Twelve: Subadar F. Sher, Frontier Force Regiment, Pakistan Army, late Indian Army

Pakistan, Tamgha-I-Khidmat, Second Class neck badge, silver and enamel; Sitara-I-Harb 1965 (PJO-190102 Sub Fateh Sher FFR); Sitara-I-Harb 1971, unnamed; General Service Medl, 1 clasp, Dir-Bajaur 196-62, unnamed; War Medal 1965; War Medal 1971; Pakistan Independence Medal 1947 (3438680 L/Hav Fateh Sher 12.F.F.R.); Republic Day Medal 1956, unnamed; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal, very fine and better (12) £80-£100

Fateh Sher attested for the Indian Army on 12 June 1940. A Muslim Punjabi of the Awan tribe, he served initially on the North West Frontier with the 7th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment. Raised Lance Naik 22 August 1943, his unit were soon posted to the 39th Training Division near Dehra Dun for jungle training. Promoted Naik, he joined the 8th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment on 5 November 1944, and was sent to Burma in October 1944 as part of 19th (Dagger) Division. Following vicious fighting against Japanese forces, the 19th Division broke out from the Sittang Bridgehead with orders to take Pinlebu on 4 December 1944. A few days later, Sher and his comrades crossed the Irrawaddy to the north of Mandalay, facing repeated enemy counter attacks in the process.

Mandalay fell to Allied forces on 20 March 1945 after 10 weeks of exceptionally heavy fighting, including the capture of Fort Dufferin. The 19th Division had not only cleared the Japanese from Mandalay, Maymio and a large area of Burma, but had also caused 6,000 casualties to the enemy. Promoted Havildar on 22 August 1945, Sher likely returned to Calcutta with the 8th Battalion in April 1946, before opting for service with the Army of Pakistan upon the partition of India on 15 August 1947.

Sold with extensive copied research.