The First Indian Pilot of WW1- Hardit Singh Malik

Hardit Singh Malik was born on 23rd November 1894 in Rawalpindi, West Punjab, which is now part of Pakistan. He was born into a prosperous Sikh family and grew up in a large ancestral mansion with his father, three brothers, their families, and servants. His father, a contractor who specialized in building railroads and bridges, played a significant role in shaping Hardit Singh's early life. The family's success in business established them as prominent landowners in the region.

His father indulged him by fulfilling all his materialistic desires, purchasing items like silk socks, elaborate playing cards, and train sets upon his request. In contrast, he refrained from asking his mother for such luxuries, knowing she would not spoil him as his father did. His mother, a devout Sikh, made it her priority to instill a strong connection to their faith in her son. She guided him towards a life focused on spirituality and service rather than material possessions. This upbringing in faith would remain steadfast within him even during his extensive travels among different people and cultures. A Sikh holy man gifted him a steel bracelet, known as a 'kara', which he wore throughout his service in World War 1.

With government-run schooling in the local area of poor quality, Hardit Singh’s father enrolled him at a kindergarten run by an Anglo-Indian couple, Mr. and Mrs. Morris. Afterwards he received private tuition in English and Maths from two Indian professors of the local Gordon Mission College.

His parents also taught their young son the importance of independence as a great virtue and labour of all kinds as an honour (and not disgrace). Indeed, he was made to read the famous book ‘Self-Help’ by Samuel Smiles until he knew it almost by heart. Despite a pampered upbringing, Hardit Singh grew up into more or less a healthy-minded youngster (although he did consider himself to be an insufferable brat!).

Hardit Singh’s natural love for sports was encouraged by his father, who arranged coaching in cricket and tennis. Although he didn’t attend school, he was able to organise local boys and create his own teams in cricket, hockey and football against schools and private teams. Over his long and eventful life, he would continue to pursue his sporting interests wherever he went in the world.

Another one of Hardit Singh’s favoured pastimes was kite-flying. It was typically played on the rooftops so accidents sometimes occurred (and hence his parents disapproved of him playing). He would get the best kites made of brightly coloured paper stretched across thin cane frames, and coat the cords with powdered glass. This type of cord would cut the cord of rival kites in aerial combats. These dogfights demanded considerable skill to manoeuvre kites into the optimal position to bring down rivals. The thrills experienced by Hardit Singh in these mock battles were a forerunner to his WW1 exploits.

The young Hardit Singh had always harboured an ambition to go to England just to be able to say he had been to ‘vilayat’ (or Blighty)! He had to work hard to persuade his parents. While youngsters went abroad for studies after they had graduated from Indian universities, it was almost unheard of for a young boy to go for schooling in England. They initially rejected his suggestion but eventually gave in to the stubborn petitioner (it also helped that he would be staying with his elder brother and cousin who had already set sail for England).

In 1908, a 14-year-old named Hardit Singh embarked on a journey from Rawalpindi through British India to Bombay. From there, he traveled solo on a ship to Marseilles in southern France, then took a luxurious express train to Calais. After crossing the Channel to Dover on another boat, he boarded a second train to Charing Cross, where he was greeted by his older brother, Teja Singh. Finally, he raced through the streets of London in a horse-drawn carriage to a boarding house in West Kensington.

Following this, Hardit Singh attended Linton House, a preparatory school in Notting Hill. He later enrolled at Eastbourne College, a prestigious school in southern England, where he spent three joyful years playing cricket, cycling, and playfully interacting with the local girls.

In 1912 he was admitted to Balliol College, Oxford. Under the able guidance of his tutor, Francis ‘Sligger’ Urquhart, he shifted his focus from Greek and Latin (his favourite subjects at school) to study modern European history. His scholastic achievements were matched by his sports prowess, getting his blues in cricket and golf.

In August 1914, Hardit Singh was playing a great deal of cricket.

He had completed his second year at Oxford, and had been selected to play for Sussex County. It was on the eve of a match against Kent that news broke that Britain was at war with Germany.

On his return to Oxford in October practically all his British colleagues had volunteered to join the fighting services. His efforts to join the British Army as a commissioned officer were twice rejected because of the prevailing attitude towards race (no white man was ever to be commanded by a black man).

With the assistance of his college tutor, Francis Urquhart, he decided to volunteer for the French Red Cross. Initially, he operated a motor ambulance provided by Lady Cunard to the French Army. He gained practical driving experience while journeying to Southampton.

