A rare Irrawaddy Crossing single class immediate IOM (posthumous) for gallantry during a sortie from the Myinmu Bridgehead on 28 February 1945 awarded to 19180 Paid Acting Naik Kamal Khan, 9th Battalion 12th Frontier Force Regiment

Indian Order of Merit, Military Division, 4th type (single class 1945-47), Reward of Gallantry, silver, gold and enamel, reverse with central nut fitting, complete with top suspension brooch and original ribbon, in its presentation case, the inside lid of the case inscribed in Indian ink ‘19180 Kamal Khan I.O.M.’, the case rather scuffed, otherwise extremely fine and rare £2000-2500

Provenance: As purchased by the vendor in Pakistan many years ago.

I.O.M. (Posthumous) London Gazette 12 July 1945: ‘For gallant and distinguished services in Burma.’

The original recommendation for an Immediate Award of the Indian Order of Merit (Posthumous), dated 12 March 1945, states:

‘For conspicuous personal gallantry in the field.

On 28th February 1945, ‘D’ Company of this Battalion was ordered to capture the village of YEZIN. On arrival of the Company near its objective the enemy suddenly opened fire from a bunker position covering the approaches to the village.

No.19180 Naik KAMAL KHAN was commanding a section of the leading platoon. The platoon commander ordered him to charge the enemy position. He immediately ran ahead of his section towards the enemy, ordering his section to follow. He threw grenades into two bunkers and then killed three Japanese who came out of a third bunker. He and his section then chased and killed a few more Japanese who were seen running out into the open from the remaining bunkers.

Later the Company was ordered to help in capturing the village of INYA which was the next objective. Whilst advancing across an open field towards INYA, 19180 Naik KAMAL KHAN’s platoon, which was one of the leading platoons, was suddenly confronted with enemy Light Machine Gun and grenade discharger fire from a close distance where he [the enemy] was hiding in bunkers. Naik KAMAL KHAN without waiting for further orders ran straight into the enemy position and threw three grenades into a bunker, killing two Japanese who were inside. Then he ran back to fetch some more grenades, and went forward again throwing a grenade into another bunker. While doing this he was wounded by an enemy grenade.

Although wounded, he crawled undeterred to another bunker where there was an enemy grenade discharger in action. He succeeded in killing all the Japanese in this bunker and knocked out the grenade discharger. Then he moved forward to deal with another bunker when he was unfortunately shot by the enemy in the head and killed instantaneously.

19180 Naik KAMAL KHAN performed an extreme act of gallantry in dealing with enemy bunkers one after another although wounded, in complete disregard to his own life. His devotion to duty in a bullet swept area in face of danger was a source of great inspiration to his men. As a result of his inspiring leadership and outstanding example of gallant conduct in which he sacrificed his life, he made it possible to silence many enemy positions, thus making the capture of an objective [possible], which would have otherwise impeded the advance [with] considerably fewer losses.’

The outstandingly brave young Naik Kamal Khan was admitted to the Indian Order of Merit, a posthumous single class award, for conspicuous personal gallantry and inspiring leadership on 28th February 1945. He was killed while leading his section into action at Yezin-Inya during the defence of the so-called Myinmu Bridgehead across the Irrawaddy. He was only eighteen years old, and could not have been with his battalion for more than a few months. He was a Punjabi Mussalman from Tahar Village near Golra in the Rawalpindi district, and was serving as a Paid Acting Naik at the time of his death and is buried in the Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma.

Naik Kamal Khan was also entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, and 1939-45 War Medal which, according to regulations, should have been distributed to next of kin. WW2 stars and medals were issued unnamed in post-Independence Pakistan, and the three appropriate replacements accompany Kawan Khan’s I.O.M. badge to represent this brave young soldier’s full entitlement. Sold with further research.