Captain. Zorawar Singh MC, Bhavnagar Lancers in Mysore Lancers Group. WW1

Captain. Zorawar Singh   MC  of  Bhavnagar Lancers   in Mysore Lancers Group. WW1 

 (Photo: Vijay Raol)

 He was a member of the Bhavnagar princely family of “Gohil”, the famous ruling dynasty of Bhavnagar. at Kathiawad.    The details of his childhood, parents and educational details are not available, I am straight  away reporting about his professional career.

He started as the second Commandant of  Bhavnagar Lancers in 1905, after a suggestion by Lord Curzon, who had seen him as  the topper of his batch,  in Imperial Cadet Corps.  He became a  King’s Commissioned Indian Officer (KCIO).  He attended the Coronation ceremony in 1911, and was appointed as an Honorary Aide-de-camp to the Viceroy.  The same year, during the Imperial Visit to India, Lt. Zorawar Singh, was in 10th Horse ( Hodsons Horse). He was preparing for his part “D” examination and in October 1913, he took the examination  at Mhow.  In early 1914, he was at home, in Kathiawad as Commandant of the Bhavnagar Imperial Service Lancers.

In October 1914, under the command of Brig-Gen William A. Watson of the British Indian Army, the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, of around 1,700 men, was gathered at Deolali for service in the First World War. The brigade headquarters had an establishment of seven officers and forty-seven men.  Including the brigade commander there were five British officers on the brigade staff; also attached were Sir Pratap Singh the Maharaja of Idar and Captain Zorawar Singh the Commandant of the Bhavnagar Imperial Service Lancers.

The fighting component of the brigade was formed from three cavalry regiments, each of five squadrons:  the 1st Hyderabad Lancers commanded by Major Mahomed Azmatullah Bahadur with 27 officers (one British) and 533 other ranks, the Mysore Lancers (including two troops of Bhavnagar Lancers and one troop of Kashmir Lancers) commanded by Regimentdar B. Chamraj Urs Bahadur with  32  officers (one British) and 487 other ranks, a company unit of Alwar Lancers were commanded by Captain Fateh Naseeb Khan with 7 officers and 135 other ranks and the Patiala Lancers commanded by Colonel Nand Singh Sardar Bahadur with  26  officers and 528 other ranks.

In October 1914, the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade  moved by sea to Egypt and joined  the Force in Egypt defending the Suez Canal. In the first three years of the war, the soldiers were involved in several small-scale battles connected to the First Suez Offensive, but spent most of their time patrolling in the Sinai Desert and along the west bank of the canal. It was not until November 1917 as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force that the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade was involved in the Third Battle of Gaza. The following year the brigade joined the 5th Cavalry Division when it became the 15th (Imperial Service) Cavalry Brigade and played an active role in the British victory over Turkish forces in Palestine. 

 In 1915, he was promoted to Captain within the British Army. He got his gallantry award Military Cross (MC) in 1916 and the reference in London Gazette is given below:

LG 29438 dated 14.1.1916 page  576 starts with notification on awarding “Military Cross”  and on page 581(right side half)  appears  " Captain Zorawar Singh, Indian Land Forces, attached Mysore Imperial Service Lancers “     Bir-el-Jefeir.

A detachment of 77 combatants from the Bhavnagar Lancers, served with the Mysore Imperial Service Lancers in Egypt and Palestine from November 1914 to January 1920.

Commandant Zorawarsinghji served on the Brigade Commander’s staff. From April 1917 onwards the Lancers saw active service in Gaza, Jordan Valley, Haifa, Damascus, Homs, Alleppo and in the final action with the Turkish rear-guard at Haritan when a charge by the Mysore Lancers (including the Bhavnagar detachment) killed 50 and captured 30 Turks.

After his return to Bhavnagar  from the Great War of 1914-18, he was  given promotions. In 1920 itself, he was a Lt.Col  and  headed the Civil Administration  of the State of Bhavnagar, as the Chief Secretary of the Council of Administration, and also held the charge of  Secretary,  Bhavnagar State Railway Board, and  was reported very active  even in  December 1924.  (Ref: from the Annual Report for 1924-25 of the Bhavnagar State).

