Hardit Malik

Between 1914 and 1930, Hardit Malik played for Sussex, Oxford University (where he was also a golf Blue), Sikhs and Hindus as a middle-order batsman. In 1917 he was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps, the first Indian to do so. He wore a specially made helmet, outsized to accommodate his turban, and took part in several dogfights, most notably with the famous Richthofen squadron and after being wounded, he returned to active service in Italy. In 1927, he became deputy commissioner in Punjab for six years, and after a period working in New York, he was recalled to India in 1944 to become Prime Minister of the predominantly Sikh state of Patiala. He later became India's first High Commissioner to Canada and then Ambassador to Paris. In 1952 he was awarded the Legion D'Honneur.
Martin Williamson