Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Burma operations I.D.S.M. awarded to Havildar Ali Bahadur, 14/10th Baluch Regiment

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (15864 Hav. Ali Bahadur, 14 Bn. Baluch R) complete with top suspension brooch, minor edge bruising, otherwise good very fine £800-£1,000

I.D.S.M. London Gazette 6 June 1946. The original recommendation states:

‘Havildar Ali Bahadur commanded a Rifle Platoon in action throughout the operations in Arakan from October 1944 to the end of the campaign. This young N.C.O’s work as platoon commander was consistently of a very high standard.

On 8th February 1945 this N.C.O. fought a brilliant action on a feature called Cog at Min Chaung (Arakan). His platoon had captured the feature late in the evening and in the early hours of the morning a heavy counter attack came in. Some Japs managed to get into their positions. Havildar Ali Bahadur however, quickly rallied his platoon and closed with the enemy. The accurate controlled shooting and the use of hand grenades by his platoon made the enemy withdraw leaving many dead behind. Throughout the whole action Havildar Ali Bahadur showed great initiative and leadership which saved his platoon from a very difficult predicament.

On the 28th February 1945, in the area of Min Chaung South, Havildar Ali Bahadur took a fighting patrol to a high hill feature called Ruywa. The patrol came under a high fire from a Jap position on top of the hill and Havildar Ali Bahadur was wounded. In spite of his wounds he led the platoon and with great skill and daring obtained very useful information about the enemy positions.

Throughout the whole operation Havildar Ali Bahadur showed great initiative, outstanding leadership and bravery.’

Havildar Ali Bahadur was from the village of Farmuli, in the Sawabi District of Mardan. Sold with a rare original North West Frontier Province ‘Sanad’ granting him a cash reward of Rs. 2,500 for his gallantry, together with a copied image of the recipient.