BISHAN SINGH, a general in the Sikh army, was the adopted son of Jamadar Khushal Singh, the royal chamberlain (deorhidar). He received his education at the Ludhiana Mission School across the AngloSikh frontier. In 1848, when stationed at Pind Dadan Khan, Bishan Singh was ordered to move his troops to assist Herbert Edwardes, the British resident`s assistant at Bannu, who was then marching against Diwan Mul Raj at Multan. A few months after, his troops revolted and joined the insurrectionists, but Bishan Singh sided with the British and joined Lord Gough`s camp. For this he was rewarded with a pension by the British government.
BUDDH SINGH MAN (d. 1856), son of Mana Singh, entered the service of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1816 as a khidmatgar (attendant). He rose to the command of 30 horse, and was given a.jagir worth 17,000 rupees. Later, he was promoted a colonel in General Court`s brigade. According to British records, he commanded four regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and two troops of artillery. He remained on active duty during Maharaja Sher Singh`s reign, but because of his relationship with Atar Singh Sandhanvalia, a confirmed opponent of the Maharaja, he was reduced in rank.
FORD, MATTHEW WILLIAM (d. 1841), an Englishman who started his career in 1804 as an ensign in a West India regiment. He successively served with the 7th Foot, the 70th Foot, the 1st Royal Scots and the 22nd Light Dragoons. In 1823, he was appointed paymaster to the 16th Foot. While stationed at Karnal in 1837, he embezzled large sums of money and deserted the British troops. He came to Lahore towards the end of the year and joined the Sikh army as a battalion commander on Rs 800 per month, later commuted for jagir of three villages near Rawalpindi.
FOULKES, R. (d. 1841), an Englishman, who joined Maharaja Ranjit Sihgh`s cavalry in February 1836. He remained attached to General Ventura as aide-de-camp, and accompanied him on his expedition to Mandi in 1840. On file conclusion of the campaign, he was left in charge of the Sikh troops stationed at Mandi. However, his troops mutineed in March 1841, and assassinated him.
NIDHAN SINGH PANJHATTHA (d. 1839), soldier, minor commander and jdgirddr under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He acquired the epithet Parijhattha, the "five handed," for his gallantry in the battle of Ten hill (1823). He singlehanded made five Pathans prisoners and captured their weapons. This act of valour earned him the title of Panjhatthd. In every battle, Nidhan Singh was among the first to advance and the last to retreat, and his body was covered all over with the marks of his courage. His great grand father, Dulcha Singh, had been in the service of Raja Ranjit Deo of Jammu, and his grandfather, Ram Dat Singh, is said to have served the Sukkarchakkia family under Mahari Singh.
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