NAM.1994-05-45-3

Photograph of Honourary Captain, Subedar-Major Sher Dil Khan, OBI, MBE, 2/15th Punjab Infantry, 1945-1947 (c). His service ribbons suggest the image was taken after World War Two. Subedar-Major Sher Dil Khan joined the 29th Punjabis in 1908 before transferring to the 2/15th Punjab Regiment in 1922. He was admitted to the Order of British India, 1st Class, in January 1941. He served in Singapore, Sarawak, and Dutch West and South Borneo, being made a prisoner of war following the capitulation of the unit on 3 April 1942. At the age of 55 he had fought a rearguard action with the Battalion through the swamps and mountains of Borneo for about 900 miles.

As a higher-ranking POW, every effort was made by the leaders of the Indian National Army to get him to join the movement. He refused, and was tortured and starved, remaining a POW for the rest of the war. From a collection of 32 photographs collected by Lt Col Frederick George Milligan, 2/15th Punjab Regiment, 1927-1960s (c).