During the Second World War the Indian Princely states provided 250,000 men for service in Malaya, Burma, North Africa, the Middle East and Italy. The number of troops contributed by the States depended on their population and financial resources. At the beginning of the War Bhopal had a training company which was enlarged to a 679 strong infantry battalion of which 30% were Pathans. Bhopal Sate had close links with the Saddozais through the Begum of Bhopal, Maimoona Sultan Shah Banu who herself was of Saddozai decent. In 1940, Sir Hissamud Din was appointed as the C-in-C and Defence Minister of the State and in 1944, his eldest son Ahmed Jan was commanding the G.T.O.(Gowhar-i-Taj’s Own) Infantry Battalion. It was named after the Heiress Apparent who liked to dress in a uniform. 

In 1944 the battalion placed under command the 404 Line of Communication Sub Area to protect the lines of communication and served with LOC ALFSEA ( Allied Land Forces South East Asia) in eastern India at Ranchi, Agartala, Chittagong and Badarpur till May 1946. This historic photograph was taken on the occasion on the eve of the departure of the  battalion and has some interesting personalities.

1. Shahzada Najam-e-Alam, brother of Akhtar Alam (Serial 2).
2. Shahzada Akhtar Alam.
3. Unidentified
4. Unidentified
5. A 129. Lt Col Sardar Ahmed Jan, M.B.E. eldest son of Sir Hissamud Din (See serial 6). Commissioned Sandhurst, 1927. Served in 7^th Light Cavalry and with Central India Horse in Abyssinia and North Africa during Second World War. Promoted Acting Lieutenant Colonel in Jun 1943, and posted as Special Senior Staff Officer to the Bhopal Infantry. Commanded G.T.O. Infantry Battalion in Burma and awarded M.B.E. After Independence commanded 1/14^th Punjab (Sher Dils) during Operation CURZON. Promoted Brigadier 1948 and commanded 114 Brigade, Lahore, and 52 Brigade. Appointed Commandant Frontier Corps in Mar 1950. Retired 1954.
6. Honorary Brig Sir Sardar Hissam ud Din (fondly known as Sir HD) son of Col. Nawab Sir Mohammad Aslam Khan, first Indian commandant of Khyber Rifles (1881-1897).  Inducted into 3^rd Regiment of the Cavalry, Frontier Force circa 1895 as a risaldar major.[1] [2] Participated in operations on the Frontier, in Mesopotamia during the First World War and in the Third Afghan War. Awarded O.B.E, I.D.S.M. and twice mentioned in dispatches. Awarded a commission in 23^rd Cavalry and served in P.A.V.O.. Appointed Defence Minister of Bhopal State during the Second World War. After Independence was first Colonel Commandant of Frontier Corps. Other honorary appointments included ADC to C-in-C India, Quaid-e-Azam, subsequent Governor Generals and President of Pakistan.
7. Princess Suraya Jah, Nawab Gowhar-i-Taj, Abida Sultan Begum Sahibawas the eldest daughter of Hamidullah Khan (See serial 12), the last nawab of the Bhopal state and heiress apparent to the Bhopal throne but migrated to Pakistan. Mother of Shehreyar Khan, ex Foreign Secretary of Pakistan.
8. Unidentified
9. Unidentified
10. Gen Claude Auchinleck, C-in-C India.
11. Col Syed Ibrahim Pasha, brother-in-law of Sir HD and paternal grandfather of Sardar Omar Durrani.
12. Sir Nawab Hamidullah Khan Bahadur, Nawab of Bhopal.
13. Sardar Yunus, Commandant Bhopal State Police. Nephew of Sir HD. Brother of Sardar Haroon (Serial 15).
14. Unidentified
15. Sardar Haroon, Nephew of Sir HD and brother of Sardar Yunus (Serial 13).
16. Unidentified
17. Unidentified
18. Sardar Afzal son of Sardar Ishaq and Begum Mahapara Sultana (Serial 21).
19. Unidentified
20. Unidentified
21. Begum Mahapara Sultana (Parri Khala), wife of Sardar Ishaq who was born in Bhopal and brought up under the tutelage of Maimoona Sultan, the Begum of Bhopal.     
22. Jessie, wife of Gen Auchinleck. They separated in 1944 on Auks return from North Afrirca and were divorced in 1945.
23. Maimoona Sultan Shah Banu Begum Sahiba. Married to Nawab Hamidullah Khan (See serial 12) at the age of 5 years when the Nawab was 10 years old. She gave birth to Princess Abida Sultan Begum Sahibaat the age of 12 years. Great-great-granddaughter of King Shah Shuja Durrani, a Saddozai who twice ruled Afghanistan. Related by decent to Sir HD.  
24. Gayatri Devi (Ayesha), Maharani of Jaipur and wife of Gen. Maharaja Sir Sawai Man Singh II GCSI GCIE who was the last ruling Maharaja of Jaipur State and a famous Polo player.
25. Begum Farhat Nur Khan (Shahgul). She was the daughter of the Begum Bhopal’s brother and married Air Marshal Nur Khan. Met Nur Khan in London when the officer was serving as air attaché at the High Commission of Pakistan in UK in 1948 and the two decided to get married.
26. Sardar Aslam, son of Sardar Ishaq and Begum Mahapara Sultana (Serial 21).nephew of Maimoona Sultan (Serial 23).
27. Maj Sardar Asad Jan (Shaheed). Nephew of Sir HD. Commissioned in OTS Kohat and joined 5 Frontier Force Regiment. Died in Khem Karan during 1965 War.
28. Sardar Hameed

Author’s Note: I am grateful to my friend and classmate, Sardar Omar Durrani, for providing me this picture and identifying the personalities in it. I have also taken the assistance of the book: Saddozai Kings and Wazirs of Afghanistan 1747-1842 by Wing Comamnder Sardar Ahmed Shah Jan Saddozai which also provides biographical details of the progeny of the Sardar Khels of Peshawar.

[1] The regiment accompanied Lord Roberts in his march from Kabul to Kandahar and ultimately was renumbered as 11^th Prince Albert Victor’s Own Cavalry (Frontier Force) in 1922.

[2] Till the early 20 century, sons of influential landlords and tribal chieftains were sometimes given direct commission as VCOs.