Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Military Medal awarded for gallantry in East Africa to Musa Ahmed Hamad Onbashi, Sudan Defence Force

MILITARY MEDAL, G.VI.R. (34668, Sudan D.F.) mounted on original investiturebrooch, nearly extremely fine

M.M., London Gazette, 8 July 1943: Musa Ahmed Hamad Onbashi, 3rd Idara Eastern Arab Corps, Sudan Defence Force.
The following recommendation was extracted from official records: 'For marked gallantry in action. He was machine gun section commander in the raid on be Mariam on 20 November 1941 and was in the vital position which was subjected to the heaviest artillery mortar and automatic fire. He personally dragged one of his guns to a position from which he could engage an enemy machine gun which was causing casualties to his company and controlled his section's fire with admirable skill and coolness although suffering casualties. When eventually ordered by his CO. to see at all costs that a platoon which was stuck fifty yards from the enemy trenches must get away he went forward and stood on the top of the hillock and shouted and beckoned to the platoon to withdraw at the same time opening up heavy covering fire thus enabling the platoon to get out. The strongly fortified enemy position at be Mariam, South West of Celga, was raided by the Sudan Column, supported by air and artillery on 20th November, 1941. The action, which was fiercely contested, lasted from early morning until mid-day. The enemy resisted strongly, especially his white troops. A portion of our troops penetrated the inner defences of be Mariam causing considerable havoc. The enemy casualties are unknown but were certainly very heavy. We suffered some loss in killed and wounded.

A total of 13 Military Medals were awarded to the Sudan Defence Force during the Second World War.