Lt. Col. B.Chamaraje Urs (WW 1)

Regimentdar (Lieutenant-Colonel) B. Chamaraje Urs, 
Mysore Imperial Service Lancers

Lt. Col.  B. Chamaraje  Urs,"Sirdar Bahadur"  began in March 1890 as Jamadar, in Mysore Lancers, and  had rapid promotions. In May 1905 was permanently appointed Commandant of the Imperial  Service troops. He was presented valuable Khillats by His  Highness the Maharaja in open durbar in recognition of his services  in connection with the visit of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales and  Princess of Wales in 1906. He  moved to  Egypt in October 1914 in command of the Mysore Imperial Service Lancers. Relating to his services in Egypt,  Major-General W. A. Vatson, Commanding Line of Communication Defences, writing to Chamaraja Urs on 27th March 1916  said : -" From the moment when the brigade was concentrated at  Deolali seventeen months ago, it was evident to me that your  regiment was imbued with a splendid military spirit and it  was clear that your own character and influence was the  cause. You have never hesitated to enforce discipline or feared  to inflict punishment and the result has been that your men have  reached a high standard of efficiency. They have behaved  admirably, sometimes under trying circumstances, both in the  camp and in the field. Their success in the action at Bel-el-Jafir  on the 23rd November 1915 must have been a great satisfaction to you. I congratulate you on being commander of a regiment of  which you may justly feel proud.  Chamaraj  Urs was present  in the action around Gaza in Palestine in November 1917  and  showed remarkable bravery and steadiness in leading the  men under his command during the attack which ultimately ended  in victory.
           On the 7th February 1918 Brigadier- General C. R. Harbard, Commanding Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, in  writing to the Inspector- General, Imperial Service troops in India, said : " Regimentdar B. Chamaraj  Urs (Sirdar Bahadur) having been ordered to return to India, I feel that I cannot let him vacate  the command of Mysore Lancers in the field without placing on record my appreciation of the services this officer has rendered, which I trust may be brought to the notice of His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore. A strict disciplinarian and possessing a  strong innate sense of justice, Chamaraj  Urs has always maintained the right spirit in his men and by his personal example has  taught them to undertake any duty, however monotonous and  irksome it may have been, with cheerfulness and alacrity. The  British officers who have been connected with the regiment since it came on service have all remarked upon the nice tone that  prevailed in this regiment and what a pleasure it was to work with them. I attribute this tone in a large measure to the influence  of Chamaraj  Urs. Instead of resenting the presence of Special  Service officers, he has always shown himself grateful for their  assistance, and the good name that the Mysore Lancers have won for themselves during their stay in Egypt is largely due to the  good relations that have always existed between this officer and through him with the other officers of the regiment."
           On his return  to India, he was appointed Chief Commandant in 1919. For his distinguished military services he was appointed to  the Order of British India in June 1916. His Highness the Maharaja honoured him with the first class Medal of the Gandabherunda  Order and the position of Lt.-Col. in the Mysore  army. He also received the foreign decoration of the “White Eagle  of  Serbia”  from His Majesty the King of Serbia.

OBI 1st CLASS permits the suffixing of “Sardar Bahadur” after  the name.
  
Order of the White Eagle, 4th Class (with Swords').--- Decorations and medals conferred by HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF  SERBIA. (September and October, 1916.) (from page 1606 of 29945)   6th Supp 29945 15.2.1917 to LG 13.2.1917 & ADN 534, 14.4.1917.         .    (From: page 1606 /  London Gazette  29945  reg Order of the White Eagle 4th Class (with swords)       Regimentdar (Lieutenant-Colonel) Chamray  Urs, Mysore Imperial Service Lancers.)----Decoration shown below:
 Regimentdar (Lieutenant Colonel)  B CHAMRAJ URS, Lancers;  ADN 635, 10.6.1916 Supernumerary wef 3.6.1916

Mention in Despatches:       Commandant CHAMRAJ URS, Lancers
by Major General A WILSON Commanding Canal Defences Desptach No II, 3rd Supp 29632 21.6.1916 to LG 20.6.1916 & ADN 901, 12.8.1916
by General Sir A J MURRAY C in C Egypt Expeditionary Force 4th Supp 29763 25.9.1916 to LG 22.9.1916, & ADN 1404, 25.11.1916  page 9342--
Mysore Imperial Service Lancers.
Regimentdar (Lieutenant-Colonel) B. ChamrajUrs, Bahadur.
Jemadar and QuartermasterA. Basavaraj Urs
(To be mentioned in despatches can be a condition of receiving certain decorations. Though not a medal, for actions during WW1, soldiers were entitled to receive a certificate and wear a decoration of a spray of oak leaves in bronze (instigated in an Army Order on 12 January 1920),
Order of Gandabherunda  of  Chamaraja Wodeyar., King of Mysore
Lt.Col. Chamaraj Urs  was awarded  with this  medal, which he is wearing in the picture. This was the second ever Gandabherunda Medal for the warriors issued., the first one was to Col. Desaraj Urs.
((The British had made it clear that the Order or  any other princely Order or title could not be placed in a superior position on the chest to any award given by and on behalf of the King Emperor. The courtiers of Mysore, got the Order of the Gandaberunda  designed, as a  chain with the medallion,  to be worn around the neck . Thus the Mysore royals cocked a snook at the King-Emperor’s diktats!))



      OBI (First Class)       Order of White Eagle (4th Officers Class)

             
            "Order of Gandabherunda" Medal(extreme Left)
     









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