A rare North West Frontier casualty pair to Major J. B. P. Seccombe, 6/13th Punjab F.F., late Northern Waziristan Militia.

BRITISH WAR MEDAL (Lieut.); INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1919-21, North West Frontier 1935 (Lieut, N.W. Militia), mounted as worn, very fine (2)

Major John Bertie Philip Seccombe was an officer of prolonged Frontier experience and came from a long line of soldier and sailor forebears. Educated at Haileybury, he was commissioned in 1918 from the Military Cadet College at Conoor in the Nilgherry Hills, and was at once sent to the North Waziristan Militia. He served with them during the third Afghan War and Nadir Khan's invasion of the Tochi. He served with the 6/13th Punjab Frontier Force [late 59th Scinde Rifles (F.F.)] in the campaign against the Mohmands in 1935, spending much time in the air as a result of his previous service under the Director of Frontier Intelligence at Peshawar. Major Seccombe accompanied his regiment to Razmak in October, 1936, where it formed part of a column to march into the Khaisora Valley to control the Faqir of Ipi and his supporters. The column marched on 25th November, 1936, the route being along the bed of the Khaisora, which meant wading through innumerable channels of icy water. Throughout the day the column met with considerable hostile fire from the front, rear and both flanks. In the early evening Major Seccombe, commanding one of the piqueting companies, went down to the broad nullah bed to meet the rear-guard commander. It was then quite dark when they were attacked and overwhelmed by a party of tribesmen, Major Seccombe and the men with him all being killed.