Gulmast Khan
Gulmast Khan | |
|---|---|
| ګلمست خان | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 May 1882 |
| Died | 1947 (aged 64–65) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  British Indian Army (1898-1900).svg.png){kind=small} Royal Indian Air Force (1941-1947) |
Years of service | 1941-1947 |
| Rank |  Flight Lieutenant |
| Awards | See list |
Gulmast Khan[a] (1 May 1882 — 1947) was an officer in the British Indian Army, a police officer, and an officer in the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF). He holds the distinction of being the oldest person commissioned into the RIAF at the age of 59.[1]
Early life
Gulmast Khan was born on 1 May 1882 into a Pashtun family belonging to the Zakha Khel clan of the Afridi tribe.[2]
Service years
British Indian Army
He served in the British Indian Army from 1898 to 1900 and was awarded the East and Central Africa Medal for participating in the military campaign.[3]
Police service (1900-1940)
Gulmast Khan joined the Police Department of the North-West Frontier Province on 18 December 1900.[4]
He held non-gazetted appointments from 18 December 1900 to 10 January 1928 and was serving as an Inspector of Police.[5] On 11 January 1928 while stationed at Mardan, he was appointed to officiate as Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy. S.P.).[6] He subsequently served in Peshawar on 7 May 1928 and Tank on 8 June 1928, continuing in his substantive position as Inspector while officiating as Deputy Superintendent.[5]
On 1 March 1929, the record notes that he reverted to his substantive appointment as Inspector, indicating the temporary conclusion of his officiating role.[5] However on 7 March, while again stationed at Tank, he was reappointed to officiate as Deputy Superintendent of Police. He was later posted to Dera Ismail Khan on 1 August 1929, where he continued serving in that officiating capacity.[5]
Royal Indian Air Force (1941-1947)
Gulmast Khan was commissioned into the Administrative and Special Duties (A&SD) branch of the Royal Indian Air Force on 10 October 1941.[7]
Death
Gulmast Khan died sometime in 1947.
Awards and Decorations
East and Central Africa Medal, 1899[3]- Edward, Prince Of Wales, visit to India Medal, 1905-1906
India General Service Medal (1909-1935)[3]
Delhi Durbar Medal (1911)[3]- Khan Sahib, 1st January 1921
- Sanad, Viceroy and Governor-General of India, Earl of Willingdon, 1924
- Given the title of Khan Bahadur by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, Earl of Willingdon, 1932[3]
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, 1935[3]- King's Police Medal (for gallantry), 1936[8]
Notes
References
- ↑ "Flt Lt Haji Khan Bahadur Gulmast Khan - The oldest officer in the IAF". Bharat Rakshak. 2017. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017.
- ↑ "Khan Bahadur Gul Mast Khan Afridi". historyofpashtuns.blogspot.com. 8 June 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bahadur Gulmast Khan". National Muslim Memorial War Trust. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "The Quarterly List Of Civil Officers Serving In The North West Frontier Province". Government of India. p. 58.
- 1 2 3 4 "History Of Services Of The Gazetted Government Servants: Corrected Up To 1st July 1931". Office of the Accountant-General, Punjab. p. 438.
- ↑ "History Of Services Of The Gazetted Government Servants: Corrected Up To 1st July 1928". Office of the Accountant-General, Punjab. p. 400.
- ↑ "Service record for Flight Lieutenant Khan Bahadur Haji Gulmastkhan 1721". Bharat Rakshak.
- ↑ "His Majesty The KING has been graciously pleased to award the King's Police Medal to the Officers of Police and Fire Brigades whose names appear below". The London Gazette. 1 January 1936. p. 17, 18.