All 21 Sikh defenders of Saragarhi held off thousands of tribesmen until death, each receiving India's highest gallantry award.
Key Facts
- Date
- 12 September 1897
- Defenders
- 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army
- Attacking force
- 12,000–24,000 Orakzai and Afridi tribesmen
- Defender casualties
- 21 killed (entire garrison)
- Awards
- All 21 posthumously awarded Indian Order of Merit
- Commemoration
- Saragarhi Day observed annually on 12 September
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Tirah Campaign of 1897, Orakzai and Afridi tribesmen mobilized in large numbers along the Samana Range in the North-West Frontier. An estimated 12,000–24,000 tribesmen converged near Saragarhi, cutting the communication line between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan and isolating the small signal outpost.
On 12 September 1897, the 21 Sikh soldiers garrisoning the Saragarhi outpost, led by Havildar Ishar Singh, refused to surrender when surrounded by thousands of tribesmen. They fought to the last man in a determined last stand, holding the position long enough to delay the enemy's advance before all were killed.
The post was retaken by a British Indian relief force two days after the battle. All 21 defenders were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest gallantry decoration available to Indian soldiers at the time. The 4th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment continues to commemorate the engagement annually on Saragarhi Day.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Havildar Ishar Singh.
Side B
1 belligerent