Subedar-Major Shah Zaman Khan (1896–1961) was Tanoli of the Bujal sub tribe. He was a resident of village Kaneer, Thana Kriplian, Amb (princely state), Hazara District of the North West Frontier. He joined the British India Army at the age of 19 in 1914 and pensioned from the British Indian Army in 1934. He joined the Amb State Force in 1934 and made Commandant Amb State Force in 1936. He remained a loyal Commandant of the Amb State Force till death in 1961.
Achievements during military life
British India Army
The 19-year-old Shah Zaman joined the British Indian Army on 1 September 1914 as sepoy. He served in defending the North West Frontier at the start of World War 1 from 15 August 1915 to 30 October 1915. He received a Star for his services rendered from 1914 to 1915.
He was latter sent to fight in the Mesopotamian campaign from 27 February 1917 to 20 December 1917. During this period he was promoted to the rank of Naik in the British Indian Army.
From there he was straight away sent to take part in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force Order of Battle 1918 against the Turks. He fought in these battles bravely from 21 December 1917 to 13 August 1918. He was eventually wounded there and sent back to India.
He served actively on the North West Frontier from 7 August 1919 to 1 October 1920. During this period he was promoted to the rank of Havildar.
He promoted to the rank of Jamadar on 24 February 1928. He was pensioned from the British India Army in 1934.
Amb State Forces
He took charge of the Amb State Forces as Commandant from 1936 and was made Commandant for life by Nawab Muhammad Farid Khan. He died in 1961.
During his service at Amb, he worked alongside Superintendent Police Amb State Ali Asghar Khan Orakzai to improve the Amb State Forces to great extent.
He led an army of 25,000 and artillery to the battle of Seri Kuani in Kala Dhaka in 1945. The Amb State force took from Panja Gali to Seri Kuani. The battle of Seri Kuani lasted for 2 hours and the tribal forts of Salar Khan of Seri Kuani could not withstand Amb State artillery. Salar Khan fled to neighboring Swat and Amb State Forces returned victorious.
Nawab Muhammad Farid Khan sent an army of 1500 Amb State soldiers under the leadership of Shah Zaman to take part in the Kashmir Liberation Movement from 1947 to 1948 (Kashmir Conflict). The Amb State force carried its own artillery to the battle. They fought bravely alongside other frontier tribesmen and came under fire by the Indian airforce just three kilometers from Baramulla sector. Around 200 Amb State soldiers lost their lives in the battle. Shah Zaman lost three fingers of his right hand completely in the battle.
In 1950 Shah Zaman crushed a mutiny in the Amb State Forces by taking a loyal and dignified stand on behalf of the Nawab of Amb against 10,000 mutineers. He defended the fortress and arms factory at Amb bravely. He served the Amb State Force till his death in 1961. He left behind two sons; Subedar Ali Zaman and Pirdad Khan.
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Achievements during military life
British India Army
The 19-year-old Shah Zaman joined the British Indian Army on 1 September 1914 as sepoy. He served in defending the North West Frontier at the start of World War 1 from 15 August 1915 to 30 October 1915. He received a Star for his services rendered from 1914 to 1915.
He was latter sent to fight in the Mesopotamian campaign from 27 February 1917 to 20 December 1917. During this period he was promoted to the rank of Naik in the British Indian Army.
From there he was straight away sent to take part in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force Order of Battle 1918 against the Turks. He fought in these battles bravely from 21 December 1917 to 13 August 1918. He was eventually wounded there and sent back to India.
He served actively on the North West Frontier from 7 August 1919 to 1 October 1920. During this period he was promoted to the rank of Havildar.
He promoted to the rank of Jamadar on 24 February 1928. He was pensioned from the British India Army in 1934.
Amb State Forces
He took charge of the Amb State Forces as Commandant from 1936 and was made Commandant for life by Nawab Muhammad Farid Khan. He died in 1961.
During his service at Amb, he worked alongside Superintendent Police Amb State Ali Asghar Khan Orakzai to improve the Amb State Forces to great extent.
He led an army of 25,000 and artillery to the battle of Seri Kuani in Kala Dhaka in 1945. The Amb State force took from Panja Gali to Seri Kuani. The battle of Seri Kuani lasted for 2 hours and the tribal forts of Salar Khan of Seri Kuani could not withstand Amb State artillery. Salar Khan fled to neighboring Swat and Amb State Forces returned victorious.
Nawab Muhammad Farid Khan sent an army of 1500 Amb State soldiers under the leadership of Shah Zaman to take part in the Kashmir Liberation Movement from 1947 to 1948 (Kashmir Conflict). The Amb State force carried its own artillery to the battle. They fought bravely alongside other frontier tribesmen and came under fire by the Indian airforce just three kilometers from Baramulla sector. Around 200 Amb State soldiers lost their lives in the battle. Shah Zaman lost three fingers of his right hand completely in the battle.
In 1950 Shah Zaman crushed a mutiny in the Amb State Forces by taking a loyal and dignified stand on behalf of the Nawab of Amb against 10,000 mutineers. He defended the fortress and arms factory at Amb bravely. He served the Amb State Force till his death in 1961. He left behind two sons; Subedar Ali Zaman and Pirdad Khan.
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