Honours and Awards granted to Bhavnagar Imperial Service Lancers in WW1:

MILITARY CROSS   

Captain ZORAWAR SINGH, Lancers12 Bir-el-Jefeir 4th Supp 29438 14.1.1916 to LG 11.1.1916

OBI 2nd CLASS “Bahadur”

Squadron Commander SARDAR SINHJI, Lancers Egypt ADN 3, 1.1.1920

HONORARY ADC TO VICEROY

Captain ZORAWAR SINGH MC, LG 17.8.1915 & F&P 675 I.C., 20.4.1915 wef 1.11.1914, gazetted as Native Indian Land Forces

IDSM

Risaldar MOHBAT SINGH, Lancers Egypt ADN 639, 10.6.1916 serving as CO Infantry

Risaldar BAPOO BHAI, Lancers Mesopotamia ADN 1360, 18.8.1917 BAPUBHA in Durbar Gazette

1123 L/Dafadar MADAR SINGH, Lancers Egypt ADN 1180, 3.6.1918 Att. Mysore

892 Sowar NAHAR SINGH, Lancers Egypt ADN 1180, 3.6.1918 NARSINGH in Durbar Gazette. Since KIA att. Mysore Lancers

907 Sowar ZOR SINGH, Lancers Egypt ADN 878, 26.4.1919 Att. Mysore Lancers

1066 Sowar WAJAY SINGH, Lancers Egypt ADN 934, 3.5.1919 Att. Mysore MG Sqn. VAJESINGH in Durbar Gazette

Jemadar KASAL SINHJI, Lancers Egypt ADN 4, 1.1.1920

Jemadar ABHE SINHJI, Lancers Egypt ADN 4, 1.1.1920

IMSM

1154 Kot Dafadar UMED  SINGH, Lancers Egypt ADN 1457, 29.6.1918 UMADE SINGH in Durbar Gazette

1063 Dafadar RAVUBHA, Lancers Egypt ADN 1457, 29.6.1918

697 QM Dafadar DEVI SINGH, Lancers India ADN 694, 17.4.1920

1167 L/Dafadar SARDAR SINGH, Lancers India ADN 694, 17.4.1920

1171 Sowar SEW BHAI SINGH, Lancers Egypt ADN 2361, 27.11.1920

709 Sowar BESAR JEE, Lancers Egypt ADN 2361, 27.11.1920 BECHARJEE in Durbar Gazette

CROSS OF KARAGEORGE, 2nd CLASS, WITH SWORDS (Serbia)

1092 Sowar KARSAN SINGH13 6th Supp 29945 15.2.1917 to LG 13.2.1917 & ADN 714, 12.5.1917 KERSHAN SINGH in Durbar Gazette

MENTION IN DESPATCHES

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

Captain ZORAWAR SINGH, Lancers

Risaldar MOHBAT SINHJI, Lancers

by General Sir A J Murray, C in C Egypt Expeditionary Force

Supp 30169 6.7.1917 to LG 6.7.1917

Ressaidar SARDAR SINHJI, Lancers

by Lieutenant General Sir Stanley Maude, KCB C in C Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force

3rd Supp 30233 15.8.1917 to L G 14.8.1917

Risaldar BAPOO BHAI, Remount Department, not gazetted as Bhavnagar.

912 Kot Dafadar Major AKHOUBA, Remount Department, not gazetted as Bavnagar but named in Durbar Gazette 12.10.1917 as AKHUBA

by General Sir A J Murray, late C in C Egyptian Expeditionary Force

2nd Supp 30474 12.1.1918 to LG 11.1.1918 & ADN 536, 16.3.1918

1134 Kot Dafadar UMADE SINGH, Lancers

1063 Dafadar RAVU BHA, Lancers

by Lieutenant General Sir Stanley Muade, KCB C in C Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force

5th Supp 30570 12.3.1918 to LG 8.3.1918 & ADN 1013, 18.5.1918 period to 2.11.1917

Risaldar BAPUBHAI NARANJI GOHEL, Lancers, gazetted under Remount Department

618 Dafadar SURAJBALLI SINGH, Lancers. gazetted under Remount Department

by Lieutenant Gen Sir W R Marshal, C in C Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force

6th Supp 31386 5.6.1919 to LG 3.6.1919 & ADN 2461, 19.7.1919

665 Dafadar NAR SINGH, Lancers, gazetted under Remount Department

by General Sir E H H Allenby,  GCB GCMG C in C Egyptian Expeditionary Force

4th Supp 31728 12.1.1920 to LG 9.1.1920 & ADN 348, 21.2.1920

729 Dafadar JEET SINGH, Lancers, attd. Mysore Lancers