For a year, Hardit Singh served with the French, transporting patients to various hospitals along the Western Front. Eventually, he sought to enlist in the French military, particularly aiming for the Air Force. Upon his acceptance, he informed his former tutor, Francis Urquhart, who then penned a stern letter to Major-General David Henderson of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). In the letter, he questioned why, if Hardit Singh was deemed suitable by the French as a British national, he was not considered acceptable by the British Armed Forces. This correspondence had the desired effect, leading to a meeting with General Henderson, after which Hardit Singh was commissioned as Hon. 2/Lt H. S. Malik, RFC, Special Reserve, on 5 April 1917.

Not only was he the first Indian in any flying service in the world, he was also the first non-Brit with turban and beard – which was against every British Army regulation of the day – to become a fighter pilot.

As a cadet in Aldershot, Hardit Singh wore a specially-designed flying helmet over his turban. This would later earn him the affectionate nickname of ‘Flying Hobgoblin’ from ground crews.

Hardit Singh learnt fast – he was selected for fighters and went ‘solo’ in a Caudron after just two-and-a-half hours instruction. He was posted to Filton, near Bristol, flying the Avro 504, the BE 2C, the Sopwith Pup, the Nieuport and finally the Sopwith Camel, the most advanced fighter at this time.

At Filton, RFC pilots were taught combat tactics, including the famous Immelmann Turn. Hardit Singh got his wings in under a month. Posted to No.28 Squadron and equipped with the Camel, the formation soon flew out to St. Omer in France, then to an airfield in Flanders near the village of Droglandt.

Here, Malik’s flight commander was the legendary Major William Barkar, a Canadian who would later win the Victoria Cross for gallantry. Barkar was considered the greatest all-round pilot of World War One, and he personally initiated Hardit Singh into the art and science of aerial combat, leading him into the first actions, including those against the legendary ‘Red Baron’, Manfred von Richthofen. In one major dogfight, with over a hundred British and German fighters scrapping over the battle lines, Hardit Singh shot down his first German Fokkerand. He went on to notch another eight aerial victories in the weeks ahead, before he himself was wounded in action, but survived in amazing circumstances.

On 26 October 1917, Barker took Malik over the lines in an attack on an enemy airfield in poor weather. They were surprised by a large number of German fighters, and although Hardit Singh shot one down, his aircraft was struck by an incredible 450 bullets, two of which pierced his leg. Seriously (but not fatally) wounded, and with his petrol tank hit, he crash-landed in France. He survived, having lost much blood and broken his nose.

A stint in hospital followed, then a posting to Northern Italy, where No. 28’s Camels had been sent to bolster the Italian front after the disaster at Caporetto. There was a long train journey to Milan, where the ladies apparently thought the turbanned pilot especially exotic. He was wounded again in a dogfight and was invalided home, this time complicated by an acute allergic reaction to the castor oil used to lubricate the Camel’s rotary engine.

Hardit Singh returned to England in February 1918 and rejoined the service, now known as the Royal Air Force, with No. 141 Squadron based at Biggin Hill. This squadron was specifically established to defend London against Zeppelins and Botha bombers.

In the summer of 1918, Lieutenant Hardit Singh went back to France and flew Bristol Fighters with No. 11 Squadron until the war ended. Like many others, he began preparing for life after demobilisation. When a senior British officer inquired about his plans post-war, he mentioned that he intended to first take some leave to visit home, and then either continue serving in the RAF in India or join the Indian Civil Service, as he had planned before the war.

After the armistice in November 1918, Hardit Singh secured eight months leave and began his journey home after an 11-year absence. It was by a strange coincidence that the ship he boarded at Marseilles was the very same that he had travelled on in 1908 when making his way to England.

On-board the P&O vessel he was befriended by an Indian Army officer, Captain Keen of the 28th Punjabis.

One evening Keen asked the Sikh what his plans were. Hardit Singh told him that he would join the RAF in India. Keen warned him: ‘You know we don’t want Indians in the RAF. You will find one fine day you will go up and your plane will break up in the air.’

He arrived at Bombay on 10 March 1919, and travelled by train across the dusty plains and up into the hills to his home. He received a hero's welcome in Rawalpindi.

In his post-war years, he fell in love, got married, but had to promise to leave flying. He also enjoyed a distinguished career as a civil servant and diplomat. He became Prime Minister of Patiala State and then, Indian High Commissioner to Canada; still later, he was named Ambassador to France.

His unique experience saw him involved in the discussions that led to the founding of the Indian Air Force in 1932. After retirement in 1956, he returned to his first love, golf, playing until the age of 88, even with two German bullets still embedded in his leg.

In 1983, Hardit Singh was interviewed by historian Charles Allen about his wartime experiences. You can hear this interview on our Spoken Histories page.

The ‘Flying Hobgoblin’ died in New Delhi on 31 October 1985, three weeks before his 91st birthday.

---