Who was Lieutenant General Maharaja Sir Pertab Singh of Idar

Jodhpur Bengal Lancers storming trench

Lieutenant General Maharaja Sir Pertab Singh (Pratap Singh) was a very distinguished soldier in the British Army and won great merit during his life. He lived during the period of Empire and in the Raj times when Britain ruled in India.

He was the third son of the Maharaja of Idar (Gujarat) in India and was born in 1845. When his father died in 1873, he found all sorts of diplomatic responsibilities put upon him. He was a regent and administrator in the coming years and entered the British Army.

He served with the Jodhpur Bengal Lancers from 1878 to 1918 and saw service during conflicts in Afghanistan, plus China in 1901, during the Boxer rebellion. His service of 40 years took him to many places. He also served in the First World War towards the end of his military career, winning a list of honours during his life. His Jodhpur Bengal Lancers faced the Germans in several battles during the Great War and won a great reputation.


He died in 1922 and was close to three of Britain's monarchs. Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, and King George V all admired the Indian prince as a great man who had served as an aid to all three at times during his distinguished career.