Hiraji Cursetji

Major-General Sir Hiraji Jehangir Manekji Cursetji, KCIE, CSI, DSO (14 August 1885 – 26 July 1964) was an Indian military surgeon and general in the British Indian Army during the Second World War.

Sir Hiraji Jehangir Manekji Cursetji
Born14 August 1885
Died26 July 1964 (aged 78)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Indian Army
Years of service1912-1946
RankMajor-General
Battles/warsWorld War I World War II
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
Companion of the Order of the Star of India
Distinguished Service Order

Biography

Born in Mumbai (then Bombay), to a prominent Parsi family,[1] Cursetji initially aspired to a cavalry commission in the British Indian Army due to his fondness for riding, but ultimately opted for the Indian Medical Service.[1] He studied at Gonville and Caius Colleges at Cambridge University and at London Hospital before entering the Indian Medical Service as a lieutenant on 27 January 1912.[1][2][3] During the First World War, he served in Egypt, Gallipoli and Mesopotamia.[2] He was promoted to captain on 27 January 1915.[4] In October 1916, he was appointed a Knight of the Order of the White Eagle of Serbia (5th Class, with swords).[5]

As a medical officer attached to the 14th King George's Own Ferozepore Sikhs during the Mesopotamian campaign, Captain Cursetji was awarded the DSO on 26 May 1919 for his service at the battles of Mushaq (26–27 October 1918) and Sharqat (29 October 1918):

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Mushaq, 26th-27th October and at Sharquat, 29th October. Throughout the operations he displayed the greatest zeal and disregard for danger while tending the wounded under heavy fire, working unceasingly for forty-eight hours. He has previously rendered excellent service, and once was severely wounded.[6]

Cursetji was promoted to major in the IMS on 27 January 1924, and was brevetted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Indian Army on 1 January 1931.[7][8] On 8 January of that year, he was appointed a deputy assistant director of medical services, and was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel on 27 July.[9][10] In 1938, he was appointed as the Officer-in-Charge of Hospitals, Lucknow District.[11] He was promoted to colonel on 1 December 1938 (with seniority from 1 January 1934).[12]

On 23 February 1941, Cursetji was appointed an Honorary Surgeon to the King (KHS).[13] On 12 July, he was promoted to major-general, the first Indian to achieve a substantive general officer rank in the British Indian Army.[1][14] During the Second World War, the IMS was integrated with the Indian Army Medical Corps. In September, Cursetji was appointed as Deputy Director of Medical Services, Northern Command, and transferred to the North-Western Army in the same role in April 1942.[11] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Star of India (CSI) in the 1943 New Year Honours list, and was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) in the 1946 New Year Honours list.[15][16] He retired on 1 June 1946,[17] and settled in England, where he lived until his death in an automobile accident on 26 July 1964.[1] His estate was assessed for probate on 23 October, with a valuation of £10,641 (equivalent to £217,225 in 2019[18]).[19]

Awards and decorations

Ribbon bar (as it would look today):

Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE)1946
Companion of the Order of the Star of India (CSI)1943
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)1919
1914–15 Star1918
British War Medal1918
Victory Medal (United Kingdom)1918; with bronze oak leaf for MID
General Service Medal (1918)with clasp for "Iraq"
India General Service Medal (1909)with clasp for "Waziristan 1921-1924"
War Medal 1939–1945
India Service Medal
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
King George VI Coronation Medal
Knight of the Order of the White Eagle1916; with Swords

[2]

References
  1. McR., G. R. (15 August 1964). "Major-General Sir Heerajee J. Manockjee Cursetjee, K.C.I.E. C.S.I., D.S.O., M.B., B.Ch., I.M.S. (Ret.)". British Medical Journal. 2 (5406): 453. JSTOR 25399910.
  2. "Indian Army:Orders and medals of Major-General Sir Heerajee Jehangir Manockjee Cursetjee, Indian Medical Service, 1914-46". National Army Museum: Indian Army. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  3. "No. 28638". The London Gazette. 23 August 1912. p. 6292.
  4. "No. 29186". The London Gazette. 8 June 1915. p. 5526.
  5. "No. 29945". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 February 1917. p. 1607.
  6. "No. 31356". The London Gazette. 23 May 1919. p. 6466.
  7. "No. 32924". The London Gazette. 4 April 1924. p. 2803.
  8. "No. 33676". The London Gazette. 2 January 1931. p. 61.
  9. "No. 33710". The London Gazette. 24 April 1931. p. 2651.
  10. "No. 33754". The London Gazette. 18 September 1931. p. 6039.
  11. "Cursetjee, Sir Heerajee Jehangir Manockjee". Generals.dk. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  12. "No. 34622". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 May 1939. p. 3004.
  13. "No. 35224". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 July 1941. p. 4201.
  14. "No. 35387". The London Gazette. 19 December 1941. p. 7198.
  15. "No. 35841". The London Gazette. 29 December 1942. p. 4.
  16. "No. 37407". The London Gazette. 28 December 1945. p. 10.
  17. "No. 37602". The London Gazette. 7 June 1946. p. 2844.
  18. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  19. "Heerajee Jehangir Manockjee Cursetjee". probatesearchservice.gov. UK Government. 1964. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
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