Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The important group of honours and awards bestowed upon General Toran Shumshere Jung Bahadur Rana, who commanded the Shee Nath Regiment during the Second World War, where he gave vital support to the British Forces in Burma, and subsequently served as Commander in Chief of the Royal Nepalese Army from 1956-60

i) Nepal, Kingdom, Order of Nepal-Tara, First Class set of insignia, comprising sash badge, 75mm x 58mm, gold (18ct., hallmarks for London 1957) and enamel; Star, 96mm, silver, silver-gilt, gold appliqué, and enamel, unmarked, with gold retaining pin, with full sash riband, in case of issue

ii) Order of Om-Rama-Patta, First (only) Class set of insignia, comprising sash badge, 55mm, silver, unmarked; Star, 82mm, silver, the shaft of the central arrow embellished with six small rubies, unmarked, with full sash riband, in case of issue

iii) Order of Trishakti-Patta, First Class set of insignia, comprising sash badge, 62mm, silver (hallmarks for London 1947) and enamel, the central kukri embellished with six small diamonds, green enamel damage to motto around central medallion; Star, 87mm, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, the central kukri embellished with six small diamonds, unmarked, with full sash riband, in case of issue

iv) Order of Gorkha-Dakshina-Bahu, First Class set of insignia, comprising sash badge, 61mm, gold (18ct.), gold marks to reverse, central medallion slightly loose; Star, 80mm, silver, gold appliqué, and enamel, silver marks to reverse, with gold retaining pin, with full sash riband, in case of issue

v) Bahaduri Paduk Bravery Medal, bronze
vi) Assam-Burma Medal 1945, silver
vii) Service Medal, silvered
viii) Long Service Star, for 25 Years’ service, gilt, with enamelled flag
ix King Tribhuvan Silver Jubilee Medal 1935, silvered
x) King Mahendra Coronation Medal 1955, silvered
xi) King Bihendra Coronation Medal 1975, silvered
xii) Great Earthquake Medal 1935, silvered
xiii) Life Saving Medal, bronze
xiv) Great Britain, The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military), Commander’s 2nd type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with short section of neck riband, in Garrard, London, case of issue
xv) 1939-45 Star
xvi) Burma Star
xvii) Defence Medal
xviii) War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Colonel Toran Shumshere Jung Bahadur Rana, Nepalese Contgt.) officially impressed as issued from the Calcutta Mint, the medals all with various traces of adhesive to reverse, edge bruising and contact marks, generally nearly very fine and better and a rare and important group (22) £5,000-£6,000

Toran Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana was born at Hadigaon, Kathmandu, in 1904, the son of Colonel Indra Shumshere Jung Bahadur Rana, C.I.E., and the grandson of His Highness Bir Shumshire; and was educated at the Durbar High School, Kathmandu. He joined the Royal Nepalese Army in 1920, and, thanks to his family connections, was swiftly advanced Lieutenant-Colonel. He served as Commandant of the Military School from 1935, and, following the outbreak of the Second World War, was appointed Commanding Officer of the Shee Nath Regiment. He served during the Second World War in Dehradun, Durgai, Kukul, Kashmir, Dhanbad, and Khadgapur, in support of the British forces in Burma, and for his services was promoted Colonel, was awarded the Nepalese Bahaduri Paduk Bravery Medal, and was created an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

After a brief spell as Inspector-General of Police, he returned to the Army in 1951 with the rank of Lieutenant-General, and was appointed to the post of Principal Administration General, in which role he was responsible for organising the Coronation of H.M. King Mahendra. He was promoted General in 1953, and served as Chief of the General Staff for the next three years, before finally being appointed Commander in Chief of the Royal Nepalese Army in 1956. He resigned in 1960, in part owing to political differences with the Prime Minister, and was awarded the First Class of the Orders of Nepal-Tara, Om-Rama-Patta, Trishakti-Patta, and Gorkha-Dakshina-Bahu. He died in Birendra in 1999, aged 96.

Sold with the recipient’s Bestowal Documents for all four Nepalese Orders, each in separate envelopes; Bestowal Document for an Honorary C.B.E., named to ‘Commander Toran Shumshere Jung Bahadur Rana, Commander Shee Nath Regiment, and dated 2 November 1945, with Central Chancery enclosure; an important photograph album, the pages loose, containing 38 photographs taken from the recipient’s visit, as Commander in Chief of the Nepalese Army, to the Far East Land Forces, 4-18 July 1957, showing him inspecting various Gurkha Battalions &c., the majority annotated; various newspaper cuttings from the above visit; and copied research.