Order of British India

History

The Medal was originally instituted by the East India Company on the 18th of April 1837 for long, faithful and honourable service. The company's powers were removed after the Indian Mutiny and it became a part of the British honours system in 1859. The order became obsolete after India was granted independence in 1947.

The Medal

The Order was awarded in two classes: first and second class. The recipients of the second class were entitled to the post nominal title Bahadur (hero) and recipients of the first class were entitled to use the title Sardar Bahadur (heroic leader), and the post nominal letters OBI. The order was highly regarded and was awarded for distinguished service on a particular campaign, but was also often awarded to officers for between twenty and thirty years service.

The Ribbon

The original Ribbon, Between 1837 and 1838

The second Ribbon, Between 1838 and 1939

Stripes were added in 1939, two for the first class and one for the second class

Recipients

The following is an incomplete list of people appointed to the Order of British India:

First Class

Colonel (Sardar Bahadur) Hashim Ali Khan, Nawab Mir Hahsim Nawaz Jung Bahadur,SB OBI (1st Class) (1897)^[1]
Subedar Major Bahadur Singh Atwal, SB, OBI (1st Class)
HE Lieutenant Colonel Raja Atta Ullah Khan, Sardar Bahadur, OBI (1st Class) (1868), IOM^[2]
Captain (Sardar Bahadur) Muhammad Ismail, IOM (3rd Class 1897). OBI (1st Class 1917), British Indian Army^[3]
Sardar Bahadur Captain Hazara Singh Bahad, OBI (1st Class)
Subedar Hari Singh Thapa Sardar Bahadur, OBI (1st Class)
Captain Rup Singh Sardar Bahadur, OBI (1st Class)
Captain Nar Bahadur Gurung, SB, OBI (1st Class), MC

Second Class

Subedar Bahadur Niaz Muhammad Khan, OBI (2nd Class), IOM. 4/7 Rajput Regiment, British Indian Army
Subedar-Major Bahadur Jagindar Singh Saini, OBI (2nd Class), IOM (2nd Class)^[4]
Subedar Bahadur Humail Khan, OBI (2nd Class)
Subedar Richhpal Singh Bahadur, OBI (2nd Class)^[5]

Unknown Class

Captain Nawab Khan, OBI
Rao Bahadur Colonel Thakur Balu Singh ji Inderpura, OBI
Captain Mubarak Ali Khan, OBI

References

^ Various (March 15, 2007). Hyderabad State List of Leading Officials, Nobles and Personages. Potter Press. p. 4. ISBN 1406731374.
^ Hodson's Horse by Cardew 1876 & Testimonials published by Punjab Govt. 1900 and List of British Agents in Afghanistan. He was resident of Wazirabad and grandson of Raja of Rajawar (Rajouri)
^ Captain (Sardar Bahadur) Muhammad Ismail, 32nd Mountain Battery British India Army received the following orders and decorations for his meritorious and gallantry services : IOM (3rd Class) 10 Jun 1897 , OBI (2nd Class) 9th Oct 1909 , Royal Victorian Medal 1910 , OBI (1st Class) 1917. He was selected as ADC to King George V and a member of the five men Indian contingent participated in the coronation of King George V. appointments and his OBI,IOM awards are recorded in both [[GGO[L/Mil/17/2, L/Mil/17/5] and the India Gazette [V/II].
^ "his conspicuous gallantry in action on the 17th November 1914 when with a party of Sappers under the command of a British Officer he was always to the fore and led his men with great determination into the enemy's trenches. Subedar-Major Jagindar Singh, Saini Sikh of Kheri Salabatpur in Bupar, gained the 2nd Class Order of Merit at the battle of Loos in Belgium for striking leadership and conspicuous bravery in action after most of his company and all but one British Officer in his regiment had been killed or wounded. This officer was also awarded the 2nd Class of the Order of British India for distinguished conduct in the field."War speeches (1918), pp 129, Author: O'Dwyer, Michael Francis, (Sir) 1864–, Subject: World War, 1914–1918; World War, 1914–1918 — Punjab Publisher: Lahore Printed by the Superintendent Government Printing
^ Subedar Richhpal Singh Bahadur was Mentioned in (the C-in-C's) Despatches for the operation in the Western Desert, Libya and Cyzinaica in December 1940 and again for distinguished services in Italy.

Peter Duckers, British Orders And Decorations, Shire Publications, Buckinghamshire, 2004

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[1] Various (March 15, 2007). Hyderabad State List of Leading Officials, Nobles and Personages. Potter Press. p. 4. ISBN 1406731374.

[2] Hodson's Horse by Cardew 1876 & Testimonials published by Punjab Govt. 1900 and List of British Agents in Afghanistan. He was resident of Wazirabad and grandson of Raja of Rajawar (Rajouri)

[3] Captain (Sardar Bahadur) Muhammad Ismail, 32nd Mountain Battery British India Army received the following orders and decorations for his meritorious and gallantry services : IOM (3rd Class) 10 Jun 1897 , OBI (2nd Class) 9th Oct 1909 , Royal Victorian Medal 1910 , OBI (1st Class) 1917. He was selected as ADC to King George V and a member of the five men Indian contingent participated in the coronation of King George V. appointments and his OBI,IOM awards are recorded in both [[GGO[L/Mil/17/2, L/Mil/17/5] and the India Gazette [V/II].

[Subedar-Major_Jagindar_Singh_OBI-4] "his conspicuous gallantry in action on the 17th November 1914 when with a party of Sappers under the command of a British Officer he was always to the fore and led his men with great determination into the enemy's trenches. Subedar-Major Jagindar Singh, Saini Sikh of Kheri Salabatpur in Bupar, gained the 2nd Class Order of Merit at the battle of Loos in Belgium for striking leadership and conspicuous bravery in action after most of his company and all but one British Officer in his regiment had been killed or wounded. This officer was also awarded the 2nd Class of the Order of British India for distinguished conduct in the field."War speeches (1918), pp 129, Author: O'Dwyer, Michael Francis, (Sir) 1864–, Subject: World War, 1914–1918; World War, 1914–1918 — Punjab Publisher: Lahore Printed by the Superintendent Government Printing

[5] Subedar Richhpal Singh Bahadur was Mentioned in (the C-in-C's) Despatches for the operation in the Western Desert, Libya and Cyzinaica in December 1940 and again for distinguished services in Italy.

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