first IOM was a medal, the next two were bars to the riband of his medal, and the fourth was a special gold bar added to the riband. The medal is presently in the possession of the 5th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army.[3][4]
Professor Edward Haynes of Withrop University opines that this unique distinction of Nagarkoti was in essence equivalent to winning the Victoria Cross four times.[5] Major General Ian Cardozo of the Indian Army holds the same view.[4] Technically, however, this would be inaccurate, as only the First Class of the Indian Order of Merit was considered the highest award available to a native soldier of the British Indian Army.[6] Nagarkoti received two of those, which could be regarded as equivalent to two Victoria Crosses.
Post-retirement[edit]
In 1892, Nagarkoti retired at the age of 44, and went on pension. In addition to his regular pension as a Subedar, of Rs. 30 a month, he was paid a special pension for Rs. 20 a month for life, in recognition of his extraordinary services.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "The Indian Order of Merit 1837-1947 - DCM Medals". 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ a b c d Weekes, H. E. (2011). History of the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles : 1858 to 1928. Luton : Andrews UK. ISBN 978-1-78149-333-5.
- ^ "History Of Gurkha – Gurkha Museum". Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ a b Cardozo, Maj Gen Ian (2016). The Bravest of the Brave: The Extraordinary Story of Indian VCs of World War I. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-93-86141-76-7.
- ^ Haynes, Edward (2020). "The Evolution of Indian Orders, Decorations and Medals during the Era of the USI: 1870-2020". Journal of the United Service Institution of India. CL (622).
- ^ "Awards and decorations of the British Armed Forces", Wikipedia, 2024-04-29, retrieved 2024-05-14