User:Patelurology2/Lt.K.S. Dajirajsinhji of Jamnagar

Alumnus in Memoriam Rajkumar College, Rajkot: Lt.K.S. Dajirajsinhji of Jamnagar

<!--- First War Hero of The Rajkumar College, Rajkot. Lieutenant K.S. Dajirajsinhji of Jamnagar
 * Lieutenant K.S.Dajiraj of Jamnagar.doc WW I ( First War Participation : Martyr in Youth ) see in edit mode including a Tribute by Grandson on Centennial of World War I

Born in the princely family of Jamnagar earlier known as the Nawanagar State. He acquired preliminary education at the princely Rajkumar College at Rajkot between 17/06/1907 to 24/03/1910. Here he showed prominence at studies, cricket, shooting, and athletics. He acted in plays like Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare. He was appointed an Officer for the Mounted Cadets Corps.

Lieut. K.S. Dajirajsinhji joined the Imperial Cadets Corps.

The European War broke out in August 1914. Lieutenant K.S. Dajirajsinhji served with distinction on the Western Front with the Jodhpur State Imperial Lancers. He was killed in action on 24th September 1917 while carrying out his duties gallantly in the battlefield of France.

The Jamnagar administration report for the year 1917/18 contained the following reference to his death:

“Lieutenant K.S. Dajiraj had applied to be taken on active services immediately when the war broke out in August 1914. He was fretting and chafing at his forced inaction, and trying every known means, applications, telegrams, recommendations, references for a call to the front. It took a year and a half before he could get himself transferred to the Jodhpur Lancers and secure his heart’s desire by being asked to join those famous horsemen, commanded by the doyen of Rajput chivalry, Lieutenant-General Maharaja Sir Pratapsinhji in France.”

Lieutenant K.S. Dajirajsinhji was following the traditions of his house by devoted conduct in the service of the Sovereign whose commission he was privileged to bear.”

“At the time of his untimely end he carried feeling of disappointment of not being one of the nine Indian Officers who were given permanent commissions in the regular Indian Army.”

“But youth is always impatient and his friends say that he allowed his sour feelings to impel him to undertake hazardous missions and while returning from one of such missions he was struck down by a shell in the early morning of 24th September 1917 and succumbed to the injuries within a few hours in the battle field of France.”

“H.H. JamSaheb ordered funeral honours usually accorded to sons of rulers to the memory of the deceased who was very popular and universally liked wherever he was known. The citizens of Jamnagar held public meeting and decided to observe deep mourning and offered condolences to His Highness.”

Lieutenant K.S. Dajirajsinhji is the only Rajput Kumar to have made the last sacrifice in the defence of the Empire, and the Nawanagar House is very proud of the shining proof that the Kumar has given of the war-like traditions of the Jadeja clan to which, along with other celebrated members in the past, he has again set a splendid example of devotion and self-sacrifice.” His damaged helmet was brought to Jamnagar and was in possession of the state display at the palace.

Lt. K.S. Dajirajsinhji was killed in action at a very tender age of 20 years, when his only son R.K. Yadvendrasinhji was a few months old. Yadvendrasinhji later joined the Rajkumar College and became one of the finest cricketers of the Nawanagar State in the pre IInd War Era.

Lt. K.S. Dajirajsinhji’s father Late Maharaj Chandrasinhji was amongst the first students from the Nawanagar State to join Rajkumar College.

Lt. K.S. Dajirajsinhji’s name is engraved at the great Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi and also at War Heroes Memorial of the Ist World War in France.

Lt. K.S. Dajirajsinhji is remembered by his Old School, The Rajkumar College at Rajkot as the First War Hero of the School and his portrait has been placed in the New Conference Hall along with the other War Heroes that the great School has produced. Undoubtedly, Lt. K.S. Dajirajsinhji’s name deserves to be in the list of “All Time Greats” of not only the Rajkumar College or the Nawanagar State, but also of the Nation.

Grandson's tribute 2014 on Centennial of World War I: ''

Lt K S Dajirajsinhji KIA 23/09/1917 France - Soldiers and their units ...www.greatwarforum.org › ... › Soldiers and their units

My sincere homage to K S Dajirajsinhji of Nawanagar, on his martyr day.(my cousin grandfather). https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/39884-rajitsinhjis-nephew-killed-wf/

Father of Yadvendrasinhji Dajirajsinhji Brother of Maharaj Shri Pratapsinhji Juvansinhji Jadeja; Jam Shri Digvijaysinhji Juvansinhji Jadeja, HH Jam Saheb; Major General (rtd) Maharaj Shri Himmatsinhji Juvansinhji Jadeja; Vijay Kunwarba; Duleepsinhji Jadeja and 1 other
 * "Lieutenant Kumar Shri Dajirajsinhji Jivansinhji Sahib. b. 5th December 1891 (nephew of Ranjitsinhji), educ. Girassia Coll., Gondal; Rajkumar Coll., Rajkot, and with ICC, Dehra Dun. Cmsnd. 2nd-Lieut. ILF 11/11/1913, attached 27th Cavalry, IA 21/4/1914, prom. Lieut. 11/2/1916, served in the Great War in France with Jodhpur Imperial Service Lancers 1916-1917. He was k-i-a, 24th September 1917, having had issue, an only son"
 * Dajirajsinhji JivansinhjiBirthdate:1891Death:1917 (25-26)Immediate Family:Son of Maharaj Shri Juvansinhji Jeevansinhji Jadeja