Molotov

There was once a fellow from Russia
He tried to fight syndies and Prussia
But he lost the war
was shot to the floor
Let's hope this misfortune strikes in Calcutta!

His majesty the KING-EMPEROR has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned officers:

The late Captain Godfrey Meynell, M.C., 7th Battalion (Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Rangers) 9th frontier regiment, Indian army.
For most conspicuous gallantry and extreme devotion to duty.

On the 22nd of May, 1936, while operating against Afghan army units in the attack on the Khyber pass, Captain Meynell was adjutant of the Battalion. In the final phase of the attack, the battalion commander was unable to get information from his most forward troops. Captain Meynell went forward to ascertain the situation and found the forward troops on the objective in the old British fort overlooking the pass south of Torkham, but involved in a struggle against an enemy vastly superior in numbers. Seeing the situation he at once took over command of the men in the fort, a platoon from the 36th Sikh regiment. The enemy, by this time, was closing in on the fort from three sides. Captain Meynell had at his disposal two Lewis guns, an old RML 2.5 inch mountain gun and about 50 men. Although this party was maintaining heavy and accurate fire on the advancing Afghans, the overwhelming numbers of the enemy allowed them to close in on the compound. At this point, the mountain gun had run out of ammunition. The sikhs put up a fierce resistance, but during this struggle captain Meynell was mortally wounded. During the action Captain Meynell endeavoured by all means to communicate the situation to headquarters, but determined to hold on at all cost and encouraged his men to fight with him to the last. By doing so he allowed the company to regroup and mount an effective resistance. After captain Meynell was struck, he was carried to the old barracks where he transfered command to Lieutenant Ishar Singh.


Lieutenant Ishar Singh, 19th company, 36th sikh regiment, Indian army
For Most Conspicuous gallantry and extreme devotion to duty

With Captain Meynell’s passing, it fell to Lt. Ishar Singh to hold the fort until reinforcements could arrive. At this point, one of the lewis guns had broken down beyond repair and the Afghans were approaching the gates and wall, with the defenders inflicting heavy casualties. At approximately 2 PM, three hours after the action had started, the enemy attempted to breach the wall and gates, resulting in fierce close quarters hand-to-hand combat. With no regard for his own safety, Lieutenant Singh rushed the remaining lewis gun to points in the line where the defense was buckling, directing accurate and deadly fire on the the enemy. Eventually the Afghans were able to breach the outer wall, however. The company made a fighting retreat to the inner compound, with their last remaining lewis gun right behind the door. The casualties they inflicted on the enemy brought them some brief respite. Now completely surrounded, Lieutenant Singh knew that there was no way out. It was either surrender or fight to the last man. In an act of extreme honour and courage, Lt. Singh made the choice to stand and fight, unwilling to give up the body of Captain Meynell as the Afghans customarily mutilated the bodies of their enemies. When the Afghan assault began again, the private manning the machine gun was struck by a bullet and wounded. Without thought for his own safety, he moved over to man the lewis gun. Seemingly oblivious to the small arms fire that had just taken out the soldier in the exact same position, lieutenant Singh laid down accurate fire on the enemy, forcing them to retreat. Now nearly out of ammunition, lieutenant Singh gave the order to fix bayonets to his remaining 20 men. After burning the dead on the small inner courtyard to prevent mutilation, they charged while yelling the Sikh battlecry Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal! (One will be blessed eternally, who says that God is the ultimate truth!). This action of extreme gallantry and bravery made the remaining enemy within the fort rout, right into the reinforcements arriving in the nick of time. At the end of the battle, 236 Afghan soldiers were captured, 180 were killed and 43 wounded. On the Indian side 20 were killed, including Captain Meynell and 11 were injured.