Evelyn Hey Cobb
Born(1899-09-15)15 September 1899
Simla, India
Died25 February 1972(1972-02-25) (aged 72)
England
Allegiance United Kingdom / British Empire
Service/branchBritish Raj British Indian Army
Years of service1919–1947
RankLieutenant-colonel
AwardsOrder of the British Empire

Lieutenant-Colonel Evelyn Hey Cobb, OBE (15 September 1899 – 25 February 1972) was an officer in the British Indian Army and served as political administrator in various capacities in North-West India.[1][2] He started the tradition of holding a polo festival at Shandur.[3][4][5]

Early life

Evelyn Hey Cobb was born on 15 September 1899 at Simla, India. His father, William Hey Cobb, was a member of the Indian Civil Service, a barrister from the Inner Temple who served as city magistrate in Lucknow India. Cobb received education from Winchester College and the Cadet College, Quetta.[6][7] Cobb was a well-read man who enjoyed lengthy discourse and had a love for field sports, the countryside and the mountain. He was immensely fond of hunting, fishing and polo.[8]

Career

On 15 April 1919, he was commissioned into the Indian Army, joining its 25th Cavalry.[9] He was subsequently attached to the Kurram Militia, 19 June 1921 to 24 October 1922, attached to the South Waziristan, Scouts 27 October 1922 to 4 July 1923, then after leave from 1 January 1924 to 18 November 1924.[10] Transfers to Foreign and Political Department of the North-West Frontier Province 20 November 1924 as personal assistant to the chief commissioner, Peshawar. He served in Chitral from 1927 to 1929 as assistant political agent.[11]

Cobb initiated the tradition of holding a polo tournament between Chitral and Gilgit on Shandur.[12] The practice continues till this day and draws thousands of spectators each year. Cobb also introduced the practice of playing polo in the moonlight at Shandur.[13]

In the King's Birthday Honours (London Gazette 3 June 1935, page 3612), he was appointed an Officer of the civil division of the Order of the British Empire.

In 1937, Cobb, then a major, assumed the role of Political Agent North-West Frontier States Agency (Dir, Swat, and Chitral).[14][15] In 1940 he became the political agent of North Waziristan.[16][17] From 8 July 1942 to 5 September 1945, Cobb was the political agent of the Gilgit Agency.[18][19][20] During his tenure in Gilgit he planted trout into the Yasin River.[21][22] He was mad keen on polo and during his frequent visits to Hunza was instrumental in establishing a number of polo grounds in the locality.[23]

He was promoted lieutenant-colonel 15 April 1945[24]

Death

Cobb died on 25 February 1972.[25]

References

  1. ↑ Caroe, Olaf (1 June 1972). "Obituary: Appreciation". Asian Affairs. 3 (2): 201–202. doi:10.1080/03068377208729626. ISSN 0306-8374.
  2. ↑ "Pedigree of the Cobbs".
  3. ↑ Mills, James H. (15 May 2005). Subaltern Sports: Politics and Sport in South Asia. Anthem Press. p. 75. ISBN 9780857287274.
  4. ↑ Pakistan and Gulf Economist. Economist Publications. 2008. p. 66.
  5. ↑ Mir, Shabbir (10 July 2010). "Shandur Polo Festival: Gilgit defeat Chitral after five years". The Express Tribune.
  6. ↑ Winchester College 1867-1920 A register, p501
  7. ↑ London Gazette 15 August 1919
  8. ↑ Brown, William (30 November 2014). Gilgit Rebelion: The Major Who Mutinied Over Partition of India. Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781473841123.
  9. ↑ Indian Army List, July 1919
  10. ↑ History of Service of officers holding gazetted appointments under the Foreign and Political Department. Corrected to 1st July 1935
  11. ↑ History of Service of officers holding gazetted appointments under the Foreign and Political Department. Corrected to 1st July 1935
  12. ↑ "After a year's gap: Shandur Polo Festival begins June 20th". The Express Tribune. 6 June 2014.
  13. ↑ "G-B in a fix over participation in Shandur polo tournament". The Express Tribune. 19 June 2012.
  14. ↑ Askari, Nasreen; Crill, Rosemary; Museum, Victoria and Albert (1997). Colours of the Indus: costume and textiles of Pakistan. M. Holberton in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum. p. 134. ISBN 9781858940441.
  15. ↑ Museum, Victoria and Albert (1936). Review of the Principal Acquisitions During the Year. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 71.
  16. ↑ Rashid, Abdur (1 January 1977). Civil Service on the Frontier. University Book Agency [distributor?]. pp. 33–37.
  17. ↑ The Indian Year Book. Bennett, Coleman & Company. 1940. p. 145.
  18. ↑ Crane, Robert I. (1956). Area Handbook on Jammu and Kashmir State. University of Chicago for the Human Relations Area Files. p. 79.
  19. ↑ India Office, Great Britain (1945). India Office and Burma Office List Advertiser. p. 9.
  20. ↑ Farrington, Susan; Leach, Hugh (29 August 2003). Strolling About on the Roof of the World: The First Hundred Years of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. Routledge. p. 38. ISBN 9781134426690.
  21. ↑ Pakistan Quarterly. 1969. pp. 16–17.
  22. ↑ Qamar, A. Sayeed Khan (1973). The Lure of the Karakorams. Ferozsons. p. 22.
  23. ↑ Mehra, Parshotam (1992). An "agreed" frontier: Ladakh and India's northernmost borders, 1846-1947. Oxford University Press. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-19-562758-9.
  24. ↑ London Gazette, 22 June 1945, p. 3283
  25. ↑ "Pedigree of the Cobbs".
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