Benjamin, Moses

Beni-Israel military officer; born in 1830; died at Bombay in December, 1897. The son of a subedar (captain), he joined the Twelfth Bombay Native Infantry as a private. While a non-commissioned officer he was entrusted with the responsible duty of watching over the wives and children of European officers of the regiment left at Deesa during the Mutiny of 1857. He was present at the siege and capture of Kotah, the action of Burnass, and the battle of Meanee (1843). Rising by dint of industry, he was gazetted as a commissioned officer (jemidar) in 1861. In 1865 he was made a subedar, in which capacity he superintended the work of the regimental lines, then in course of erection at Dharwar. In February, 1878, he was promoted subedar-major; in November, 1878, he became bahadur. He was a very intelligent officer, remarkably versed in military minutiæ. As a reward for his services the governor of India appointed him sirdar-bahadur (June, 1881), and invested him with the Order of British India of the first class. After having served for over thirty-two years, he retired on a pension, and went to Bombay; and the Beni-Israel Old Synagogue Congregation in that city, in appreciation of his capacities, appointed him their chief warden and treasurer. In February, 1892, the governor of Bombay appointed him a justice of the peace.

Bibliography:

  * Jewish Chronicle, Dec. 10, 1897.



J. G. L.